Jen SimmonsGosh, it’s incredibly hard to see all the posts from CSS Day. It feels like a punch to the gut. I wish I were there. But I absolutely cannot speak at indoor events where zero people are wearing masks. Everyone just traveled. The risk of getting COVID is incredibly high. Such places are completely inaccessible to disabled people like me. I am excluded. So I sit at home with fomo, wondering how we got to this place. Knowing people I use to consider friends do not actually care. #MillionsMissing
Gerhard Schröder@jensimmons I feel your situation ❤️🩹
Steven D. Brewer 🏳️⚧️I'm attending BayCon in a few weeks, but it's a "masks required" event. Most of the science fiction conventions are, which is gratifying. Because, like you, if they were not, I would be unable to attend.
Jesse's Kitten@jensimmons That's so sad! And the crappy part is that things could be done to make it possible for you to attend. I'm so sorry you're going through this, though. The world, as we knew it, is changing, and it's sad.
john lehet@jensimmons It’s still good you are smart enough not to go. It is smart, FOMO be damned. I have a couple of old friends who are smart and, I thought, compassionate. Now going into restaurants unmasked. “Willing to take the risk.” And no thought to the risk they pose to others. I’m afraid I think less of them, which hurts a lot.
Christian "Schepp" Schaefer@jensimmons I know what you mean and I agree that we as a society failed to draw the right conclusions out of it. I'm also more on the cautious side of things. Before the pandemic, I used to run a local meetup. Last year, I rebooted it in the form of 3 events during the summer months, which we let take place outside as we didn't want to become the root of infections.It was really nice! https://twitter.com/wwnrw/status/1559954062447190020
@jensimmons I'm also part of the @Fronteersconference volunteer committee and we did a reboot of that as well last year. But a mask mandate was pretty much out of question, if you want to have people attend, especially in the liberal Netherlands. But we offered branded masks for people to use. I think I was the only masked person together with two more. People were just not interested. https://twitter.com/FronteersConf/status/1568138252921569282
@jensimmons But then there's one more thing I'm co-organizing, which might be something you'd want to consider, and that's https://www.css.cafe/. My co-organizer @nilsbinder and I created it as an online-only event in 2020 to have/offer a platform for professional exchange on CSS during the pandemic. And we plan on leaving it online-only, as we find that to be very inclusive (also e.g. for singles with kids or people that live in rural areas). We had amazing speakers so far.
@jensimmons So maybe you'd consider paying us a visit, too? You are more than welcome to attend (even inkognito) and of course also to speak, if you'd like to. We have pretty much the brightest and most kind attendees you can wish for.
@Schepp Oh, I’d love to! Let’s make it happen.
@jensimmons That's wonderful! 😍
We also just saw your email and @nilsbinder will write you back in a moment. 🥳✨
We also just saw your email and @nilsbinder will write you back in a moment. 🥳✨
Wolfr@jensimmons if it’s any consolation know that many people mentioned you and your work in a super positive light