4 ms·

Dear Mallika, Many thanks for writing this article! Totally echoes my thoughts. fwiw, as an Indian male engineer in US, I initially was very enthusiastically t

Dear Mallika, Many thanks for writing this article! Totally echoes my thoughts. fwiw, as an Indian male engineer in US, I initially was very enthusiastically thinking "lets go out of our way to support the pink elephants" and later was surprised when some of my peers (female engineers from India in US or of Indian origin) showed utter disinterest in being part of many of these women centric meetups/conferences. They were more enthusiastic to go to conferences that successfully enforced a 'No Asshole Rule' on attendees, followed by attending conferences without 'all male' speakers, than conferences of any other type. (I thought the feedback I received was an outlier, but it is good to know I'm not alone). Hope such articles bring positive changes to improve diversity organically and address the pink elephant syndrome. This article reminded me of this video "Modern Educayshun" (by an Aussie Comedian of Indian origin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKcWu0tsiZM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKcWu0tsiZM . Feels like the video makes a similar point.

greglindahl 9y ago
I'm surprised that you were not very enthusiastic about conferences with a "No Asshole Rule". Maybe it's possible to try multiple approaches at the same time? And that trying several different things is good?
- calvinbhai 9y ago
  [you were not very enthusiastic about conferences with a "No Asshole Rule"] Not sure where I mentioned that?
  - greglindahl 9y ago
    I would be pleasantly surprised if you were also very enthusiastic about conferences with a "No Asshole Rule", but that would make your previous comment a bit strange.
    - mirimir 9y ago
      Why strange? I don't see any inconsistencies in his comment. He supports the author's thesis with an anecdote. But maybe he edited after your comment.
    - calvinbhai 9y ago
      Not sure where the miscommunication is, but it looks like one of us is really bad at understanding English :) Either way, I’m not a fan of the bro-mentality places(jobs/conferences) and I absolutely love conferences which make it nice for people (of any gender, orientation, race, culture, language) to attend.

greglindahl 9y ago

I'm surprised that you were not very enthusiastic about conferences with a "No Asshole Rule". Maybe it's possible to try multiple approaches at the same time? And that trying several different things is good?

calvinbhai 9y ago
[you were not very enthusiastic about conferences with a "No Asshole Rule"] Not sure where I mentioned that?
- greglindahl 9y ago
  I would be pleasantly surprised if you were also very enthusiastic about conferences with a "No Asshole Rule", but that would make your previous comment a bit strange.
  - mirimir 9y ago
    Why strange? I don't see any inconsistencies in his comment. He supports the author's thesis with an anecdote. But maybe he edited after your comment.
  - calvinbhai 9y ago
    Not sure where the miscommunication is, but it looks like one of us is really bad at understanding English :) Either way, I’m not a fan of the bro-mentality places(jobs/conferences) and I absolutely love conferences which make it nice for people (of any gender, orientation, race, culture, language) to attend.