[hs-equality] 28c3 Queer Geeks Panel

[Mitch Altman]

Hello, Folks,
 
Is silence an indication that there is no longer any interest in doing videos and an unofficial panel at BCC during 28C3?
 
I'm still into both, myself.
 
After Ilya's suicide, and all the discussions about depression and suicide that it has spurred, this seems like a really good time to be doing what we have planned to do.
 
Please chime in and say if you are or are not into doing a video and/or being on a panel.
 
If there is not enough interest, it's best to know now.  If there is interest, then let's fire this up again while we still have time.  I think a lot of people could benefit greatly from any effor we put in.
 
Thanks,
Mitch.
 
From: maltman23 at hotmail.com
To: rubin at starset.net; gmc at hackerspaces.org
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:35:25 -0800
CC: equality at lists.hackerspaces.org
Subject: Re: [hs-equality] 28c3 Queer Geeks Panel








> Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:10:40 -0800
> From: rubin at starset.net
> To: maltman23 at hotmail.com; gmc at hackerspaces.org
> CC: equality at lists.hackerspaces.org
> Subject: Re: [hs-equality] 28c3 Queer Geeks Panel
> 
> I find Equally Different a stronger message than Queer Geeks, but again
> my push for Hacker Equality is to be equally accepting of everyone for
> whatever they're into (be it for being queer or a fan of Shakespeare).
> We're going to draw more people into discussing this than specifically
> targeting the queer topic.
> 
> Maybe that's something we should discuss here. Whatever efforts I put
> into this would be more of a push towards the general message of...
> 
> "It's ok to be different, we're all different, you shouldn't be ashamed
> of it and here's how to bring awareness to others (such as your friendly
> local hackerspace) so they can be accepting of who you are and the
> things you're into. Let's explaining how one can be different and
> possibly not accepted by a greater community, [insert list here]."
> 
> ...and not exclusively...
> 
> "It's ok to be queer, you shouldn't be ashamed of it and here's how to
> bring awareness to others (such as your friendly local hackerspace) so
> they can be accepting of you being queer."
> 
> But I'm really not sure how much spare time I'll have at 28C3, planning
> to volunteer if I can, preparing Journey to the End of the Night, put in
> some working hours for the office, etc. So I really don't feel like
> tooting my horn too much if my availability to help with this effort is
> going to possibly be minimal.
> 
> Mitch if you feel like taking this opportunity and only running with
> queer subject matter, I'm all for helping you with that, but I feel that
> fleshing out this generalized hacker equality thing might be a better
> direction to go on (plus it'll actually force me to get a new VPS
> running so I can setup a god damn site/wiki for hackerequality.org).
> 
> We're all weird in our own different ways, and that's awesome.

 
Absolutely -- we're all fucking weirdos!  Even the people who conform to accepted outward behaviors are all fucking weirdos -- each with unique desires, wants, needs, thoughts, feelings, skills, etc., etc. (even if we also all share many of these in our humanity).
 
Obviously, some differences, since they are taboo by so many, are much more important to society at large, and therefore to the individuals with those differences.  Liking Shakespeare can get one bullied here and there, and make someone feel shame in the face of a bunch of thugs.  Clearly being queer is a bit more dangerous in the face of bullies, and triggers much more shame (and reactions in others) in the course of living ones day-to-day life.
 
I'm all for stressing that we should not be ashamed of who we are.  I want to see all of us accepted for who we are (including each individual accepting all of who they are).  But for this set of videos, and the panel (which was the original proposal, which was spawned from the Queer Geek radio segment), I'd personally like to see queerness be the main point.  Being queer is so full of shame for so many people that it makes so many people uncomfortable to be open and out within our hacker community (as much because of our own shame, as well as for the reactions of others).
 
If we can reach consenus on a main topic here, then we can present it well to the community.
 
If a bunch of us are willing to make videos, and be on the panel, then it will work well.
 
Please speak up.
 
Mitch.
 
 		 	   		  

_______________________________________________
Equality mailing list
Equality at lists.hackerspaces.org
http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/equality 		 	   		  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/private/equality/attachments/20111125/f88ff8cc/attachment.html>