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0 pointsmakomk10y ago0 comments

Do persecuted non-nerds have the right to (in any way) cordon off computer science as a refuge free from nerdiness? Because that's what articles like these seem to be suggesting we'd need to do, by saying that nerd social cues like Star Wars and geeky T-shirts are excluding women.

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tptacek10y ago

I think that's an overwrought reading of the article, for two reasons: first, the article isn't prescriptive about Star Wars, and second, it's reporting simple facts; whether you feel comfortable about it or not, nerd culture's coupling with software development does alienate potential entrants to the field.

But let's not bother deploying dueling readings from the article, and instead see how much you and I actually disagree:

I do not in fact think it's reasonable to suggest that individual software developers should avoid nerd signifiers to avoid alienating people. I feel safe presuming we agree about that.

Do you feel like it's reasonable for companies to avoid aggressive identification with nerd culture? To not ask candidates what their favorite Star Wars movie is, or to try to balance out outings and fringe benefits so they only appeal to sci-fi fandom?

blackguardx10y ago

Do companies do that? I've never experienced any embrace of "nerd culture" at any place I've worked.

tptacek10y ago

Sure! Here's an example I'll ruefully draw from the last company I helped manage: all-hands offsites at local breweries.

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lightcatcher10y ago

Palantir is named after an item in Lord of the Rings. From what I've heard from friends working there, they have an internal conference called HobbitCon, meetings rooms named after LotR, and refer to their office as "the shire".

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tptacek10y ago

But let's not bother deploying dueling readings from the article, and instead see how much you and I actually disagree:

I do not in fact think it's reasonable to suggest that individual software developers should avoid nerd signifiers to avoid alienating people. I feel safe presuming we agree about that.

blackguardx10y ago

Do companies do that? I've never experienced any embrace of "nerd culture" at any place I've worked.

tptacek10y ago

Sure! Here's an example I'll ruefully draw from the last company I helped manage: all-hands offsites at local breweries.

2 more replies

lightcatcher10y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse