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Discussion on: This is BS: How and why "inclusive" conferences are screwing up (starting from the top)

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Scott Simontis

Nicole, thank you for opening my eyes to a lot of things. I have never even considered inclusivity at conferences, mainly because I have had so little exposure to them. I went to Ignite two years ago because my company paid for it, otherwise there was no way in hell I would have been able to go (I was taking the bus to the exhibit center and eating Ramen when I got home, $5000 for a week pass? LOL. except it's not funny when you're pinching money that hard not to overdraft).

I didn't realize that speakers are often paid. In the case of Ignite, all of the speakers were either Microsoft vendors, Microsoft partners, or vendors, so I assumed MS sponsored all of the speakers, and that even if they didn't, you're probably making a comfortable living selling your microservice-based container vaporware on the cloud as a Microsoft Gold partner.

I'm speaking at my first event in three weeks, at Atlanta Code Camp. I was happy to see that our keynote speaker will be speaking about diversity and inclusion in the community. I will be speaking about a gadget I made with TensorFlow Lite at 9:45 AM if anyone is going to be there :D

I admire your courage for having the courage and vulnerability to openly accept, embrace and share your identity with others. I still don't know what's wrong with me...we've limited it down to some combination of possible autism, borderline personality disorder, and Bipolar I/II (depending on who you ask). The stigma has gotten better, but it's still there. And it creates some awkward moments at work when you have to take a week off because you tried to end your own life and needed to cool off in the psych ward and have to find some way to casually dismiss how you fractured your spine in the process (massive seizure).

I was just happy that I got accepted and that I get to talk about something I love. I think I get in for free, but anxious me already bought a ticket in case I didn't get accepted or something went wrong. You have given me a lot to think about, thank you and please keep on fighting!

I'd also like to mention that my inbox is always open if anyone ever needs to talk about anything, whatever it may be. If not me, please talk to someone if you are struggling. It's a dark and lonely place when your disorders take control and you feel completely alone. Sometimes all you can do is exist for a 24 hour period and that is a tremendous victory.

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Nicole Archambault

Transparency is contagious. :) Thank YOU for having the bravery to share your experience and perspective.

The loneliness is deep from all angles. Then you have people telling you, literally, that you're being too hard on the organizers of an event that they already screwed up with in terms of their model.

It's so easy to see why we face so many problems existing in tech. Everyone wants to think the hardest shit is applying and coming up with the money. The struggle is being able to exist and have your experience be considered valid.

Hugs! Be sure to hit me up on Twitter, I never shut up about mental illness and standing up for marginalized groups. ❤️