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I respect speakers' rights to express whichever beliefs they hold, but I think it's also important, both for them and for attendees, to recognize the effect tha

by T-R 16y ago

I respect speakers' rights to express whichever beliefs they hold, but I think it's also important, both for them and for attendees, to recognize the effect that it has. Their views on women (or any group), popular or otherwise, are irrelevant so long as they don't needlessly bring them up, but when they choose to do something that makes some members of the audience less comfortable and less likely to attend in the future (particularly since speakers are often perceived to represent the community), then that's a loss for the entire community, with negligible gain. Even if those who are offended are overreacting, publicizing their views is probably the best way to be sure that both speakers and attendees can make well informed decisions about which conferences to attend. If they want it to be a club for guys (and women who'll deal with it), that's their prerogative. If, on the other hand, they think it's more to their benefit to be inclusive, they should probably make an effort not to be needlessly offensive. To that end, it's probably best they be made aware of who they're offending.

jamesbritt 16y ago
particularly since speakers are often perceived to represent the community There needs to be a serious education effort to remove that mistaken idea from people's minds. It's also a bit insulting to the audience to assume they are too dense to realize that the actions and opinions of one person are simply the actions and opinions of one person. Even if those who are offended are overreacting, publicizing their views is probably the best way to be sure that both speakers and attendees can make well informed decisions about which conferences to attend. Exactly.
- T-R 16y ago
  > It's also a bit insulting... Perhaps true, but if the community doesn't acknowledge offensive behavior, it comes off as tacit acceptance. If the speaker is invited back without question or actively defended by the community, a person couldn't be blamed for getting the impression that the speaker's views reflect the views of the community as a whole, or at least of those responsible for the event. > There needs to be a serious education effort to remove that mistaken idea from people's minds. I'd argue that that's difficult to do without acknowledging the behavior as undesired/detrimental when it happens, for the reason above.

by T-R 16y ago

jamesbritt 16y ago

particularly since speakers are often perceived to represent the community There needs to be a serious education effort to remove that mistaken idea from people's minds. It's also a bit insulting to the audience to assume they are too dense to realize that the actions and opinions of one person are simply the actions and opinions of one person. Even if those who are offended are overreacting, publicizing their views is probably the best way to be sure that both speakers and attendees can make well informed decisions about which conferences to attend. Exactly.

T-R 16y ago
> It's also a bit insulting... Perhaps true, but if the community doesn't acknowledge offensive behavior, it comes off as tacit acceptance. If the speaker is invited back without question or actively defended by the community, a person couldn't be blamed for getting the impression that the speaker's views reflect the views of the community as a whole, or at least of those responsible for the event. > There needs to be a serious education effort to remove that mistaken idea from people's minds. I'd argue that that's difficult to do without acknowledging the behavior as undesired/detrimental when it happens, for the reason above.