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$10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

pycon.blogspot.com

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Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#31

Post by [deleted] »

arh68 wrote: post #26
SeanDav wrote: post #13

In the light of what happened at PyCon with Adria Richards and the whole internet explosion of nastiness and short sightedness from all sides I actually don't quite know what to think about "Women in Tech" I saw so much hate that I was ashamed to be a male and in tech, yet I also saw so much narrow minded reporting and deliberate distortion of events from many so called feminists and feminist activists (not all femal…

> A part of me doesn't even want to think about it again for some time until the dust has completely settled. How long do you think that will be (for you)? I agree with your sentiment, and I'm now more skeptical of everyone's motives since PyCon. Are we talking weeks? months? before balance is restored?

[deleted]

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#32

Post by keepkalm »

My initial reaction was this is great, women are underrepresented in tech. Thoughts that came afterward: this is a horrible overreaction to what happened at PyCon over dongle-gate and this reinforces the boys club by making women a protected class (no pun intended).

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#33

Post by tripleggg »

The reason we don't have more females programmers is because they have less interest in it and less aptitude for it on average. And this will never change. For my dense readers I'd like to clarify that this doesn't mean that every man is better at programming than every woman, just like saying that men are taller than women doesn't mean every man is taller than every woman.

Back to the topic at hand - women are not as good at programming and also not as interested in it as men. If you find this sexist, don't like it, and don't want to accept it, take it up with the universe. Or to paraphrase Richard Feynman: You don't like it? Go somewhere else... to another universe, where the rules are more psychologically pleasing.

There is no hostility toward women in technology. There is no "sexism." Just the opposite men are biologically predisposed to pampering women and our field is no exception. Men willing to pamper women is the only reason why initiatives like this "charity" event are even possible!

Btw... Don't you ladies get offended that you are need of charity to make it in tech? Apparently not!

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#34

Post by jlgreco »

arh68 wrote: post #26
SeanDav wrote: post #13

In the light of what happened at PyCon with Adria Richards and the whole internet explosion of nastiness and short sightedness from all sides I actually don't quite know what to think about "Women in Tech" I saw so much hate that I was ashamed to be a male and in tech, yet I also saw so much narrow minded reporting and deliberate distortion of events from many so called feminists and feminist activists (not all femal…

> A part of me doesn't even want to think about it again for some time until the dust has completely settled. How long do you think that will be (for you)? I agree with your sentiment, and I'm now more skeptical of everyone's motives since PyCon. Are we talking weeks? months? before balance is restored?

Probably about as soon as I can open up a discussion about women in tech and not see the first comment mention her.

shrug This story didn't have to be about her.

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#35

Post by ericabiz »

famousactress wrote: post #2

So, if I was at a shop with a large recruiting budget trying hard to land new talent, and I was also specifically interested in fostering an environment the encouraged and promoted women in our industry.. I'd seriously consider writing a check for 10k and doubling the contribution today. Any takers?

I think this is great, and I'd like to add: If you are cash-poor, as many startups are, there may be other ways to contribute as well.

I'm the CEO of a startup here in Austin that uses Python. A couple weeks ago, another post here on HN led me to PyLadies, where I sought out the local Austin chapter. Turns out Barbara (mentioned in the article) runs the PyLadies Austin group.

I noticed one of their weekend workshops didn't have a space listed yet. Since I run a coworking space here in Austin (http://opportunityspace.com), I emailed Barbara and asked if she wanted to use our space for a meetup. She emailed back, super excited, and we're now hosting their Intro to Python workshop on April 6. (It's free for women in Austin who want to learn Python; RSVP here: http://www.meetup.com/PyLadies-ATX/events/99059532/)

There are many ways you can help and take the initiative. More smart coders benefit us all in this industry. Even if you don't have a whole lot of cash, I urge you to reach out to your local PyLadies chapter and see how you can help. Their website and chapter list is here: http://www.pyladies.com/

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#36

Post by fusiongyro »

columbo wrote: post #18
chill1 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously? Come on.. Even if you've only been half paying attention the last several days, you'd realize that this issue is quite serious and personal to a lot of people. If, when you saw this post, all that came to your mind was a smart ass comment.. Please, next time, keep it to yourself.

I wonder if every user created in the last 7 days should be hellbanned, it seems the vast majority of them are lolcats-/b/ers and other derivatives who found this place due to last week's news explosion.

I'd support this if the hellban expired for new posts in a few weeks. The kind of person who makes such unwanted contributions isn't likely to stick around longer than a week without getting a rise out of people, but a genuine user might.

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#37

Post by jmduke »

[deleted] wrote: post #29
jmduke wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a rational male programmer, I'd be quite impressed by such a move. Beyond the important social message that such an act fosters, it's just smart . Good companies want to hire good people. Great female programmers are in (relatively to male) low demand and a smart company would avail themselves of that.

[deleted]

I completely agree, which is why I qualified it with 'relative to male programmers'.

(I'm not saying that great female programmers shouldn't be in demand.)

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#38

Post by r0sebush »

What Ms. Richards has done to those 2 young men could have been much worse. She used her position in the developer/twitter community to intimidate and to cause harm to those 2 men. She knew what she was doing and the same outrage that Ms. Richards experienced, would have been the same outrage those 2 men would have received if what she did originally wasn't wrong.

She could have said that they were talking about rape or molestation and it would have been her word against theirs. They would have been hauled into jail, considered guilty and their lives would have been ruined, even though they are innocent and practicing their natural right to speak to each other.

She overheard a private conversation between 2 consenting adults and nothing was directed towards her or anybody else. She should have kept her mouth shut.

Ms. Richards or anybody with similar capability or visibility, should never be trusted in any community or group. Is the not what any group or community needs, ever.

Her actions were meant to intimidate, cause harm and censor a private conversation.

Re: $10,000 Raised for PyLadies at PyCon 2013

#39

Post by ubernostrum »

keepkalm wrote: post #32

My initial reaction was this is great, women are underrepresented in tech. Thoughts that came afterward: this is a horrible overreaction to what happened at PyCon over dongle-gate and this reinforces the boys club by making women a protected class (no pun intended).

PyLadies has existed for years, and the auction was announced and organized before PyCon even happened, and took place before the entire internet went apeshit.

These are facts you may find useful in deciding how to view this event.

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