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A talk about nothing

A talk about nothing

In this talk, we explore nothing.

And, yes, literally nothing. Together we take a look behind the curtains of reality and explore some of the underlying rules that shape our existence. We dig into the history and today's status physics and maths, look into the origins of computing, programming and analyse the way we develop software today. We see how nothing influences us, how it shapes our behaviour every day and how nothing can help us grow – in our professions and, even more, as humans.

“Nothing really matters,”, Freddie Mercury wrote in a song that was released 40 years ago. I want to show you how right he is.

[Content warning: discussion of misogyny, victim blaming, harassment, rape and death threats.]

This talk was originally presented at .concat() conference, Salzburg, on March 07, 2015. https://conc.at/#talk-a-talk-about-nothing

Lena Reinhard

March 07, 2015
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Transcript

  1. THE PRIVILEGE NOT TO LISTEN THE PRIVILEGE NOT TO CARE

    THE PRIVILEGE TO IGNORE THE PRIVILEGE TO DO NOTHING AND MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES.
  2. PRIVILEGE COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY TO 1. be aware 2. shut

    up 3. listen 4. educate ourselves 5. use privilege for good 6. learn from failing
  3. CODE CAN HARM & EXCLUDE PEOPLE - real-name policies -

    men as default - ignoring users - auto-opt-in
  4. CODE CAN HARM & EXCLUDE PEOPLE - real-name policies -

    men as default - ignoring users - auto-opt-in - violating boundaries
  5. - real-name policies - men as default - ignoring users

    - auto-opt-in - violating boundaries - dark UI patterns CODE CAN HARM & EXCLUDE PEOPLE
  6. THE MOST PRIVILEGED AND POWERFUL MAKE RULES FOR SPACES .

    THE SOFTWARE WE BUILT ACTIVELY ENDANGERS MARGINALISED PEOPLE.
  7. THE MOST PRIVILEGED AND POWERFUL MAKE RULES FOR SPACES .

    THE SOFTWARE WE BUILT ACTIVELY ENDANGERS MARGINALISED PEOPLE.
  8. SHIPPING CULTURE HARMS HUMANS & SOFTWARE: IT INDUCES PRESSURE, DISTANCES

    US FROM USERS, UNDERVALUES THINKING & SETS WRONG INCENTIVES
  9. SHIPPING CULTURE HARMS HUMANS & SOFTWARE: IT INDUCES PRESSURE, DISTANCES

    US FROM USERS, UNDERVALUES THINKING & SETS WRONG INCENTIVES
  10. SHIPPING CULTURE HARMS HUMANS & SOFTWARE: IT INDUCES PRESSURE, DISTANCES

    US FROM USERS, UNDERVALUES THINKING & SETS WRONG INCENTIVES
  11. (Pete Warden) WHEN OPTIMISING CODE, SKEPTICISM BECOMES A HABIT. WE

    LEAVE THAT HABIT BEHIND WHEN CONFRONTED WITH EVIDENCE ABOUT OURSELVES.
  12. (Pete Warden) WHEN OPTIMISING CODE, SKEPTICISM BECOMES A HABIT. WE

    LEAVE THAT HABIT BEHIND WHEN CONFRONTED WITH EVIDENCE ABOUT OURSELVES.
  13. BEING IN TECH AND NOT CARING ABOUT TECH CULTURE IS

    A LUXURY, ONLY AFFORDABLE TO THOSE WITH ENOUGH PRIVILEGE TO IGNORE IT & TOO LITTLE EMPATHY TO CARE.
  14. AS A WHITE MAN, THAT WAS THE MOST FUN I

    HAD ONLINE IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY GETTING TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND NOT BE INSULTED BY THEM. (Sydette)
  15. IF SILICON VALLEY CAN INVENT A DRIVERLESS CAR, THEY CAN

    ADDRESS ONLINE HARASSMENT. THEY LACK THE MOTIVATION. (Jaclyn Friedman)