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Just putting this out there: y'all absolutely have the right, power, and responsibility to ask around about a person/company's track record re racism, sexism, ableism etc. before getting involved with their stuff.
And then you make your own informed decision.
And then you make your own informed decision.
Y'all can even take it a step further and let you peers know when they're unsuspectingly supporting bigots. You can definitely be white/cis/male and maintain your own whisper networks.
It's about looking out for each other.
It's about looking out for each other.
This isn't cancel culture btw. "FYI X has been harmful towards group Y for years without any sign of remorse or personal growth" is several bridges away from "X said something stupid once".
So yeah if you notice me religiously avoiding a thread that mentions me yet looks right up my alley, feel free to ask what's up.
Q: Wouldn't there be a lot of stuff to avoid??
A: Yes, tech is a dumpster fire. You pick where to draw the line. Yes, this is all terribly sad and infuriating. No, it's not a reason to stop caring. Use that privilege.
A: Yes, tech is a dumpster fire. You pick where to draw the line. Yes, this is all terribly sad and infuriating. No, it's not a reason to stop caring. Use that privilege.
Also this, 100x. A diverse set of friends at university definitely challenged the worldview I was raised with. I'm forever indebted to them. https://twitter.com/mgattozzi/status/1313265427401920517?s=19
Lastly: the "whisper" in "whisper networks" is important. You'll notice the lack of any names in this thread — bigots (and will) defend aggressively against being called out, that includes sending their lawyers after you. Stay safe.
Q: But how do I avoid accidentally doing the bad thing?
A: you don't, we all fuck up. This isn't about accidentally doing the bad thing, it's about willingly, repeatedly, unabashedly doing the thing you know is wrong and harmful.
Surround yourself with folks unlike you & listen.
A: you don't, we all fuck up. This isn't about accidentally doing the bad thing, it's about willingly, repeatedly, unabashedly doing the thing you know is wrong and harmful.
Surround yourself with folks unlike you & listen.
It's never been about "flawlessly navigating a complex set of rules to avoid being caught", it's about showing basic human compassion, and how you react when (not if) you're called out.
A call out is not an attempt to silence or exclude you, it's an opportunity to grow.
A call out is not an attempt to silence or exclude you, it's an opportunity to grow.
Also, surrounding yourself with diverse folks doesn't mean it's on them to teach you. Don't know what a word means? Look it up! There's tons of great resources online. You don't have to wait until you fuck up to educate yourself.
