I have no idea if it’s true or not, but sometimes I feel as nerds we are already an out-group and therefore naturally more inclusive and welcoming to fellow nerds regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, skin color or origin.
I would broadly agree with that, with the caveat that prejudice and bigotry can still exist in nerdy spaces, just in a more insidious manner. Specifically, I have seen some communities where they superficially seem accepting, but their position as an outgroup can make people feel uncomfortable with grappling with prejudice in their communities — they look around and notice, for example, that the vast vast majority of people there are white, and then they almost begin grappling with the implications of that (that there may be reasons why people of colour do not feel fully safe or welcome in that space), but then they retreat from that discomfort of that thought and internally insist that everything is fine. They don’t like thinking of themselves as being a part of the privileged in-group when their identity has formed around them being part of the outgroup, so they push it out of mind.
I don’t say this in a judgemental way, more just to highlight that being genuinely inclusive requires an active, ongoing effort to keep learning and challenging our understanding of things. The complacency that gives rise to bigotry in progressive spaces is understandable, but important to work to overcome
The bigotry doesn’t have to be within a group for people to not want to join. They may be uncomfortable joining due to pressure from their friends and family.
People may also simply not join because they’re not interested. I personally have no interest in going to raves. The music and the drugs have no appeal to me.
Not saying there’s no bigotry in a particular group. Just that bigotry isn’t the only reason why people don’t join.
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I have no idea if it’s true or not, but sometimes I feel as nerds we are already an out-group and therefore naturally more inclusive and welcoming to fellow nerds regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, skin color or origin.
I would broadly agree with that, with the caveat that prejudice and bigotry can still exist in nerdy spaces, just in a more insidious manner. Specifically, I have seen some communities where they superficially seem accepting, but their position as an outgroup can make people feel uncomfortable with grappling with prejudice in their communities — they look around and notice, for example, that the vast vast majority of people there are white, and then they almost begin grappling with the implications of that (that there may be reasons why people of colour do not feel fully safe or welcome in that space), but then they retreat from that discomfort of that thought and internally insist that everything is fine. They don’t like thinking of themselves as being a part of the privileged in-group when their identity has formed around them being part of the outgroup, so they push it out of mind.
I don’t say this in a judgemental way, more just to highlight that being genuinely inclusive requires an active, ongoing effort to keep learning and challenging our understanding of things. The complacency that gives rise to bigotry in progressive spaces is understandable, but important to work to overcome
100% agree.
The bigotry doesn’t have to be within a group for people to not want to join. They may be uncomfortable joining due to pressure from their friends and family.
People may also simply not join because they’re not interested. I personally have no interest in going to raves. The music and the drugs have no appeal to me.
Not saying there’s no bigotry in a particular group. Just that bigotry isn’t the only reason why people don’t join.