[Gendergap] Manifesto

[Pete Forsyth]

On Mar 24, 2011, at 10:11 AM, Sandra ordonez wrote:

> What language can we include so that we feel safe about sharing personal stories here, or opinions?

Hi Sandy and all,

I love the Manifesto, and hope it will continue to evolve.

I have a sort of general concern though, about the way we think and talk about "safety." I should say up front, I don't have a solution in mind -- but I think it's important to think this through carefully.

Of course we want to establish a safe space, but I think we have a responsibility not to talk about safety in terms that go beyond what we can reasonably provide. And our list which is publicly archived. Even if we are diligent about dealing with bad faith *participation* on the list, we have absolutely no ability to exclude anyone from reading the list, or linking to or commenting on it elsewhere on the Internet.

As it stands right now (with open sign-up and public list archives), I don't feel great about putting emphasis on encouraging people to voice frustrations or, more generally, to feel safe. It doesn't seem responsible.

-Pete