Founder of Big Machine and Tekpub. Author of The Imposter’s Handbook, creator of This Developer's Life, method speaker and Azure Developer[0] at @microsoft
So, the cover image. Mate - Senior Developers tend to understand what's offensive and what's not. Not all the time. But in some cases - like this case... they would probably rethink the cover image.
Founder of Big Machine and Tekpub. Author of The Imposter’s Handbook, creator of This Developer's Life, method speaker and Azure Developer[0] at @microsoft
Yeah I can appreciate that :). I think, as a general rule, using images of a group of people to underscore an idea is almost always not a good thing. Culturally speaking I've completely screwed this up! If we ever meet in person I'll share a story about a slide I showed in Norway that went really wrong.
Funny enough, I ALSO discovered that Hitler downfall meme humour does not carry over from America to Germany during a presentation. I think if we're going to be public intellectuals, taking care of what our messaging implies and having the humility to admit we're wrong is a good way to take ownership for our actions.
Also, having the sensitivity think from different points of view never hurts and it's great that you did the work of explaining.
I didn’t bow because I was laying in my bed and it’s kinda difficult to that.
One of the messages I wanted this post to communicate is “Think of others and be excellent to each other”
If my choice of the cover image was polluting this message and could be considered offensive I’m fine with changing it. This is not a hill I’m willing to die on
"If my choice of the cover image was polluting this message and could be considered offensive I’m fine with changing it. This is not a hill I’m willing to die on"
I think this a great trait to have as a developer; thanks for leading by example.
Rob - I'm confused: you found the cover photo of a group of old people offensive? I've got my fair share of grey hairs (perhaps a little more from stress than age!) and didn't find it so in the least. On the contrary I'd like to think I could still be making a positive input to the industry in my later years.
Sure the image wasn't properly representative of a typical group of senior developers (and sadly so, since for a start the group was too diverse) but I actually thought the joke was perfectly harmless.
And of course age doesn't by definition make you a senior dev; but a few years' work/life experience certainly helps :)
Founder of Big Machine and Tekpub. Author of The Imposter’s Handbook, creator of This Developer's Life, method speaker and Azure Developer[0] at @microsoft
If my choice of the cover image was polluting this message and could be considered offensive I’m fine with changing it. This is not a hill I’m willing to die on
There's a difference between being offended (which I'm not) and doing something offensive (which it was). I don't have a problem calling people out, even when the issue at hand has nothing to do with me.
To bring this back to the author's point: there's a lot more to being a senior dev than code. It's recognizing how to carry a vision/project/company/product forward and often that means you need to be aware of how you present yourself. Sometimes things come at you sideways, such as when you use a group of people to represent an idea or concept - it can often go sideways.
Whether you thought it was funny is beside the point. You and I could be at a conference and you make a silly joke about dongles that's overheard by others. The joke could be funny in a personal setting - say we're at a bar or something - but in a professional setting it's just not a good choice at all.
If you're going to blog about professional things, it's a professional setting.
I totally agree that the OP's response was perfectly appropriate: you may do something and not immediately understand why someone is offended; but it's definitely better to accept that; deal with it immediately and educate yourself on the why later*
Whether you thought it was funny is beside the point.
It didn't have me splitting my sides; but it did bring a smile to my face :)
But you're right that is beside the point. As an ageing developer actually I'm happy to see any representation of older people in development roles - whether spurious or not - so I genuinely want to understand why you felt the image was offensive
I don't think you understood: I'm still waiting for an explanation as to why you claim the image was offensive. All you've done is provide vague assertions that badly chosen images have the potential to offend (I don't disagree); but you haven't enlightened us as to who would be offended - and why - by the original image.
I think it's pretty unfair to publicly call someone out for being "offensive"
and then fail to provide a valid explanation when it is asked for. From my perspective your claim appears to have absolutely no merit; and your behaviour is not what I would expect from a senior developer.
For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse
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So, the cover image. Mate - Senior Developers tend to understand what's offensive and what's not. Not all the time. But in some cases - like this case... they would probably rethink the cover image.
Hey!
I didn’t mean to cause harm and I apologize - I’ll remove the cover image
It might be cultural differences (I’m Polish) but I personally do not find it offensive. I’d appreciate if you could elaborate via a DM or something
Yeah I can appreciate that :). I think, as a general rule, using images of a group of people to underscore an idea is almost always not a good thing. Culturally speaking I've completely screwed this up! If we ever meet in person I'll share a story about a slide I showed in Norway that went really wrong.
Funny enough, I ALSO discovered that Hitler downfall meme humour does not carry over from America to Germany during a presentation. I think if we're going to be public intellectuals, taking care of what our messaging implies and having the humility to admit we're wrong is a good way to take ownership for our actions.
Also, having the sensitivity think from different points of view never hurts and it's great that you did the work of explaining.
In any case - I’ve just removed it, it’ll probably take a while to update
One snowflake complains and you immediately bow and remove the picture..?
I'm offended by this.
I didn’t bow because I was laying in my bed and it’s kinda difficult to that.
One of the messages I wanted this post to communicate is “Think of others and be excellent to each other”
If my choice of the cover image was polluting this message and could be considered offensive I’m fine with changing it. This is not a hill I’m willing to die on
Gotcha. It's fine if you don't want to back_pedal_ on that.
"If my choice of the cover image was polluting this message and could be considered offensive I’m fine with changing it. This is not a hill I’m willing to die on"
I think this a great trait to have as a developer; thanks for leading by example.
Rob - I'm confused: you found the cover photo of a group of old people offensive? I've got my fair share of grey hairs (perhaps a little more from stress than age!) and didn't find it so in the least. On the contrary I'd like to think I could still be making a positive input to the industry in my later years.
Sure the image wasn't properly representative of a typical group of senior developers (and sadly so, since for a start the group was too diverse) but I actually thought the joke was perfectly harmless.
And of course age doesn't by definition make you a senior dev; but a few years' work/life experience certainly helps :)
I think OP nailed it:
There's a difference between being offended (which I'm not) and doing something offensive (which it was). I don't have a problem calling people out, even when the issue at hand has nothing to do with me.
To bring this back to the author's point: there's a lot more to being a senior dev than code. It's recognizing how to carry a vision/project/company/product forward and often that means you need to be aware of how you present yourself. Sometimes things come at you sideways, such as when you use a group of people to represent an idea or concept - it can often go sideways.
Whether you thought it was funny is beside the point. You and I could be at a conference and you make a silly joke about dongles that's overheard by others. The joke could be funny in a personal setting - say we're at a bar or something - but in a professional setting it's just not a good choice at all.
If you're going to blog about professional things, it's a professional setting.
I totally agree that the OP's response was perfectly appropriate: you may do something and not immediately understand why someone is offended; but it's definitely better to accept that; deal with it immediately and educate yourself on the why later*
It didn't have me splitting my sides; but it did bring a smile to my face :)
But you're right that is beside the point. As an ageing developer actually I'm happy to see any representation of older people in development roles - whether spurious or not - so I genuinely want to understand why you felt the image was offensive
* consider my question as me educating myself
I don't think you understood: I'm still waiting for an explanation as to why you claim the image was offensive. All you've done is provide vague assertions that badly chosen images have the potential to offend (I don't disagree); but you haven't enlightened us as to who would be offended - and why - by the original image.
I think it's pretty unfair to publicly call someone out for being "offensive"
and then fail to provide a valid explanation when it is asked for. From my perspective your claim appears to have absolutely no merit; and your behaviour is not what I would expect from a senior developer.