[python-uk] What is community involvement? was: DJUGL - Django User Group London: this evening (April 22th) at 19:00 c/o WayraUK

[Phil Tysoe]

This all feels very unpleasant and beyond the scope of the Python UK
mailing list.  Speaking personally, I subscribe to this list to keep in
touch with what is happening in the Python community in a positive and
productive sense.

On 23 April 2015 at 18:14, Andy Kilner <gnublade at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> "so in the prior 4 years what kind of community involvement does he mean?"
>
> Jon used to come along to the pyssup meetups I used to organise, that was
> about 7 years ago. He did so for a number of years before other meetups
> such as DJUGL took off and his eventual rescue when nobody was there to
> take it on. His participation was always exemplary taking the time to get
> to know the people there and I guess to really get to understand us -
> strange breed that we are. He also bought more than his fair share of the
> rounds.
>
> Anand, you know how difficult it is to organise these things (note Jon is
> more than just a sponsor) - let's give him a break.
>
> Cheers
> Andy
>
> On Thu, 23 Apr 2015 at 17:07 Anand Kumria <akumria at acm.org> wrote:
>
>>  Hi Alex,
>>
>> [ Note, I've changed the subject since this is specific to DJUGL anymore ]
>>
>> On 22/04/15 15:55, Álex González wrote:
>>
>> Hi g(uy|irl)s,
>>
>>  my 2 cents here.
>>
>>  As a co-organiser of the Golang meetup I feel the pain of trying to
>> find sponsors for food, drinks & some place to host. I had sponsorship
>> offers from recruiters but I tried to avoid them for the exact reason that
>> you (Anand) are mention, but, let's be honest:
>>
>>
>> I didn't mention any specific reason, please don't put words into my
>> mouth.
>>
>>  I don't care who sponsors an event. This is a win-win kind of
>> relationship:
>>
>>
>> Rubbish.
>>
>> You absolutely care. If the Klu Klux Klan decided to sponsor DJUGL, you'd
>> be OK with that?
>>
>> I hope not. What if the Free Software Foundation offered sponsorship?
>>
>> Each sponsor brings both an agenda and moral baggage.
>>
>>  - recruiters than at least show interest in the techs or in the people
>> around the tech will grow their network. I will definitely prefer to talk
>> to Jon about my next career movement than with somebody else that just know
>> Django as a keyword.
>>
>>
>> That is your choice and, no doubt, part of the agenda behind their
>> (Austin Fraser's) sponsorship.
>>
>>  - we, as users of the tech are going to have a great event with dinner
>> & beer networking included.
>>
>>  Said that, I understand that you can feel this event as a SPAM kind of
>> event, but it's not the case at all
>>
>>
>> Again, please don't put words into my mouth. I've not complained about
>> the event.
>> I queried it's raison d'être . I also query what it means to say you are
>> "part of the community".
>>
>>  You are asking Jon why he doesn't join other meetups, perhaps he
>> doesn't want? I don't think that he needs to feel ashamed for that.
>>
>>
>> The thing is, Jon said "I have worked hard over the last 7 years to
>> change the typical perception [of recruiters] and become an active member
>> of the Django community."
>>
>> What does "active member of the Django community" mean? Jon, for example,
>> also notes that he has been involved with DJUGL for 3 years; so in the
>> prior 4 years what kind of community involvement does he mean?
>>
>> Personally I feel that community involvement is a range of activities,
>> the least important of which is organising physical face to face meetings.
>>
>> Why do I say that?
>>
>> The Django community - indeed most communities - existed before there
>> were physical meetings and will continue to exist when Django becomes just
>> another boring technology where there isn't a need to meet others involved
>> in it.
>>
>> Like C, or assembly or COBOL. I'm sure those programmers get together and
>> discuss things, but in-person? I'd be surprised. Eventually both Python and
>> Django will get to that point.
>>
>>
>>  I talked once in one of the DJUGLs and I said that my company was
>> hiring, Jon didn't even mention anything about that when he saw my slides
>> in advance.
>>
>>
>> That is good to hear. The reports I've heard are not accurate regarding
>> mentions of hiring then.
>>
>>  And finally, I also think that is a shame to have 2 events around the
>> same technology in the same day or even week. The time is limited and I try
>> to suit my calendar to 1 event per week and if I were interested in this 2
>> events I would feel sad that I couldn't assist to bot for time restrictions.
>>
>>
>> Both events are not the same and - arguably - even if they were there are
>> different moral imperatives behind them.
>>
>>  Both of you do a great job organising your meetups, let's keep it and
>> in case that you can help each other, why not? At the end, the community
>> will be the one winning.
>>
>>
>> Community .. it's an easy word to co-opt. But somewhat harder to define.
>>
>> Thanks for listening.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Anand
>>
>> --
>> “Don’t be sad because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss
>>
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