This is my main complaint about all these editorials about the gender ratios at tech conferences. Well, I'm sure if you go to a trucker/blacksmith/hairdresser m

This is my main complaint about all these editorials about the gender ratios at tech conferences. Well, I'm sure if you go to a trucker/blacksmith/hairdresser meetup the ratio is just as skewed, in one direction or the other. There's no escaping the fact that certain professions tend to attract more people of one sex than the other. Forcing the selection criteria to enforce an equal ratio instead of aiming for excellence will only hurt the content and those paying to access it. (And NO, I'm NOT saying the aren't awesome women in tech. I'm just saying that gender/ethnicity should never take precedence over merit.)