From: "David A. Black" Date: 2008-08-24T11:23:13+09:00 Subject: Re: A Mascot... --1926193751-607403442-1219544838=:24572 Content-Type: MULTIPART/MIXED; BOUNDARY="1926193751-607403442-1219544838=:24572" This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools. --1926193751-607403442-1219544838=:24572 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=X-UNKNOWN; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: QUOTED-PRINTABLE Hi -- On Sun, 24 Aug 2008, David Masover wrote: > On Friday 22 August 2008 17:14:13 Rick DeNatale wrote: >> On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 1:44 PM, Gregory Brown > wrote: >> >>> On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 1:22 PM, Pablo Q. wrote: >>>> I like it! :D, but If you haven=C2=B4t read all post before please do = it, >>> >>> >>>> 3. Ruby already have one ( an pretty manga-girl, with a nude version! >>> cool, >>>> isn=C2=B4t it?). >>> >>> I think the girl is cute, but especially the nude version is a bit >>> patronizing. We should think about what female programmers will think >>> of Ruby upon encountering that. I'm sure the feelings will be varied, >>> but I suspect that'd seem a bit offensive to at least some people. >>> >> >> Well FWIW, I just showed Ruby to a female coworker, and she thought that= : >> 1) She was cute and >> 2) The nude version showed that she was both flexible, and quite >> appropriate for Ruby the language, agile! > > I think it's interesting what the reaction is... > > The most valid response, so far, has been "Ruby doesn't need a mascot!" A= nd to > those people, I would say, "Why would you care if it does?" It's been a l= ong > time since I've thought about penguins, and I use Linux every day. > > What seems very strange is that more people seem to be saying "Oh no, wha= t if > someone was offended by it?" than "I, personally, am offended." OK, I'll make it easier for you. I, personally, am offended by the suggestion that a cute little (naked or otherwise) girl named Ruby be the Ruby "mascot." It disturbs me that the idea has resurfaced so many years after -- I thought -- having been put to amply-deserved rest. > Are we that bad that all it takes is the _possibility_ of puritanical out= rage > to make us back down? I don't have to "back down" from putting the image on my Ruby-related sites because it would never occur to me to do it in the first place. Please -- everyone, just put whatever images you want on your websites, and have done with it. If Matz wants there to be a Ruby mascot I'm sure he'll let us know. Meanwhile please channel some of this energy into real issues, like why we as a community have not blazed the new trail of inclusiveness across sexual boundaries that it once seemed we might. And maybe we will yet. That, unlike debate as to whether Ruby should be represented by a girl or a chunk of bacon, is the kind of thing that might really lead somewhere. David --=20 Rails training from David A. Black and Ruby Power and Light: Intro to Ruby on Rails January 12-15 Fort Lauderdale, FL Advancing with Rails January 19-22 Fort Lauderdale, FL See http://www.rubypal.com for details and updates! --1926193751-607403442-1219544838=:24572-- --1926193751-607403442-1219544838=:24572--