Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
1–10 of 93 posts
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#2The comparison to sexism is pretty offensive to me (even though you try to minimize it early in the article, yet bring it up again via a link at the end). You're privileged to have the option to just not go to the party after the conference - women don't get to just "not be women".
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#3Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately for you, lots of people drink. It's not just a programmer thing. It's one of the most prominent ways people socialize. Not programmers, people.
I'm sorry that you feel uncomfortable going to conferences because of the drinking, but unfortunately, it's something you should probably learn to accept. You can move cities, change careers, do whatever you want, but unfortunately, you're going to find that people socialize via drinking just about everywhere.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#4I go to conf after-parties and I barely drink at all any more, due to a health problem. Nobody has ever given me shit, and I enjoyed myself just as much as ever. I originally worried that people were going to seem obnoxious when they were drunk and I was sober, but it was an unfounded fear. I can count on one hand the times I've thought "wow, that's a sloppy drunk."
Sounds to me like the author is trying hard to conjure up a problem.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#5Great points. I often am dismayed that conferences and user groups seem more like frat parties than a profession attempting to further itself. And we wonder why progress plods.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#6I feel the same way at conferences, and I actually do drink, though I never binge drink.
But, that's not why I came to the conference. I can drink at home.
I think you're fighting a losing battle, though, because the demographic that is generally involved in programming is essentially the same (with a slight tendency to nerdy and aspie) as the demographic of bros, and going to a conference is like a paid vacation for people who like programming (and aren't too intensely on call) - hence party time. Think state college spring break.
I think social awkwardness has an effect, too. I'd venture to say that the computer obsessed tend to more socially awkward, and alcohol offers a crutch when attempting to consciously network.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#7Maybe it doesn't matter, but I didn't see anywhere in the article why Ryan chooses not to drink. Obviously, his own choice with what to choose to put in his body. But I have definitely wondered about the influence of the culture on those who don't drink for cultural or religious reasons (e.g. Muslim, Mormon) Are we losing talented people who don't want to be part of that aspect of the culture?
Protip: on nights when I choose not to drink, I usually drink club soda with a bunch of lime wedges (like 3-4). I love the taste of it, it looks like a gin and tonic or vodka and soda and no one ever asks.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#8The comparison to sexism is pretty offensive to me (even though you try to minimize it early in the article, yet bring it up again via a link at the end). You're privileged to have the option to just not go to the party after the conference - women don't get to just "not be women".
It's sexist to assume all women have problems with conferences simply because they're women, or that we all think the same. Just sayin'.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#9Excellent points all around Ryan. Thanks for bringing this up. The binge drinking that is almost mandatory at most conferences I attend these days is exclusive and annoying.
I don't, however, think that you need to stop attending conferences because of it. Rest assured there will always be someone else there like you that will have interesting things to talk about and will be sober.
Now that you have let others know that you definitely won't be drinking, you may actually be inviting others who feel the same way to seek you out at conferences because it's more fun to hang with like-minded people.
Re: Our Culture of Exclusion (or, why I'm not at JSConf this year)
#10Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unfortunately for you, lots of people drink. It's not just a programmer thing. It's one of the most prominent ways people socialize. Not programmers, people. I'm sorry that you feel uncomfortable going to conferences because of the drinking, but unfortunately, it's something you should probably learn to accept. You can move cities, change careers, do whatever you want, but unfor…
> It's one of the most prominent ways people socialize. Not programmers, people.
So if you don't drink you're not a person? Alcohol is generally prohibited in Islam. Are you going to tell me that there are entire nations inhabited by human non-people?