The challenge for society going forward is to recognize this and to not reflexively try to remove all authority and hierarchy.<p>OSS does well with the BDFL model ( <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Benevolent_dictator_for_life" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Benevolent_dictator_for_life</a> ). The people who practice it best use their authority to set tone and agenda and then step back to let people own their participation. They step back in only when they have to.<p>In universities today the idea of a &quot;safe space&quot; is in vogue. We might recognize that safe spaces require some sort of protection. It can come from campus police, in online communities it can come from people who are charged with that role, and in companies it can come from managers and executives.<p>Not all overt power is abused.