Technology is political.
If your project or organisation has a “no politics” clause, you’re saying you’re happy to exclude people whose very existence is political in our societies.
It’s only defensible if you’re coming from a place of privilege where the dominant politics are to your advantage so you can take them as given.
There is no such thing as “no politics”; there is only “no politics other than the politics of the status quo that I benefit from, which I’ve internalised as normal.”
@aral Female hair is either long or political. Sexual orientation is either heterosexual or political. Gender identity is either cis or political. Clothing is either gender stereotyped and boring or political. City infrastructure is either car-focused or political. Energy is either fossil fuels or political. Education is either white christian propaganda or political.
Everything follows the same pattern, tech included.
A powerful and effective weapon used by opponents of change is discomfort. Opposition to equality for gay men has the easiest access to this. All anyone has to do in order to make everyone in the room want to talk about something else is say, "We don't want someone's agenda shoved down our throats."
Funny how that metaphor comes up every single time, but almost never for any other issue, eh?
Well noted.
Aral Balkan
Turing Incomplete
Dr. Sundancer
Professor_Stevens