Once upon a time, in a very small part of the developed world, there were a set of activities which provided identity and sense of belonging for introverted people who didn't otherwise fit with mainstream society. That ended up being called "nerd culture".
That "culture" is now prevalent in fields (like computing) that have moved from the fringe to the mainstream in the past decades. Many seem to find it worth preserving, even if that means perpetuating an abrasive and hostile environment.
I've always thought that I had ticked all the checkboxes to be considered a nerd and a hacker. Yet I don't recognise myself at all in the picture that the article paints, and I would not want to live and work in the environment that many here are advocating for.
The author outlines a description of a "hacker" that, to be honest, sounds more like "mildly autistic" to me:
"That guy in the group who stares at you without saying anything? He could be undressing you with his eyes, but I’d lay better odds that he’s paying attention, watching your actions and reactions to build a mental model of how it’s safe to interact with you."
The proportion of introverts (like myself) in the computing field is higher than in society as a whole. Some patience and understanding is therefore needed. But this does not justify treating people poorly because "those are our values and you are a foreigner". I fear that her arguments, well-intentioned as they may be, will do more harm than good.
That "culture" is now prevalent in fields (like computing) that have moved from the fringe to the mainstream in the past decades. Many seem to find it worth preserving, even if that means perpetuating an abrasive and hostile environment.
I've always thought that I had ticked all the checkboxes to be considered a nerd and a hacker. Yet I don't recognise myself at all in the picture that the article paints, and I would not want to live and work in the environment that many here are advocating for.
The author outlines a description of a "hacker" that, to be honest, sounds more like "mildly autistic" to me:
"That guy in the group who stares at you without saying anything? He could be undressing you with his eyes, but I’d lay better odds that he’s paying attention, watching your actions and reactions to build a mental model of how it’s safe to interact with you."
The proportion of introverts (like myself) in the computing field is higher than in society as a whole. Some patience and understanding is therefore needed. But this does not justify treating people poorly because "those are our values and you are a foreigner". I fear that her arguments, well-intentioned as they may be, will do more harm than good.