Re: Cultural differences and how to handle them
On Thu, Jul 04, 2019 at 10:18:18AM +0200, Raphael Hertzog wrote:
> On Wed, 03 Jul 2019, Roberto C. Sánchez wrote:
> > On Wed, Jul 03, 2019 at 05:33:25PM +0200, Ole Streicher wrote:
> > > Being german, I think that Debian should honor discriminated minorities,
> >
> > Being a discriminated against minority, I think Debian should *not*.
>
> And since Debian is do-ocracy, it's not your call. You can disagree with
> the publicity team, but it's their call and a call they made while trying
> to put our diversity statement into application.
>
My position is not one of disagreement without basis. I have found,
through my own experience, that diversity efforts (including those like
the pride month logo Debian logo change) end up doing more harm than
good. By that I do not mean that they hurt the feelings of majority
groups (though that may be an associated affect), but rather that in
the end such efforts often further marginalize those for whom the "help"
is meant.
The point of Debian being a do-ocracy is not lost on me. In fact, when
it comes to technical matters, it is the superior approach. Even in
difficult technical matters (like the init system debate) where the
choices amount to "do this" and "do nothing" there is a technical
committee which can act as arbiter. However, when it comes to
non-technical matters, esepcially when one potential course of action is
"do nothing," there is no such possibility.
Those who wish to "help" marginalized groups by displays such as the
pride month support have an avenue to "do" what they believe is best in
this do-ocracy of ours. What course is available to me and those like
me who believe we should "do nothing"? It would seem that public
discussions that attempt to address that are met with great resistance
and with many attacks against the character, motivations, and
demographics of those who hold that position.
> Can we stop this discussion now, please?
>
Since it seems like on this occassion and at least one prior occassion
my expression of my position/opinion on what Debian as a project should
or should not do based on my own experience with discrimination and
supposed diversity efforts has been met with multiple responses of the
general sentiment "be quiet, your opinion is not wanted here, let the
others speak," I can only conclude that I have not been sufficiently
oppressed to have my opinions count.
> Unless you really want to revert their decision via a general
> resolution... but even in that case, the discussion here doesn't help to
> go forward with this.
>
Perhaps you feel like this discussion doesn't help because nobody has
ever tried to "help" you by targeting a diversity effort at you.
--
Roberto C. Sánchez
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