ProjectFearlessnessDec 2, 2022

I know people of colour and other minority groups are still having a hard time here on Mastodon. As a white man there's nothing I can say that you're already saying much better, so all I do is boost those posts whenever I see them. Keep on speaking up. You must be heard.

What I will say is we want you here. We need you here. The ones who say they don't want you here are the ones who need you here the most.

If we don't have a #BlackMastodon all we have is a #WhiteElephant and nobody needs that.

Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️
@ProjectFearlessness #Mastodon must be colour neutral and gender neutral
It must be unlike #DodoLand
Dec 2, 2022 at 8:03amWeb
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 2, 2022
@rkd993 It must be. It's not, yet. It needs some work, but that's what we're all here for.
Show threadDr Lisa EvansDec 2, 2022
@rkd993 @ProjectFearlessness What does that mean? You want to live in a beige world? Diversity is life.
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 2, 2022
@lisae @rkd993
I took that as meaning that everybody should have equal footing here on Mastodon with no prejudices based on race or gender. Neutral as in unbiased.
Show threadDr Lisa EvansDec 2, 2022
@ProjectFearlessness @rkd993 Neutrality isn't enough in an unjust world, unfortunately. When some people are overly privileged and others disadvantaged, a neutral platform favours the privileged. To create a diverse community you have to provide extra support for the most disadvantaged, and encourage the privileged to take a back seat.
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 2, 2022
@lisae @rkd993
Yes, that is a great point. People often use words like neutrality in a well meaning way without stopping to think about it. I'm sure there was no ill intent and now you've made me notice it. This is a good conversation to have.
Show threadDr Lisa EvansDec 2, 2022
@ProjectFearlessness @rkd993 Thank you, I didn't mean to be harsh with the first toot. I get a bit passionate about this.
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 2, 2022
@lisae @rkd993
Be passionate. You made your point well.
Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness
I did stop to think about it, going back to my days in #CivilRights era and those days, issues, and movement along with my social science background. It has never been simple 😢. Not then, not now.
Happy to work together to a better terminology.
Show threadRicochetRabbittDec 2, 2022

@lisae

This is such a powerful graphic.

Show threadDr Lisa EvansDec 2, 2022

@AndyBarnett I should have given credit. It's by @restoringracialjustice on Twitter (edit: nope, Instagram) and I found it here:

https://www.bu.edu/diversity/resource-toolkit/inequity-equality-equity-and-justice/

Inequity, Equality, Equity, and Justice | Diversity & Inclusion

Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022

@lisae @AndyBarnett yes, a useful graphic. BU has a long history, quite a bit of it wrestling with such issues, particularly from the 60s [my era but I was at Carleton which has always had a very active history of involvement too]

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/boston-university-history-class/

A Deep Dive into Boston University History

Students taking this summer’s History of Boston University HUB class get a deep dive into the history of BU, both in and outside of the classroom.

BU Today
Show threadRicochetRabbittDec 2, 2022
@lisae
Thank you. It's an image I've seen used in EDI training previously. Great to give it a wider audience.
Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness We don't disagree
Show threadSueDec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness @rkd993
Great way of showing inequality
Show threadRenoir Dana Dec 2, 2022

@lisae @ProjectFearlessness @rkd993

I do love that graphic and I use it in presentations myself.
However, my autistic brain does wonder if those three people are all a bit selfish? Surely they should all pay for tickets to watch the game properly, rather than bypass the security measures :)

#overthinking
#Autistic

Show threadK SatovDec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness @rkd993 I love this graphic. I’ve only ever seen it once before but it should be widespread.
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 3, 2022
@karsatov @lisae @rkd993
It is great. It has a credit on it (@restoringracialjustice). I don't think I'm speaking out of turn in saying whoever drew this illustration wanted everyone to see it. It should be widespread. Everyone needs to see it. You can go ahead and share it.
Show threadCatmama 🐈Dec 2, 2022
@ProjectFearlessness @lisae @rkd993 That may be what was intended, but my mind went to "I don't see color," or "I'm colorblind." It sounds nice, but in reality it erases the lived experiences of POC, and to shut them up for speaking about their experiences.
Show threadProjectFearlessnessDec 2, 2022
@Catmama @lisae @rkd993
Yes. I see your point. It's such a short statement that it can be read in different ways. I'll wait for the original poster to respond.
Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness @Catmama 🙏🏽
Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness @Catmama That was not the context nor was there any intent of that nature. I'm well aware of the hazards of language "erasing". I've often talked about such issues in my teaching and on social media. Hope that clarifies. (Just on that general issue, the English language is sadly often problematic for such subtleties.)
Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022
@ProjectFearlessness @lisae Sorry to have been late back to this discussion. I certainly did mean neutral in that sense. Given my backgroundn(academic/social@psychology/linguistics/sociolinguistics) I'm well aware of the complexities of language, my main work was in attitude change (broadly) and what was referred to as #CrossCultural research methods, ethics and issues. /1
Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022

@ProjectFearlessness @lisae @psychology/linguistics/sociolinguistics) /2

Part of what is refreshing about #Mastodon is that there are, or can be, dedicated places for everyone (for example I was very excited to see the indg.club group)

What I envision is a place where both can happen. That the place can be safe for all reasonable people (I don't consider hate groups & Nazis reasonable. #DoDoLand broke that trust today) and those needing a boost can do it/get it here

Show threadSir Dr Rusty o the Isle 🖤💛❤️Dec 2, 2022
@lisae @ProjectFearlessness 🙏🏽