[PlanetKR] Short Survey on Diversity and Inclusion in KR

[Markus Kroetzsch]

Dear Vladimir, dear all,

Before diving further into this aspect, we should also not forget that 
the role of the DI activity was much more than handling "incidents". But 
even if we focus on this point only, I don't really see the problem 
here. If there are no incidents, that's great, but we are an open 
community who gathers people based on their research, not on their 
friendliness. Looking around us in the world, it seems clear that our 
shared values are not everybody else's, so it won't hurt to cast them 
into a short document as proposed here. With respect to (major) 
incidents, this is just like an air bag -- you don't remove it from a 
car just because you had no use for it yet.

I see another big value in this initiative. We all know that social 
values are changing quickly around the world, but not at the same pace 
in all places. KR is international. "Incidents" can happen without being 
intended (this is the main kind of incidence I have witnessed at 
conferences, e.g., in the form of inappropriate images or jokes that 
were meant to "lighten up" talks). A published policy can help newcomers 
to understand how to behave on the international stage and the committee 
can help to mediate when conflicts arise. I think that's a good thing.

Best wishes,

Markus


On 08/10/2021 03:00, Vladimir Lifschitz via PlanetKR wrote:
> Dear Judy,
> Dear Markus,
> Dear Sean,
> Dear Gabriele,
> 
> Thank you for taking the time to comment on my message to Vanina.  I was
> sorry to learn from Sean's email that his life in Texas brought him so
> much pain.
> 
> I must point out, on the other hand, that much of what Judy and Sean
> wrote about is not directly related to my question.  I wanted to clarify
> what prompted us to create the administrative mechanism described in the
> policy document--was it an incident at one of KR conferences?  Then
> I agree that creating the positions of Diversity and Inclusion Officer
> and DI Chairs is justified.
> 
> But there is another possibility: maybe we are simply doing what
> everyone else is doing this year.  If this is what is happening then we
> need to think about this initiative twice.  The tendency to suspect
> bigotry in every organization by default, without evidence, is
> widespread today, but it is irrational and unhealthy.  This is a bad idea
> whose time has come, to use John McCarthy's expression.
> 
> This is why my question is important.
> 
> Best wishes,
> Vladimir
> 

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