The Ada Initiative takes a different approach

Posted Feb 20, 2011 16:39 UTC (Sun) by Tet (guest, #5433)
In reply to: The Ada Initiative takes a different approach by nix
Parent article: The Ada Initiative takes a different approach

You're a perfect example of why it doesn't matter. I spent years not knowing anything about you apart from the name "nix". But it really wasn't relevant. You could have been black, white, brown, yellow, male, female or something in between. I wouldn't have cared. You were clearly competent in the necessary areas, which was all that mattered.

The Ada Initiative takes a different approach

Posted Feb 21, 2011 19:34 UTC (Mon) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

Exactly. Real names don't matter: *consistent* names and no sock-puppeting matter (so that you can build up a reputation, for good or ill). The 'must use your real name' things are unenforceable anyway, because people can say their real name is anything they like: as PaXTeam (I think) has pointed out, it is almost certain that things have got into the kernel under pseudonyms simply because the chosen pseudonyms looked like real names. So this sort of policy discriminates against those who have honest reasons to want to use a pseudonym, while not deterring bad actors one bit.

(For that matter, people have -- repeatedly -- referred to me using the wrong gendered pronoun. Huge innate differences between men and women, my foot.)