PyCon Incidents

[Christopher Merle]

I heard about this not long after it happened, but I didn't know all the details. It didn't seem like a big deal though it was serious for the individuals involved. This is probably the best account and analysis of what occurred. 

“Donglegate” is classic overreaction—and everyone pays | Ars Technica

http://arstechnica.com/staff/2013/03/donglegate-is-classic-overreaction-and-everyone-pays/

The Python community has made great strides in their diversity efforts to be more inclusive. PyCon 2013 had 2500 attendees from 41 countries, there were even a number of parents bringing their kids who were learning to program. Even one father and son from South Africa were flown in, so they could attend. Thanks to those outreach efforts 20% of the attendees were women. Last year Pyladies was the only women in tech group there. This year there were four: LadyCoders, Women Who Code, CodeChix and Pyladies again.

Our group is small and I hope we can start growing it again. Because it is small we don't have a formal group structure and so far it's worked pretty well the way it is. As it grows that'll change.

Thanks,

Chris

PS - There was also another incident wherein someone was using an illegal substance in a public area. They were expelled from the conference and banned from the next two. I don't know what the substance was.

[Christopher Merle]

I have since read a much better blog post about it:

Adria Richards, PyCon, and How We All Lost by Amanda Blum

http://amandablumwords.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/3/

And here is a more detailed account of what occurred:

How “dongle” jokes got two people fired—and led to DDoS attacks

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/how-dongle-jokes-got-two-people-fired-and-led-to-ddos-attacks/