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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

#51

Post by RyanMcGreal »

pifflesnort wrote: post #41
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?

Let's pretend I'm at that shop with a large recruiting budget, and a $10k check is only an e-mail to accounting away. I also just watched a massive blow-up and bad press around Adria Richards, PyCon, and this issue in general. I'm naturally wary of my company being connected with or supporting these virulently negative forms of misogyny and feminism of which the entire donglegate episode seemed to spring. What would…

> the equally [sic] negative and virulent feminism

You mean the negative and virulent feminists who were threatening to rape and decapitate someone they didn't like?

Oh, right, no such thing happened.

Please, please do not equate attempts to bring people's attention to inappropriate sexual language during conferences - whether you agree with them or not - to the massive outpouring of hatred, abuse, personal attacks and misogyny that accompanied this incident.

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

#52

Post by epsylon »

amix wrote: post #44

PyCon had 500 women out of 2500 attendance. Gave away over $100,000 in financial aid. Gave away 2500 Raspberry Pi's. Thought kids to code. Raised $10,000 for the PyLadies. Gave permission to publish amazing online videos etc. And then you have these 3 idiots (and more online idiots) that steal the spotlight and everybody focuses on them. Sigh. Let's focus on the positive stuff!

I think at least two of them didn't want to be in the spotlight in the first place. And after what happened, probably the three of them.

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

#53

Post by RyanMcGreal »

gojomo wrote: post #42
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…

You "would rather not even see articles like this" -- just because it reminds you of that other controversy, which this article had the good sense not to mention? As you note, the previous controversy had no real winners. Well, we all keep losing when that connection is reflexively made. Sure, it's natural to recall personally, but it doesn't need to be strengthened with constant mentions and fresh complaints. I sugg…

> the previous controversy had no real winners

Sadly, I have to disagree. The hordes of abusive misogynists scored a big victory in their tireless efforts to terrorize and deter women from working in tech or, indeed, speaking publicly at all.

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

#54

Post by [deleted] »

pekk wrote: post #49
pifflesnort wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's pretend I'm at that shop with a large recruiting budget, and a $10k check is only an e-mail to accounting away. I also just watched a massive blow-up and bad press around Adria Richards, PyCon, and this issue in general. I'm naturally wary of my company being connected with or supporting these virulently negative forms of misogyny and feminism of which the entire donglegate episode seemed to spring. What would…

Do you know anything about PyLadies? What led you to believe that PyLadies is about "virulent feminism" or is masterminding provocations?

[deleted]

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

#56

Post by [deleted] »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #51
pifflesnort wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's pretend I'm at that shop with a large recruiting budget, and a $10k check is only an e-mail to accounting away. I also just watched a massive blow-up and bad press around Adria Richards, PyCon, and this issue in general. I'm naturally wary of my company being connected with or supporting these virulently negative forms of misogyny and feminism of which the entire donglegate episode seemed to spring. What would…

> the equally [sic] negative and virulent feminism You mean the negative and virulent feminists who were threatening to rape and decapitate someone they didn't like? Oh, right, no such thing happened. Please, please do not equate attempts to bring people's attention to inappropriate sexual language during conferences - whether you agree with them or not - to the massive outpouring of hatred, abuse, personal attacks a…

[deleted]

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

#57

Post by smsm42 »

RyanMcGreal wrote: post #51
pifflesnort wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's pretend I'm at that shop with a large recruiting budget, and a $10k check is only an e-mail to accounting away. I also just watched a massive blow-up and bad press around Adria Richards, PyCon, and this issue in general. I'm naturally wary of my company being connected with or supporting these virulently negative forms of misogyny and feminism of which the entire donglegate episode seemed to spring. What would…

> the equally [sic] negative and virulent feminism You mean the negative and virulent feminists who were threatening to rape and decapitate someone they didn't like? Oh, right, no such thing happened. Please, please do not equate attempts to bring people's attention to inappropriate sexual language during conferences - whether you agree with them or not - to the massive outpouring of hatred, abuse, personal attacks a…

The story went a bit further than "attempts to bring people's attention". As it is pretty clear by now, Richards is a crusader, repeatedly blowing things out of proportion and raising big controversy out of most mundane things, and in this case it cost somebody his job. So while indeed she did nothing nothing comparable to death threats and other such filth, something more that "attempt to bring attention" did happen.

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

#58

Post by SeanDav »

pekk wrote: post #19
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…

It's hard to understand how you could think that Adria Richards is representative of all "women in tech". It's also hard to understand why you take Adria's incident as such a severe personal affront to yourself that you not only seem to want PyLadies to bite the dust, but "a part of [you] would be quite happy if [you] never saw a female in tech again." Even a sane and moderate person can see in this post a suggestion…

I am trying not to get personal here, but you are guilty of just the sort of discussion that I find both embarrassing and narrow minded.

By narrow minded I mean you are deliberately cherry picking individual points out of context and trying to imply something negative or even the opposite of the original post.

For example you say:

> " a part of you would be quite happy if you never saw a female in tech again. Even a sane and moderate person can see in this post a suggestion that you would like to see women actively driven out of tech - all because you are offended about Adria Richards."

Yet you very conveniently skip over the part where I say "a bigger part of me would love to see more women in tech".

You are also putting words in my mouth. Nowhere do I express an opinion about Adria Richards herself.

You say other things as well but I am not going to defend myself any further or hijack this thread more than I already have.

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

#59

Post by pekk »

AgathaTheWitch wrote: post #55

I respect their intentions and I am sure they are doing good work. Regardless as a matter of principle I do not donate to organizations that discriminate on the basis of sex.

To my knowledge, PyLadies has not engaged in discrimination. It isn't discrimination to make groups which encourage minorities to code or get involved in the Python community or whatever.

Men are not being hurt by the existence of PyLadies in any way.

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

#60

Post by granitepail »

pifflesnort wrote: post #41
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?

Let's pretend I'm at that shop with a large recruiting budget, and a $10k check is only an e-mail to accounting away. I also just watched a massive blow-up and bad press around Adria Richards, PyCon, and this issue in general. I'm naturally wary of my company being connected with or supporting these virulently negative forms of misogyny and feminism of which the entire donglegate episode seemed to spring. What would…

As a group seeking to give women a safe and comfortable entry into tech, I can't imagine any scenario in which supporting PyLadies would add to the problem. It may bring more women into tech who are then the subject of such misogyny, which is a depressing thought but would hopefully continue to force the issue into the public eye.

More women in tech is a win for everyone — including employers. To be swayed from helping a cause like this because of negative social repercussions signifies, to me, a desire to hop on the bandwagon as opposed to a true desire to get women in tech and fight to ensure they are seen as equals.

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