Let's talk about social contracts.

[maradydd]

Skip this post if you're sick of hearing about Donglegate.

We'll start with a little history. You might have noticed, in the KYM synopsis, a reference to the PyCon Code of Conduct, a document largely derived from boilerplate language originally advanced, systematically, by the Ada Initiative in August 2012. The PyCon code asserts that "all

Comments

[coyote_in_fog]

Your footnotes are lovely. And you second to last paragraph gets to the heart of the matter. Protocols are to be used, and of course, if that doesn't work out later... well, then it doesn't work out... and either side can abandon.

Why does massive drama (seem to) follow every conference? And then gain such momentum? I know this is a distortion of what conferences are, but as someone who'd like to go to some... it makes me a little nervous. Still, looking forward to DefCon. =)

[maradydd]

At the moment, "generate sexism drama over tech conferences and use it to fuel donation drives / corporate sponsorships" is the business model of the Ada Initiative, referenced above.

[uke]

Part of me wants to believe that it is actually a 100% cynical move based on observed trends. That would actually be much more interesting than 100% sincerity, wouldn't it?

[maradydd]

I have a lot of cynicism about that group, not all of it stemming from publicly observable trends, but the observable data line up pretty well with the pattern described above.

[navytron89]

It's amazing how immature both parties are, that people need to grow up and suck it up. There's one thing that this wasn't was going by the rules that were laid out as attendees. That the parties involved showed the typical juvenile behavior regardless of gender. I've noticed that the more that technology has advanced the less our morality and mentality has not followed like wise, sadly

[mycroftxxx]

Actually, the guy who made the dongle joke was pretty apologetic about the whole thing and was one of the people trying to keep things civil in the original discussion, in spite of having been fired. Conversely, Adria Richards is known to have a history of drama-generation without sufficient cause, speech policing, and horrible non-sexist behavior.

Then there's Ada Initiative, I don't have anything more substantial to go on here than Meredith's deep loathing - but then again, that's enough for me. I would love to hear more of the original story there, but the bad ideas inherent in the policy changes that AI has demanded seem to be indicative.

Personally, I think it would be nice if the tech community just went ahead and cast out AI, Richards, and their Ilk, then spend the effort working up some better protection for attendees without them. However, noone ever wants to start a formal witch-hunt if you call it that.

[navytron89]

If he apologized then she should accept it. Then again I've noticed that social media has created more social media drama queens (gender neutral here). That they live on making "noise" over the slightest insult or worry; it's like social media has now extended the "high school drama" into the global world

[mycroftxxx]

For the tiny bit it's worth, might I suggest "social media drama mongers" instead? One, it gives the self-same mongers one less gendered noun to rail against. Two, it makes "drama' sound like a particularly low-status fish being sold by a grubby woman near the docks.

Other than that, love the analogy to ancient Egypt.

[citrakayah]

How do they define 'being kind to others'? Because if it's one of the 'zero tolerance policies', I think they'll have trouble from people who, due to either differing cultural standards or simple ignorance, harm the feelings of others entirely by accident, because they don't even know the effects.