[hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?

[matt]

Al, if I see a restaurant that has a big sign outside that says "Don't beat
up the white folk."  I am probably going to avoid eating there.  It implies
that the beating of white folk is an issue that has occurred in the past.
Something of an implied public maligning of your community.

The sign itself... does it magically transform your space into some
accepting utopian ideal in which all races colors and creeds can come
together in joy and hackery?  It's a sign dude.  You'd be lucky if anyone
bothered to read it.  And even luckier if they didn't ask you for the dirt
on your past harassment drama that lead to the installation of the sign.
Thus producing... more drama.  And making everyone uncomfortable.
Everyone.  White, Black, Red, Yellow, Beige, Blue ( Silver Nitrate
Poisoning ) everyone.


On Sun, Jan 26, 2014 at 10:42 PM, Al Billings <albill at openbuddha.com> wrote:

> 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.
>
> ------------------------------
> From: matt matt <matt at nycresistor.com>
> Reply: matt matt at nycresistor.com
> Date: January 26, 2014 at 7:43:31 PM
> To: Al Billings albill at openbuddha.com
>
> Subject:  Re: [hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?
>
> 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.
>
> --
> Al Billings
> http://makehacklearn.org
>
>
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