I welcome you to come share this and other input at the meeting. It’s not that I fully agree or disagree but we need to put all of this to work irl and hash out these details in person. I Understand this is upsetting and I wont ask you to not react, I’m pleased we do have this much reaction, but we need more than criticism, we need help.
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For the most part there has been discussion, which has been somewhat productive. However, Trolling after harassing people in the past is not acceptable, regardless of this or it simply ‘Be excellent to each other’. As such, That has been referred to the board, and any further trolling will result in a ban.
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I don’t think there are lawsuits coming but who could know? I believe these rules go overboard and i think they help set precedent, as was commented above. Someone said something along the lines of “this is pretty common standard stuff that everyone else does already” and if that is in fact true then the “standard” is wrong and we should correct it rather than lazily accept it.
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ah, this thread brings back so many happy memories of being a board member and being told that anything I did was going to lead to the ultimate demise of makeict.
Personally… I’ve got a lot of privileges. white, cis-gender, neurotypical, born here, able-bodied. According to this policy if I say something offensive to a member of a marginalized group, I could be reported and “asked to stop any harassing behavior” - so I’ll stop. I’ll probably apologize too. I’m not perfect, but my experience of having to get reported isn’t as bad as the BS they go through being a minority. I think I’ll choose to NOT make it about me. the policy wasn’t written to get me, it was written to protect them. I want everybody to love using the space and I want to expand the diversity of the maker community. I’m especially glad to see the policy acknowledge that there are dead name/gendering issues that would marginalize trans folks, and that we’ve taken a stand in support of diversity on that topic, we’ve never officially done that before even though we’ve had several trans members who I really liked working with.
To the board members… I don’t know how I avoided destroying makeict back in 2017, but if we survived my presidency I imagine we’ll survive you too. I really appreciate the work you are all doing. I think some critics are making this way too political and that’s unfortunate, but I also think we’ll all get over it and this is a positive move forward.
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Right?
After being told me and people like me are a threat to makeICT cause I exist there, I’m really not shook by those screaming doom.
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You belong - no doubt about it. MakeICT has grown beyond “Be Excellent” - so more things need to be spelled out. We will be better for it.
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I don’t understand anyone being told that they don’t belong at MakeICT. This is why organizations have to have this kind of policy, to protect themselves. Why can’t people just live their lives and let other people live their lives.
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Kids get it
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Bigots don’t belong anywhere in polite society. It can be a difficult pill to swallow (believe me, I know), but there are absolutely people who do not belong at MakeICT.
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I agree with this statement, I was referring to the person that said they were told they were a threat to MakeICT.
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Ah, right on. Like @kim pointed out, there are always reactionaries loudly and incorrectly predicting the demise of our org. People are naturally resistant to change, but I’ve found this quote to be a pretty fitting explanation for how some people react to progress:
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I got the code of conduct in my email a few hours ago, and find it quite reasonable. Thanks so much for putting it together.
It’s clearly important and necessary-- I hope this thread won’t be deleted in spite of how heated the discussion became.
On that note, I would just like to mention that on Saturday, five people were murdered and 25 more wounded at a gay bar in Colorado Springs, after a long (and still unceasing) campaign of social, physical, and legislative/legal harassment aimed at LGBTQIA folks across the country. It’s based on false narratives perpetuated even by elected officials at the highest levels of government (looking at you, MTG).
Regardless of what opinions we might have of each other’s identities, beliefs, and/or lifestyles, I dearly hope that we all want each other to stay alive and emotionally stable at the very least, and that in itself is sufficient reason to refrain from expressing contempt or casual disdain for someone based on who they are.
Nobody who does this is personally responsible when someone who shares their views is inspired to violence – of course. But rhetoric is powerful and persuasive, and can be plenty hurtful just on its own.
Everybody seems to underestimate their own power to have this kind of impact on another human being, but you know what? We all have it. And with great power comes, say it along with me…
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Thanks for this - too often people are afraid to speak out against injustice because it “does not affect them” - but we are all connected. The way to eat an elephant is small bites - the way to make the world a better place…tiny steps that can start small as well. The ripple effect of treating folks decent, belonging, caring about those around us…doesn’t cost a thing, but pays such big dividends!
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I am thankful that MakeICT has added the anti discrimination/harassment policy, but the response to it no longer makes me feel safe in the space as someone who intersects being POC, the G and the T.
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@PastelBrandy I am sad to hear that but not surprised.
@Erik I am afraid you are missing the entire point of both transitioning (to become ones’ true self) and of the Code of Conduct. We do not equate transitioning to illegal drugs. Transitions are hard and not undertaken for frivolous reasons.
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I quite regularly drive by a Wichita clinic called Limitless Male, where they do testosterone replacement therapy. Yes, this is for cis men (though they might do it for trans men as well, not sure)-- they do it for a variety of reasons, including virility but also to gain muscle mass, ease depression, or get better sleep.
(Both testosterone and estrogen are naturally occurring in all of us, by the way, regardless of what our sex was declared to be at birth.)
If you get hormone therapy, though, you can’t just get a single injection-- you have to get a treatment plan, because it wears off. Quickly. Imagine telling someone that they shouldn’t get a haircut because in ten years they might not like having short hair-- that’s actually less silly than saying it about hormone therapy, because its effects can wear off in a month.
And nothing about getting married, taking care of families, etc. magically becomes off-limits to someone because they’re trans.
Irony.
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I didnt want to be the one to say it but Ive been feeling the same way. How am I supposed to feel safe and respected amongst people who evidently are so adamantly against respecting me? This whole thread is extremely disturbing and disappointing to me especially since I was promised an inclusive environment when I went through orientation.
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Your understanding of trans people is at the very least disturbing and very misinformed. It should not be considered “extreme” to respect a persons identity (including use of proper terminology and correct pronouns) and if that is the case for you then perhaps MakeICT is too extreme of an organization for you.
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I completely agree. Reading everything here was a complete shell shock after being here for a few months.
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I trust people to make decisions/observations about their own identity.
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