[hackerspaces] Hackers, feminism, and bullying

[Bill French]

> I can understand the dating sites thing, but the social network?

I'm with you. I don't think my version is perfect, either. I just don't
like the very specifically gender focused original. I suspect any group
(women, for example) wants to be specifically targeted by a policy, even if
it's on the "good" side of the policy. Do women want to be treated
specially? I don't know. As a man I don't want anyone creeping on me,
either. How can we make it more neutral and universal?

> I do not find it awkward to add someone to my contacts if I had a 2 hours technical
> discussion or working session with. It could be courting, sure, but it
> could also be simple convergence of interests.

"Hey, mind if I hit you up on Facebook?". Seems easy enough. In the context
of this conversation, it's not what's awkward for you, it's what's awkward
for them. Maybe "no googling" them is too extreme .. but I've certainly
witnessed the creepy googling that happens by someone checking out woman
who visited but they didn't actually speak too.  How do you codify the
difference as one is acceptable, the other is not?

I suppose part of my point is if you meet and speak with someone on the
street, see them speak, or stumble upon them on the internet, then sure,
google away. But maybe hackerspaces should be a safer place, where instead
of anonymity and privacy, instead of it being assumed, is explicitly stated
as an intentional right. "if you step into this space, you are granted
these rights, that make this space unique; waive them as you see fit;
report any violations of your rights."

I dunno. It's interesting to think about.
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