<html><head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">You hit the nail on the
head here. <br>
<br>
The majority of female visitors to hackerspaces that have been victims
to a variety of insulting and harassing behaviors have left without
comment or complaint. Once an environment has been made uncomfortable
once, there's no likely reason to return.<br>
<br>
Having some sort of public policy denouncing such things doesn't mean
that it won't happen, but a) it does alert potential instigators of the
behavior that there will be consequences and b) encourages those who
have been victims to that behavior to speak up knowing that there will
be consequences. This in turn creates a safer environment. <br>
<br>
<blockquote style="border: 0px none;"
cite="mid:etPan.52e5d8f3.542289ec.dd93@Al-Retina.local" type="cite">
<div style="margin:30px 25px 10px 25px;" class="__pbConvHr"><div
style="display:table;width:100%;border-top:1px solid
#EDEEF0;padding-top:5px"> <div
style="display:table-cell;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:6px;"><img
photoaddress="albill@openbuddha.com" photoname="Al Billings"
src="cid:part1.09060202.00060001@gmail.com" name="postbox-contact.jpg"
height="25px" width="25px"></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;width:100%">
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:albill@openbuddha.com"
style="color:#737F92
!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none
!important;">Al Billings</a></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;">
<font color="#9FA2A5"><span style="padding-left:6px">January 26, 2014
7:56 PM</span></font></div></div></div>
<div style="color:#888888;margin-left:24px;margin-right:24px;"
__pbrmquotes="true" class="__pbConvBody"><style>body{font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px}</style><div
style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px; color:
rgba(0,0,0,1.0); margin: 0px; line-height: auto;" id="bloop_customfont">You
mean one that someone said something about. How do you know that female
visitors haven’t simply failed to return because of leering,
mainsplaining, or various other behaviors? You don’t. The fact that
you’re unwilling to even state a public policy against such things mean
that when (not if but when) they happen, women won’t necessarily assume
that the person is an outlier but that it is accepted behavior. Then
they leave. </div><div
style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px; color:
rgba(0,0,0,1.0); margin: 0px; line-height: auto;" id="bloop_customfont"><br></div><div
style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px; color:
rgba(0,0,0,1.0); margin: 0px; line-height: auto;" id="bloop_customfont">Really,
it is like Diversity 101 here. You’ve never bothered to think about any
of this stuff before from something other than your own point of view,
have you?</div><div style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px;
color: rgba(0,0,0,1.0); margin: 0px; line-height: auto;"
id="bloop_customfont"><br></div> <div style="color:gray"><hr
style="style:linear">From: <span style="color:black">Red Davies</span> <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:noiddicle@gmail.com">Red Davies</a><br>Reply: <span
style="color:black">Hackerspaces General Discussion List</span> <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org">discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a><br>Date: <span
style="color:black">January 26, 2014 at 7:56:18 PM</span><br>To: <span
style="color:black">Hackerspaces General Discussion List</span> <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org">discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a><br>Subject: <span
style="color:black"> Re: [hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies? <br></span></div>
<div class="bloop_sign" id="bloop_sign_1390794882728328960"><span
style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:13px"></span>-- <br>Al
Billings<br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://makehacklearn.org">http://makehacklearn.org</a><div><br></div></div><div>_______________________________________________<br>Discuss
mailing list<br><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org">Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss">http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a><br></div></div>
<div style="margin:30px 25px 10px 25px;" class="__pbConvHr"><div
style="display:table;width:100%;border-top:1px solid
#EDEEF0;padding-top:5px"> <div
style="display:table-cell;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:6px;"><img
photoaddress="noiddicle@gmail.com" photoname="Red Davies"
src="cid:part2.01000205.04030708@gmail.com"
name="compose-unknown-contact.jpg" height="25px" width="25px"></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;width:100%">
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:noiddicle@gmail.com"
style="color:#737F92
!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none
!important;">Red Davies</a></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;">
<font color="#9FA2A5"><span style="padding-left:6px">January 26, 2014
7:56 PM</span></font></div></div></div>
<div style="color:#888888;margin-left:24px;margin-right:24px;"
__pbrmquotes="true" class="__pbConvBody"><div dir="ltr">So, I can answer
that question easily.<div><br></div><div>When people walk into the
space they are always welcomed. You know, by an individual and not a
fucking sign. We welcome them, ask them what their interests are,
introduce them to people who have similar interests, give them the 2c
tour, get them to sign a waiver and GENUINELY welcome them in on the
basis that they are breathing[0] and interested in the same stuff we
are.</div>
<div><br>A sign is worthless if you don't have a community that lives
it.</div><div><br></div><div>If you have a community that lives it then
the sign is redundant.<br><br>We've had one case of lecherous behavior
towards a female guest. We made **him** the prey. Once he became prey
he learned **WHY** his behavior was unacceptable (and we never saw him
again). That's a two-for-one!</div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Red</div><div>[0] To
be clear, zombies would probably be welcome too - we've just not tried
recruiting any by, you know... hanging out in graveyards, political
rallies etc...</div>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><br></div>
<div>_______________________________________________<br>Discuss mailing
list<br><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org">Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss">http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a><br></div></div>
<div style="margin:30px 25px 10px 25px;" class="__pbConvHr"><div
style="display:table;width:100%;border-top:1px solid
#EDEEF0;padding-top:5px"> <div
style="display:table-cell;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:6px;"><img
photoaddress="matt@nycresistor.com" photoname="matt"
src="cid:part3.05060209.05080609@gmail.com" name="postbox-contact.jpg"
height="25px" width="25px"></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;width:100%">
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:matt@nycresistor.com"
style="color:#737F92
!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none
!important;">matt</a></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;">
<font color="#9FA2A5"><span style="padding-left:6px">January 26, 2014
7:43 PM</span></font></div></div></div>
<div style="color:#888888;margin-left:24px;margin-right:24px;"
__pbrmquotes="true" class="__pbConvBody"><div dir="ltr">Al if I put up a
sign for everything I though that was wonderful I'd have no room for
windows... or doors... I'd be trapped in a self designed prison unable
to see the world beyond my own ideals. <br>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><br></div>
<div>_______________________________________________<br>Discuss mailing
list<br><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org">Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss">http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a><br></div></div>
<div style="margin:30px 25px 10px 25px;" class="__pbConvHr"><div
style="display:table;width:100%;border-top:1px solid
#EDEEF0;padding-top:5px"> <div
style="display:table-cell;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:6px;"><img
photoaddress="albill@openbuddha.com" photoname="Al Billings"
src="cid:part1.09060202.00060001@gmail.com" name="postbox-contact.jpg"
height="25px" width="25px"></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;width:100%">
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:albill@openbuddha.com"
style="color:#737F92
!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none
!important;">Al Billings</a></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;">
<font color="#9FA2A5"><span style="padding-left:6px">January 26, 2014
7:42 PM</span></font></div></div></div>
<div style="color:#888888;margin-left:24px;margin-right:24px;"
__pbrmquotes="true" class="__pbConvBody"><style>body{font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px}</style><div
style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px; color:
rgba(0,0,0,1.0); margin: 0px; line-height: auto;" id="bloop_customfont">How
about making it less about *you* and more about all the other people
that might feel unwelcome or apprehensive going into a hackerspace? I
get it that you’re comfortable walking in, doing your thing, etc. This
isn’t about *your* feelings or how welcome *you* feel.</div><div
style="font-family:Helvetica,Arial;font-size:13px; color:
rgba(0,0,0,1.0); margin: 0px; line-height: auto;" id="bloop_customfont"><br></div>
<div style="color:gray"><hr style="style:linear">From: <span
style="color:black">matt</span> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:matt@nycresistor.com">matt</a><br>Reply: <span
style="color:black">matt</span> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:matt@nycresistor.com">matt@nycresistor.com</a><br>Date: <span
style="color:black">January 26, 2014 at 7:43:31 PM</span><br>To: <span
style="color:black">Al Billings</span> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:albill@openbuddha.com">albill@openbuddha.com</a><br>Subject: <span
style="color:black"> Re: [hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies? <br></span></div>
<div class="bloop_sign" id="bloop_sign_1390794096037053184"><span
style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:13px"></span>-- <br>Al
Billings<br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://makehacklearn.org">http://makehacklearn.org</a><div><br></div></div><div>_______________________________________________<br>Discuss
mailing list<br><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org">Discuss@lists.hackerspaces.org</a><br><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss">http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a><br></div></div>
<div style="margin:30px 25px 10px 25px;" class="__pbConvHr"><div
style="display:table;width:100%;border-top:1px solid
#EDEEF0;padding-top:5px"> <div
style="display:table-cell;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:6px;"><img
photoaddress="matt@nycresistor.com" photoname="matt"
src="cid:part3.05060209.05080609@gmail.com" name="postbox-contact.jpg"
height="25px" width="25px"></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;width:100%">
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:matt@nycresistor.com"
style="color:#737F92
!important;padding-right:6px;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none
!important;">matt</a></div> <div
style="display:table-cell;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;">
<font color="#9FA2A5"><span style="padding-left:6px">January 26, 2014
7:41 PM</span></font></div></div></div>
<div style="color:#888888;margin-left:24px;margin-right:24px;"
__pbrmquotes="true" class="__pbConvBody"><div dir="ltr"><div>Al, you
might just put up a sign that says, no cross burnings on the lawn. I
mean it's important for people to know your hackerspace is a lynching
free location.<br><br></div><div>I am going to go with the german on
this one. Do you have such a huge problem with harassment that you need
to put up a sign? <br>
</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><br></div>
<div>_______________________________________________<br>Discuss mailing
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</blockquote>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br><span><span><div><small><font
color="#000000"><big>Madelynn Martiniere<br>
Community Engineer. Entrepreneur. Geek.</big><big><br>
</big></font></small></div><div><font color="#000000"><a
href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/madelynnmartiniere" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> </font>| <a
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href="http://www.twitter.com/creativetaboo" target="_blank">Twitter </a>|
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