[clug] Open Source Software's Dirty Little Secret

[Daniel Pittman]

Jack Kelly <endgame.dos at gmail.com> writes:
> On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:39 PM, Daniel Pittman <daniel at rimspace.net> wrote:
>> Jack Kelly <endgame.dos at gmail.com> writes:
>>> On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 8:47 AM, steve jenkin <sjenkin at canb.auug.org.au> wrote:

[...]

>>> The bit about a unisex gym being converted to a Fernwood franchise and
>>> charging all the former male members fees to transfer their membership is
>>> particularly interesting.
>>
>> Well, a business changing hands and policy isn't anything new, and it happens
>> all the time.  The fee seems a bit dubious ... though, really, given that an
>> ownership changeover could put people out entirely their fees[1]
>
> I fail to parse this sentence.

When a business, like a gym, changes ownership, things change, including
policies.

In a number of cases I know people who had a membership to the old gym simply
lost their prepaid money.

In a small number of cases they couldn't, or wouldn't, continue to attend for
various reasons, and elected to leave.  They, again, lost their money.

In short: charging men for the change seems a bit odd, but it is hardly an
uncommon business practice, and certainly not especially illegal.

[...]

>> Positive discrimination can produce measurable benefits in restoring
>> equality.  It does this through several mechanisms, but the biggest and
>> most obvious is that it provides a pool of <unprivileged class> the chance
>> to develop the skills and experience they need to participate equally with
>> the pool of <privileged class> who have been doing this for years.
>
> Because I would like to believe that it is unnecessary.

Me too.  Also, a pony. ;)

> People should be able to get the help they need to do what they're trying to
> do without it having anything to do with whatever $minority they happen to
> be a member of. Perhaps that's a bit idealistic.

Practically, my experience says so.  Not that this counts for so much in the
bigger picture, but it is the best reference I have to hand.

Unfortunately, too, part of what they need help with is to feel confident
enough to get involved at all despite the fact that some[1] of the patrons
make them feel unwelcome, to the point that they *don't* participate when
those folks are around.

Which, frankly, sucks.

        Daniel

Footnotes: 
[1]  ...and it may only be a tiny proportion of all the men (etc) who go to
     gyms (or participate in FOSS, etc) that are actively hostile, while most
     people either tolerate or silently disapprove of this.

-- 
✣ Daniel Pittman            ✉ daniel at rimspace.net            ☎ +61 401 155 707
               ♽ made with 100 percent post-consumer electrons
   Looking for work?  Love Perl?  In Melbourne, Australia?  We are hiring.