3 ms·

Can anyone explain what happened?

andrewnez 14y ago
It seemed because of complaints regarding race/gender diversity of speakers on twitter. I think it started with this tweet: https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264 https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264
- veeti 14y ago
  Am I just missing something here or did they seriously cancel an entire conference just because of some random dude on Twitter imagining some nonexistent racism/sexism in the speaker lineup? He's making this up in his own mind. Who's the real discriminator here?
  - blacktulip 14y ago
    Their sponsor gave up on those twitter trolling
  - masklinn 14y ago
    > Am I just missing something here or did they seriously cancel an entire conference just because of some random dude on Twitter imagining some nonexistent racism/sexism in the speaker lineup? According to https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912 https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912 sponsors pulled out. It's not mentioned at all in TFAA though, so I'd don't know if the explanation's legit (and why they went with a non-explanation instead if it is)
- hmc 14y ago
  It only seems to be white males that are complaining.
  - olgeni 14y ago
    They probably are the most brainwashed and obsessed with the issue, and possibly believe they are scoring points in some imaginary and self-deprecating game. Sane people of different hues are probably doing something more interesting - reading Ruby books, writing Ruby code, or just having a life.
    - fearoffish 14y ago
      I'm not sure that's the attitude that helps either side in this kind of situation. I call your troll-iness.
      - olgeni 14y ago
        Indeed, that was a bit on the trollish side. I'd better go back to coding something myself.
    - hmc 14y ago
      I would say more misguided than brainwashed, someone needs to tell these guys inclusivity is not the same as positive discrimination.
tomstuart 14y ago
A Twitter search for “britruby” should clear it up. Short version: they’d invited all white male speakers; people complained about it on Twitter; the organisers got disheartened and called the whole thing off. ETA: https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264 https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264, https://twitter.com/jamesarosen/status/269859024164495360 https://twitter.com/jamesarosen/status/269859024164495360
- matthewrudy 14y ago
  I'm surprised there was nothing on LRUG. Seems like a rush decision to cancel.
  - tomstuart 14y ago
    It only just happened. From the language and timing it looks like a snap emotional decision rather than a rational one; I assume the organisers got blindsided by the negative feedback and didn’t want to deal with it any more. ETA: “@Rebeccask Due to sexist & racist remarks made on twitter last night got way out of hand. Sponsors pull out. No money no conf” (https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912 https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912)
    - mgkimsal 14y ago
      It's too bad that this 'no money no conf' meme continues to dominate. You can have something more than an 'unconf' or 'barcamp'-style event, even with no or minimal sponsors, especially with a team of organizers/planners to share any overflow expenses that do not get covered by ticket prices.
      - adambyrtek 14y ago
        So you suggest that on top of volunteering time the organizers should also cover "overflow expenses" from their pockets? Sounds excessive to me.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

It seemed because of complaints regarding race/gender diversity of speakers on twitter. I think it started with this tweet: https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264 https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264

veeti 14y ago
Am I just missing something here or did they seriously cancel an entire conference just because of some random dude on Twitter imagining some nonexistent racism/sexism in the speaker lineup? He's making this up in his own mind. Who's the real discriminator here?
- blacktulip 14y ago
  Their sponsor gave up on those twitter trolling
- masklinn 14y ago
  > Am I just missing something here or did they seriously cancel an entire conference just because of some random dude on Twitter imagining some nonexistent racism/sexism in the speaker lineup? According to https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912 https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912 sponsors pulled out. It's not mentioned at all in TFAA though, so I'd don't know if the explanation's legit (and why they went with a non-explanation instead if it is)
hmc 14y ago
It only seems to be white males that are complaining.
- olgeni 14y ago
  They probably are the most brainwashed and obsessed with the issue, and possibly believe they are scoring points in some imaginary and self-deprecating game. Sane people of different hues are probably doing something more interesting - reading Ruby books, writing Ruby code, or just having a life.
  - fearoffish 14y ago
    I'm not sure that's the attitude that helps either side in this kind of situation. I call your troll-iness.
    - olgeni 14y ago
      Indeed, that was a bit on the trollish side. I'd better go back to coding something myself.
  - hmc 14y ago
    I would say more misguided than brainwashed, someone needs to tell these guys inclusivity is not the same as positive discrimination.

tomstuart 14y ago

A Twitter search for “britruby” should clear it up. Short version: they’d invited all white male speakers; people complained about it on Twitter; the organisers got disheartened and called the whole thing off. ETA: https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264 https://twitter.com/joshsusser/status/269844125363339264, https://twitter.com/jamesarosen/status/269859024164495360 https://twitter.com/jamesarosen/status/269859024164495360

matthewrudy 14y ago
I'm surprised there was nothing on LRUG. Seems like a rush decision to cancel.
- tomstuart 14y ago
  It only just happened. From the language and timing it looks like a snap emotional decision rather than a rational one; I assume the organisers got blindsided by the negative feedback and didn’t want to deal with it any more. ETA: “@Rebeccask Due to sexist & racist remarks made on twitter last night got way out of hand. Sponsors pull out. No money no conf” (https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912 https://twitter.com/Rebeccask/status/270220165344550912)
  - mgkimsal 14y ago
    It's too bad that this 'no money no conf' meme continues to dominate. You can have something more than an 'unconf' or 'barcamp'-style event, even with no or minimal sponsors, especially with a team of organizers/planners to share any overflow expenses that do not get covered by ticket prices.
    - adambyrtek 14y ago
      So you suggest that on top of volunteering time the organizers should also cover "overflow expenses" from their pockets? Sounds excessive to me.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]