I say manipulation, because the modus opporandi is to make us feel guilty that there aren't enough women in tech. Or minorities. Ot lgbtq or whatever.
And the SJW movement seems to be willing to use all tactics including to reframe open-source develop as something that should welcome more politics, just because one particular crowd inside OS is driven ideologically. (Richard Stallman and the free software foundation - forgetting that many people participate in OS for non-political reasons)
Then the article poses the all important question:
"Are all people truly free to participate in open source?"
I would say, clearly, anyone with a computer, Internet, that can teach hom/her self to code, and has something worthwhile to contribute can indeed.
I am not aware of github blocking signups from people based on race or gender.
If a particular project does not want your contribution, you simply fork it. Happens to me too, despite my white male privilege.
Then the article attempts to refute the conclusion that people are generally free to contribute to OS just by stating the stat:
"Between 2% and 10% of open source contributors are women. Statistics are not available for other marginalized populations, such as people of color, people with disabilities, or people on the LGBTQ spectrum, often because the surveys that track these demographics do not even ask such questions–another manifestation of the problem."
The author does not show causality between this stat and discrimination, just infers it. Must be because we all hate women despite havinf mothers, sisters, wives, woman friends...
Finally saying in the above quoted paragraph that not quizzing people about their orientation and race, is part of thr problem!!!!
For real.
I thought not caring and not identifying people by their race or orientation would be a cornerstone of freedom and equility in the world of open-source where you can contribute under any moniker of your choosing.
Is it just me?
FTA: Are all people truly free to participate in open source? Between 2% and 10% of open source contributors are women. Statistics are not available for other marginalized populations, such as people of color, people with disabilities, or people on the LGBTQ spectrum, often because the surveys that track these demographics do not even ask such questions–another manifestation of the problem.
One of the concepts of open source that I find most beautiful is, open source doesn't owe anyone anything. It exists at the pleasure of those willing to contribute. It is freely forkable and not beholden to central authority. It is perhaps one of the best examples of free association.
Further, the fruits of open source have made technology more accessible than ever before or otherwise might be. Open source by its nature enables social justice, not the other way around.
