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Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

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Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#31

Post by remi »

sareon wrote: post #29
daliusd wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As Eastern European I am a little bit satisfied that even reasonable Canadians do stupid things. Still I hope they will reconsider this law.

Quebec? I don't see it happening. It has been like that for as long as I can remember. They can't even enter McDonald's contests like Monopoly. They have their own separate contests.

> They can't even enter McDonald's contests like Monopoly.

This is plain wrong. The McDonald’s Monopoly contest is held in all (participating) Canadian McDonald’s restaurants, including Quebec’s. Source: I live in Quebec.

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#32

Post by JiPi »

Farox wrote: post #17
xradionut wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was humorously assuming it was because almost all programming languages have key words in English. The Imp of the Recursive in my head was imagining an alternate programming culture like a Quebec version of steam-punk.

You're not too far off. Companies have to, with growing size, do more and more stuff in french. At large companies that aren't exempt you must have a french keyboard for example and code comments have to be in french.

I live in Quebec and worked in big organizations, even public ones like the Governement and a city, and never ever heard that. Source please?

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#33

Post by JiPi »

erfou wrote: post #16
xradionut wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was humorously assuming it was because almost all programming languages have key words in English. The Imp of the Recursive in my head was imagining an alternate programming culture like a Quebec version of steam-punk.

there are some public and private institutions where we can't use an english keyword for our variables and functions name.....I'm not joking!!

I live in Quebec and worked in big organizations, even public ones like the Governement and a city, and never ever heard that. Source please?

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#34

Post by rayiner »

JPKab wrote: post #18
erfou wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

there are some public and private institutions where we can't use an english keyword for our variables and functions name.....I'm not joking!!

Wow. I've heard that all of these "you have to use French" rules in Quebec are a reaction to years of French-Canadians in Quebec being treated as second class to the English-Canadians. Doesn't make them any less stupid.

I think it does. Language discrimination can be an extremely vitriolic form of oppression, and don't underestimate how much it sucks to be a second class citizen in your own country. Just look at the AAVE thread on HN a couple of weeks ago.

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#36

Post by JiPi »

caissy wrote: post #30

As a fellow french speaking Quebecer, this is because of the "Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux", the main office regulating alcool, races and gambling. In our legislation, if you are making a contest with the intent of giving away more than CAD$2000, you must get a licence from them[1]. Many companies just don't want to get their head in this. The main reasoning behind this is to keep track of the contests…

Exactly! As simple as that! This is why we are always (almost) excluded from any contests :)

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#38

Post by pc86 »

kintamanimatt wrote: post #22
TheCoreh wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since the competition is being held by a company outside of Quebec, do they need to abide to these laws at all?

Probably, because Google has a Canadian subsidiary with offices in Montreal; they're subject to local law. If this wasn't the case they'd gladly not exclude Quebecois.

Why are we just making stuff up?

This is not true. Contests must abide by any local laws or regulations in any jurisdiction they're run in. If you don't run the contest in Quebec (e.g. if you disallow Quebecois entrants) then and only then are you exempt from their laws.

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#39

Post by guiomie »

Farox wrote: post #17
xradionut wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was humorously assuming it was because almost all programming languages have key words in English. The Imp of the Recursive in my head was imagining an alternate programming culture like a Quebec version of steam-punk.

You're not too far off. Companies have to, with growing size, do more and more stuff in french. At large companies that aren't exempt you must have a french keyboard for example and code comments have to be in french.

I'll even add that if your comment isn't in proper Québec semantics and grammar, you might be subject to flagellation.

Re: Why aren't Cubans, Quebecois, Saudis, Syrians allowed in Google Code Jam

#40

Post by guiomie »

camus wrote: post #21
ronnyf wrote: post #14

Another example of Quebec being a totalitarian regime. A bit different from some others in this world though. A place where one can increase funding for a language Gestapo, who fines restaurant owners who don't properly translate pasta in their menu, while cutting social spending. All for the benefit of the residents. Go Quebec!

At least they speak better french than french people themselves ... EDIT : i'm french.

I dont agree. Unless you compare their (our) french to your Paris based backward french dialect.
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