Former SendGrid employee Adria Richards, who set off a massive social media controversy after tweeting about jokes that had offended her at the PyCon tech conference last week, said Wednesday she’s hoping to “find the good in what has been one of the most challenging weeks’ of her life.
“What happened at PyCon has cast a spotlight on a range of deep issues and problems in the developer world,’ Richards said in an emailed statement. “As ugly as this situation has become, all of these issues have reasonable, and, I think, easily reached solutions that will help us cast conflict aside and construct a more cohesive and welcoming professional environment based on respect, trust and open communication.’
Richards, who worked for Boulder-based SendGrid as a developer evangelist for about a year before the company fired her last Thursday in the wake of the mess, said she no longer wishes to focus on the fallout from the controversy.
Instead, she wants to be “an integral part of a diverse, core group of individuals that comes together in a spirit of healing and openness to devise answers to the many questions that have arisen in the last week.’
“Together, we can work to make the tech world a better place to work for everyone, and in doing so, we make the wider world a better place for all,’ she said.
At PyCon, Richards tweeted a photo of two guys seated behind her who she believed were telling sexist jokes. Her tweet, and subsequent blog post, set of a chain of events that no one could have imagined, including a hacker attack, a flood of hate-filled messages and the firing of one of the men involved.
On Tuesday, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian called out fellow geeks for their behavior during the controversy.
Richards’ full statement:
“Those who know me well in the the developer and tech community recognize that I have always tried to conduct myself in a way that builds bridges for everyone. My central aim is to do everything I can to help create new, inclusive inroads for all, no matter who they are, where they come from or what they believe. Development is about innovation, creativity, and in a grand sense, the betterment of human society through technology. So, it stands to reason that everyone should have a seat at the table, and everyone involved in this vital community should feel welcome, safe and respected. In essence, the worldwide community of developers can and should function as a reflection of what our wider society strives to be.
“I cannot comment at this time on the specifics of what occurred at PyCon on March 17, and the subsequent events of the following days, but I can offer some general thoughts. I don’t think anyone who was part of what happened at PyCon that day could possibly have imagined how this issue would have exploded into the public consciousness the way it has. I certainly did not, and now that the severest of consequences have manifested, all I wish to do is find the good in what has been one of the most challenging weeks of my life.
“And I do believe there is good to be found in this situation. Debate and recrimination can and must give way to dialog that explores the root causes of these issues in the tech industry. As developers and members of the startup community, we can welcome newcomers, women and people of color who, as of now, are under-represented in our ranks. And, all of us can learn a great deal from those who are well-established in the field. We can solidify the values of our workplaces (yes, conference spaces are workplaces!), and set new, positive and inclusive examples for other professional disciplines.
“What happened at PyCon has cast a spotlight on a range of deep issues and problems in the developer world. As ugly as this situation has become, all of these issues have reasonable, and, I think, easily reached solutions that will help us cast conflict aside and construct a more cohesive and welcoming professional environment based on respect, trust and open communication. I do not, at this time, wish to concentrate on the fallout of the last several days. Instead, I want to be an integral part of a diverse, core group of individuals that comes together in a spirit of healing and openness to devise answers to the many questions that have arisen in the last week. Together, we can work to make the tech world a better place to work for everyone, and in doing so, we make the wider world a better place for all.’
