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Diversity is a problem in all of computing; to make it out that it is solely the problem of conference organizers is to miss the point and to over-concentrate t

Diversity is a problem in all of computing; to make it out that it is solely the problem of conference organizers is to miss the point and to over-concentrate the blame.

luigi 14y ago
The act of organizing a conference makes one a leader for their technical community. We all know we have a diversity problem. And conference organizers are responsible for helping address that problem. Leaders should lead.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
  - luigi 14y ago
    Why not address my argument directly rather than sidestepping it with a cute list?
  - ahelwer 14y ago
    Arguing by pointing out fallacies is incredibly annoying. Having said that, I will temporarily make a hypocrite of myself to post the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_fallacy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_fallacy
  - nollidge 14y ago
    Sorry, "fallacy bingo" is not automatically a trump card. One must cogently point out how something is a fallacy if they wish to be considered intellectually honest.
- mtkd 14y ago
  Leadership doesn't happen overnight - it comes from trying, failing and learning. This was a few Rubyists trying to do something for their community - not interviewing for McKinsey.
- oh_sigh 14y ago
  The technical community has a diversity problem, but they are a victim of the problem, not the cause of it. Even when I was 13 years old, girls were choosing to not engage in technical subjects - my 7th grade elective programming course had 23 males and 1 female. Are you going to blame the technical community because 13 year old girls don't like it?
  - e12e 14y ago
    > The technical community has a diversity problem, but they are a victim of the problem, not the cause of it. I think that's a false dichotomy. By doing nothing, we help foster the problem. Personally I think quotas is one good way of helping solve the problem. The idea being that they counter the existing bias against some groups. If there is no existing bias, quotas are indeed "unfair". If there are existing bias, quotas will be unfair to individuals. I still think quotas can do good overall. If there is bias, and you cannot see it: you will perceive quotas to be unfair.
oh_sigh 14y ago
Diversity is a problem in society. You're blaming the victim by implying that it is "computings" fault for the lack of diversity. Even in my 7th grade programming course(back in the late 90s), there were 22 males and 1 female.
- e12e 14y ago
  And thankfully that is changing -- we at least see higher recruitment into computer science (and other engineering disciplines) for girls in Norway (and higher number of boys to teaching colleges) -- finally. That did not come about without a lot of different people and organizations working actively towards changing the ideas of what and who kids would "allow" themselves to aspire to be.

Diversity is a problem in all of computing; to make it out that it is solely the problem of conference organizers is to miss the point and to over-concentrate the blame.

luigi 14y ago

The act of organizing a conference makes one a leader for their technical community. We all know we have a diversity problem. And conference organizers are responsible for helping address that problem. Leaders should lead.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
- luigi 14y ago
  Why not address my argument directly rather than sidestepping it with a cute list?
- ahelwer 14y ago
  Arguing by pointing out fallacies is incredibly annoying. Having said that, I will temporarily make a hypocrite of myself to post the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_fallacy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallacy_fallacy
- nollidge 14y ago
  Sorry, "fallacy bingo" is not automatically a trump card. One must cogently point out how something is a fallacy if they wish to be considered intellectually honest.
mtkd 14y ago
Leadership doesn't happen overnight - it comes from trying, failing and learning. This was a few Rubyists trying to do something for their community - not interviewing for McKinsey.
oh_sigh 14y ago
The technical community has a diversity problem, but they are a victim of the problem, not the cause of it. Even when I was 13 years old, girls were choosing to not engage in technical subjects - my 7th grade elective programming course had 23 males and 1 female. Are you going to blame the technical community because 13 year old girls don't like it?
- e12e 14y ago
  > The technical community has a diversity problem, but they are a victim of the problem, not the cause of it. I think that's a false dichotomy. By doing nothing, we help foster the problem. Personally I think quotas is one good way of helping solve the problem. The idea being that they counter the existing bias against some groups. If there is no existing bias, quotas are indeed "unfair". If there are existing bias, quotas will be unfair to individuals. I still think quotas can do good overall. If there is bias, and you cannot see it: you will perceive quotas to be unfair.

oh_sigh 14y ago

Diversity is a problem in society. You're blaming the victim by implying that it is "computings" fault for the lack of diversity. Even in my 7th grade programming course(back in the late 90s), there were 22 males and 1 female.

e12e 14y ago
And thankfully that is changing -- we at least see higher recruitment into computer science (and other engineering disciplines) for girls in Norway (and higher number of boys to teaching colleges) -- finally. That did not come about without a lot of different people and organizations working actively towards changing the ideas of what and who kids would "allow" themselves to aspire to be.