If I have the spoons, I want to write up some more detailed comments. Do you mind if I link to the article in a blog post? Also, what does the acronym "FLOSS" mean? I don't think you expand it, and I've never seen it before.
Along those lines, I suppose this is as good a place as any to mention that I started a job! that pays money! three weeks ago, and am struggling to get my head above water. So while I don't think anyone will be upset at me for hanging on to the two bugs I want to work on and not actually getting to them for another month or two, I figured I should just say "I am going to! But once we move back downtown and I have brains and my RSI flare has died down!"
I have bugs I haven't touched in six months (or longer). It's fine - there's a reason rah by default unassigns bugs that haven't had any activity in 18 months (with encouragement to reassign to yourself if you still want to do anything). Seriously, won't worry about it, and good luck with the housemove and learning to swim in these waters! ♥
I jest, sorta. My dad was actually really supportive of me learning computer stuff. Some of the happier memories I have of childhood with my dad were of him teaching me how to do a lot of basic computer stuff, like installing RAM and hard drives and various other devices, and of software, and internet security.
Pretty much, most of the groups I have hung out in, I have had very technically savvy friends, or partners. And this essay... yes. Yes, yes, yes.
It actually brings up some bad memories, too, because I have been meaning to get into DW babydev'ing, but have been scared -- and a lot of that is not because of the DW folks, who are super supportive, but because of a few protracted arguments I had with my partner (who I believe you know on IRC as stormerider). It was actually those arguments that made me realize that they were being abusive and gaslighting, and later realized that my partner had never before behaved to that extreme (some of the behaviors, like being stubborn about an opinion and not wanting to change it, were a thing before, but minor quibbles) before being prescribed prednisone. They went off the meds, and things changed... for the better. A lot of the earlier minor quibble issues and behaviors are no longer in the picture, because while on the prednisone they got amplified to the point that Storme could actually realize what the fuck I was pointing at.
But, it was this loooong drawn out argument on whether or not DW was an appropriate project for a beginner to learn on because Perl, in their opinion, is not a good beginner language. I argued that it seemed to me that if I was interested in contributing, that ought be good enough, but... yeah, it was a prednisone induced horror. And having those memories pop up when I poke at the DW stuff to look at... maybe!... dipping my toes in... not so pleasant.
Anyway, this is mainly relevant because in the whole thing, I have not had the technical confidence, as you put it, to really effectively argue. I feel like I know... well, nothing. And feeling like I have to defend my interest in contributing to whatnot project certainly didn't help. (And even though things are better! and okay now! that doesn't mean the memories go away, especially with an anxiety disorder. It is making me slightly panick-y to talk about this.)
Thank you for writing it. It's given me a lot to think about. (And maybe try to beat those demons back a little more...)
Yes, I feel much the same... It would be nice if these things were not common experiences that so many people (especially of marginalized communities) can identify with... but having it be talked about is actually pretty major in and of itself. Drawing attention to it and saying, "You see? This shit here? This is not cool."
It is... hm. I can actually draw a corollary to a writer's community I co-admin. Our board focuses on romance and books with romantic elements. Someone asked if there was a similar board for SF for a new writer. I had to explain to them that they would not find any SF board out there that is as newbie friendly, because too many SF communities pride themselves on eating newbies for lunch. And, to some degree, I see the same thing with other geek communities, too. Who cares if you might be an amazing writer or coder or whatnot if given proper support -- you don't know anything now so shut up and let the big kids play.
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kaberett
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-08 07:43 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-08 11:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-08 11:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-09 04:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-09 12:04 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-09 06:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-09 11:43 am (UTC)I would really love to read more detailed comments if you have 'em; and do please feel free to link it around. xx
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-10 02:50 am (UTC)Along those lines, I suppose this is as good a place as any to mention that I started a job! that pays money! three weeks ago, and am struggling to get my head above water. So while I don't think anyone will be upset at me for hanging on to the two bugs I want to work on and not actually getting to them for another month or two, I figured I should just say "I am going to! But once we move back downtown and I have brains and my RSI flare has died down!"
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-10 11:28 am (UTC)I have bugs I haven't touched in six months (or longer). It's fine - there's a reason rah by default unassigns bugs that haven't had any activity in 18 months (with encouragement to reassign to yourself if you still want to do anything). Seriously, won't worry about it, and good luck with the housemove and learning to swim in these waters! ♥
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-10 11:42 am (UTC)I jest, sorta. My dad was actually really supportive of me learning computer stuff. Some of the happier memories I have of childhood with my dad were of him teaching me how to do a lot of basic computer stuff, like installing RAM and hard drives and various other devices, and of software, and internet security.
Pretty much, most of the groups I have hung out in, I have had very technically savvy friends, or partners. And this essay... yes. Yes, yes, yes.
It actually brings up some bad memories, too, because I have been meaning to get into DW babydev'ing, but have been scared -- and a lot of that is not because of the DW folks, who are super supportive, but because of a few protracted arguments I had with my partner (who I believe you know on IRC as stormerider). It was actually those arguments that made me realize that they were being abusive and gaslighting, and later realized that my partner had never before behaved to that extreme (some of the behaviors, like being stubborn about an opinion and not wanting to change it, were a thing before, but minor quibbles) before being prescribed prednisone. They went off the meds, and things changed... for the better. A lot of the earlier minor quibble issues and behaviors are no longer in the picture, because while on the prednisone they got amplified to the point that Storme could actually realize what the fuck I was pointing at.
But, it was this loooong drawn out argument on whether or not DW was an appropriate project for a beginner to learn on because Perl, in their opinion, is not a good beginner language. I argued that it seemed to me that if I was interested in contributing, that ought be good enough, but... yeah, it was a prednisone induced horror. And having those memories pop up when I poke at the DW stuff to look at... maybe!... dipping my toes in... not so pleasant.
Anyway, this is mainly relevant because in the whole thing, I have not had the technical confidence, as you put it, to really effectively argue. I feel like I know... well, nothing. And feeling like I have to defend my interest in contributing to whatnot project certainly didn't help. (And even though things are better! and okay now! that doesn't mean the memories go away, especially with an anxiety disorder. It is making me slightly panick-y to talk about this.)
Thank you for writing it. It's given me a lot to think about. (And maybe try to beat those demons back a little more...)
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-10 11:45 am (UTC)I'd recommend also reading mark's post (linked in comments here) and attached comments -- because he is also super-encouraging!
(no subject)
Date: 2013-07-10 11:49 am (UTC)It is... hm. I can actually draw a corollary to a writer's community I co-admin. Our board focuses on romance and books with romantic elements. Someone asked if there was a similar board for SF for a new writer. I had to explain to them that they would not find any SF board out there that is as newbie friendly, because too many SF communities pride themselves on eating newbies for lunch. And, to some degree, I see the same thing with other geek communities, too. Who cares if you might be an amazing writer or coder or whatnot if given proper support -- you don't know anything now so shut up and let the big kids play.
I will go and read the linked post! :)