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"I'm sure a metaphor could be worked in that would fit a stack of penises." Frankly (as a man) I wouldn't be offended. "they aren't considering what it would'

"I'm sure a metaphor could be worked in that would fit a stack of penises." Frankly (as a man) I wouldn't be offended. "they aren't considering what it would've been like if the presentation had contained something that extremely marginalized them " You can't "marginalize" me unless I choose to feel marginalized by what you say. I'll be damned if I give you that kind of power over me. If I thought the presentation was full of shit, I'd just walk out. I am sure a decent tech conference would have better presentations elsewhere. One thing I wouldn't do is whine endlessly about it because one of my "identities" got hurt. It is a free country and I am fine with the right of free speech sometimes causing me "offense". This is the Danish cartoons on a smaller scale. It is all right to "offend" 6th century "prophets" (and their followers). It is all right to "offend" the political correctness of the day. That is what free speech means. You don't think a particular instance is appropriate, just walk away. All we need are mobs burning DHH in effigy and destroying public property and then we can all go back to our normal lives.

cjbos 18y ago
This misses the point of the debate though. The original blogger didn't whine about it or leave, she just mentioned it was a little out of place to see in a conference presentation. That's nothing like the Danish Cartoon controversy, what upset a few folks however was the response of the Rails leadership in jumping to defend the presenter and implying that presentations that offend more people should be the order of the day at Rails conferences. How the hell do you build a community by fostering a culture that goes out of its way to try and alienate people to gain a few high fives and back pats by the leaders?
- plinkplonk 18y ago
  "she just mentioned it was a little out of place" I have the impression the reaction was much more that "it was a little out of place". Anyway I am not objecting to people's feeling whatever they felt. I am objecting to demands that the presenter apologize, and claims that DHH (and others) did something morally wrong/unspeakably evil. I hate one set of people demanding another set of people behave in pre approved ways just because someone "felt offended". "How the hell do you build a community by fostering a culture that goes out of its way to try and alienate people to gain a few high fives and back pats by the leaders?" I guess the assumption here is that either the presenter or the "leaders" see any value in "building a community by fostering a culture" through political correctness and "inclusiveness". DHH has mentioned very clearly he writes Rails for himself and could care less if any one else used Rails. Given that, why should he confine his thought and speech to "what builds community" (however that is defined) ? I have no objections if people are offended. That is their choice. Just don't tell other people that they should change their views or speak or not speak in specific fashion

cjbos 18y ago

This misses the point of the debate though. The original blogger didn't whine about it or leave, she just mentioned it was a little out of place to see in a conference presentation. That's nothing like the Danish Cartoon controversy, what upset a few folks however was the response of the Rails leadership in jumping to defend the presenter and implying that presentations that offend more people should be the order of the day at Rails conferences. How the hell do you build a community by fostering a culture that goes out of its way to try and alienate people to gain a few high fives and back pats by the leaders?

plinkplonk 18y ago
"she just mentioned it was a little out of place" I have the impression the reaction was much more that "it was a little out of place". Anyway I am not objecting to people's feeling whatever they felt. I am objecting to demands that the presenter apologize, and claims that DHH (and others) did something morally wrong/unspeakably evil. I hate one set of people demanding another set of people behave in pre approved ways just because someone "felt offended". "How the hell do you build a community by fostering a culture that goes out of its way to try and alienate people to gain a few high fives and back pats by the leaders?" I guess the assumption here is that either the presenter or the "leaders" see any value in "building a community by fostering a culture" through political correctness and "inclusiveness". DHH has mentioned very clearly he writes Rails for himself and could care less if any one else used Rails. Given that, why should he confine his thought and speech to "what builds community" (however that is defined) ? I have no objections if people are offended. That is their choice. Just don't tell other people that they should change their views or speak or not speak in specific fashion