[hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?

[matt]

So here are some ideas I have for diversity signs to put up:

"If you feel you must shed the blood of the non-believers please do so
outside."

"We do not condone the genocide of ethnic minorities on premises."

"The production of chemical weapons intended for the use of the eradication
of indigenous populations is strictly prohibited at this facility."

"This is a mass grave free zone".

"No public lynching classes will be accepted onto the calendar."

"Wearing your Klan outfit in the machine room is dangerous, it could get
caught in the lathe."

"No shirt, no shoes, no soldering irons."

"Please refrain honor killings, the space is NOT equipped with a field of
honor."

"We do not condone eugenics research on human beings willing or unwilling
in the space, please contact Genspace or another biohacking space in the
city."

"The kitchen will no longer stock kiwi's as they have been deemed
derogatory to the noble people and sheep of New Zealand."

... just a few ideas jotted down.  my mind is a busy bee hive of
imagination and ideas.  I am so glad you've turned me around on this one
Al.  This is going to be tremendous fun.




On Sun, Jan 26, 2014 at 11:52 PM, matt <matt at nycresistor.com> wrote:

> You know what Al.  I think the right way for me to handle this is to troll
> you mercilessly.  And the best way to troll someone, is to agree with them
> and help them fight the terrible fight.  So in the spirit of being friends,
> I will endeavor to build the BEST diversity sign of all time.  It may take
> me months to assemble it.  But I will do my level best to build the best
> diversity sign EVER.
>
> I swear by allah and the mighty prophet obi wan kenobi I will succeed.
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 26, 2014 at 11:48 PM, Madelynn Martiniere <
> mmartiniere at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Just because hackers haven't written on this topic doesn't mean it isn't
>> true. Most women won't come out and discuss sexism and misogyny in
>> hackerspaces for fear of retribution or general disregard.
>>
>> On that note, maybe it's time for an article from hackers. If any women
>> in hackerspaces have stories of sexism they'd like to share with me for an
>> article, I put together a quick form:
>> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FzjcEeNgzZfqdkhe3_6EU-Mp_xau4ppaOfN2o2vTMWU/viewform
>>
>>   matt <matt at nycresistor.com>
>>  January 26, 2014 8:22 PM
>> none of those links are from hackers or hacker related sources.
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>   Al Billings <albill at openbuddha.com>
>>  January 26, 2014 8:17 PM
>> A list of links about hacker culture and diversity for your reading
>> pleasure.
>>
>>
>> http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/09/11/221052414/sexism-in-the-tech-industry-takes-center-stage
>>
>> https://www.fsinf.at/dear-hacker-community-%E2%80%93-we-need-talk
>>
>>
>> http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/2013/09/the_problem_of_dickwolves.php
>>
>>
>> http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57495650-83/sexism-and-the-single-hacker-defcons-feminist-moment/
>>
>> http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/03/richards-affair-and-misogyny-in-tech/
>>
>> http://pando.com/2013/08/31/hackers-and-sexism-at-defcon/
>>
>> http://io9.com/5938698/the-great-geek-sexism-debate
>>
>> http://blogs.osuosl.org/gchaix/2010/11/07/open-source-misogyny/
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>   Red Davies <noiddicle at gmail.com>
>>  January 26, 2014 8:11 PM
>> or Al, we don't accept people who display those traits in the first place
>> then we don't need to worry about it.
>>
>> Perhaps that's the problem you have.  If you're inclusive of assholes
>> then you have to have rules, policies and signs.  I hate to tell you, but
>> rules, policies and signs do not change assholes.  They embolden them.
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>   Al Billings <albill at openbuddha.com>
>>  January 26, 2014 7:56 PM
>> 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.
>>
>> 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?
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> From: Red Davies Red Davies <noiddicle at gmail.com>
>> Reply: Hackerspaces General Discussion List
>> discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> Date: January 26, 2014 at 7:56:18 PM
>> To: Hackerspaces General Discussion List discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> Subject:  Re: [hackerspaces] Safe Space Policies?
>>  --
>> Al Billings
>> http://makehacklearn.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>   Red Davies <noiddicle at gmail.com>
>>  January 26, 2014 7:56 PM
>> So, I can answer that question easily.
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> A sign is worthless if you don't have a community that lives it.
>>
>> If you have a community that lives it then the sign is redundant.
>>
>> 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!
>>
>>
>>
>> Red
>> [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...
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>> --
>> Madelynn Martiniere
>> Community Engineer. Entrepreneur. Geek.
>> LinkedIn <http://www.linkedin.com/in/madelynnmartiniere> | Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/creativetaboo>|
>> Email <madelynn at women2.com>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Discuss mailing list
>> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
>> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>
>>
>
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