[sudo-discuss] Fwd: [sudo-info] reaching out from google.org regarding an assistive technology hackathon

[Ryan]

I think that this is still a rather reductivist argument. It assumes two
things that people can not simultaneously be thankful for something, but
critical of the why and how it is being implemented

I actually think that it is more important to be critical of the "good"
things than the things one outright objects to, as this actually guides
progress in a better direction, with more understanding and usually a
better solution.

A boycott is not telling Google to "screw off." It is a statement, usually
with explanation, of why someone will not participate in something.
Off-list, I have actually suggested many ways to improve such a hackathon,
which would likely change at least my perspective on it. But a boycott that
states why a group is refusing to participate is not "fuck off," it's
saying "this is problematic and we choose not to."



On Thu, Jun 25, 2015 at 4:29 PM, Adam Munich <adam at aperture.systems> wrote:

> <rant>
>
> I'm far from rich, I just work my fucking ass off & take huge risks so
> I may someday be.
>
> I understand the anti-capitalist sentiments many at the omni share;
> the system favors the rich, and to get things done you really need to
> be on a war path. But don't forget, much of the amenities you enjoy in
> life today are only possible through the hard effort of entrepreneurs
> in the past, most of whom, started from the bottom and never stopped
> fighting.
>
> Telling google to screw off is a poor choice built on a shaky foundation
> of pride, if you ask me. The more useful solution would be to welcome them,
> and take any time you so chose during the hackathon to suggest improvements
> to their program, and the rationale behind them.
>
>
> </rant>
> ---
> Adam Munich -- Inventor, Physicist, Engineer
> Web: http://adammunich.com
> Tel: +1-650-452-0554
>
> Be • knowledgeable •  social • patient • fearless • compassionate •
> fun • humble • forgiving.
> Be a leader
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 25, 2015 at 3:59 PM, yar <yardenack at gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 8:54 PM, Adam Munich <adam at aperture.systems>
> wrote:
> >>> Instead of arguing, could we instead *be thankful* that google is
> willing to sponsor healthcare innovation, and not distributing the cash as
> dividends to their shareholders like most of corporate america?
> >
> > To me this just sounds like: "You can't criticize anything I do,
> > because I'm rich".
> >
> > In theory, inviting shitty things to Sudo & Omni gives us a big
> > opportunity to challenge them. But doing that without just getting
> > co-opted would take a lot of work and struggle and I don't know if we
> > have the resources for that right now, let alone the risk of failing
> > to challenge them enough and just being complicit. Also, if we
> > specifically reject this event and tell them exactly why, and what
> > kind of things we'd like to see from them in the future, that's also a
> > way to influence them. If they're really well meaning, they'd listen
> > and take it to heart. But if all they really care about is money and
> > prestige, then they'll just smile and move on and we didn't waste all
> > our time and energy. Not holding my breath, personally.
>



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