From 05ddd5279d67a736710034828ca02fbd2a92b18a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Abner Coimbre Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2025 21:47:10 -0700 Subject: [PATCH 1/4] Tech Worker Rights: Refinements --- .../operation2030/directives/tech-worker-rights.md | 10 +++++----- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/english/operation2030/directives/tech-worker-rights.md b/content/english/operation2030/directives/tech-worker-rights.md index 64293d0..49d5dbf 100644 --- a/content/english/operation2030/directives/tech-worker-rights.md +++ b/content/english/operation2030/directives/tech-worker-rights.md @@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ image="" ### Make it a Normal Discussion -Handmade Cities isn’t the place to stage political revolution. However, by 2030, we will already be the best place in tech for open discussions on labor rights and the balance between labor and capital. (Don't underestimate the power of public forums.) +Handmade Cities isn’t the place to stage political revolution. However, by 2030, we will already be the best space in tech for open discussions on labor rights and the balance between labor and capital. (Don't underestimate the power of public forums.) Discussing worker rights is as American as apple pie: remember how we pulled off 40-hour work weeks or outlawed child labor? The tech industry needs to reckon with this reality. -The more skilled a programmer you are the more you must care about this topic—it directly impacts your economic future. We welcome thoughtful disagreements as much as thoughtful support. These debates must occur without resorting to thought-stopping clichés like calling one side “robber barons” or the other “communists.” +The more skilled a programmer you are the more you must care about this—it directly impacts your economic future. We welcome thoughtful disagreements as much as thoughtful support. These debates must occur without resorting to thought-stopping clichés like calling one side “robber barons” or the other “communists.” #### Progress So Far @@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ Andrew's sharp tongue is *partially* responsible for the civil war within the Ha Personally, Abner believes Andrew’s diagnosis of the industry’s problems was largely accurate. However, unlike Andrew, Handmade Cities disagrees open-source software or non-profits will rescue us; read our other Key Objective: [Protect Small Software Shops](/operation2030/directives/small-software-shops). In addition, we're betting on a culture where social status is conferred to long-term business owners. Companies like [Sublime HQ](https://www.sublimehq.com) and the mighty [Valve](https://store.steampowered.com/) (no longer small!) are excellent examples of this approach. We require the presence of nimble competitors keeping Big Tech [on their toes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrmqC2A3QK8). -That said, Abner and Andrew are aligned on a crucial point: tech workers need collective bargaining power. Not everyone can start a business or join a benevolent employer. So whether it's through guilds, unions, or another form, workers (not management) need a seat at the table *pronto*: being well-paid no longer cuts it. Without negotiating power we bear witness to the continued rise of mediocre software. Workers are forced to endure hostile AI/LLM takeovers without a proper say. Mass layoffs march on. +That said, Abner and Andrew are aligned on a crucial point: tech workers need collective bargaining power. Not everyone can start a business or join a benevolent employer. So whether it's through guilds, unions, or another form, workers (not management) need a seat at the table pronto: being well-paid no longer cuts it. Without negotiating power we bear witness to the continued rise of mediocre software. Workers are forced to endure hostile AI/LLM takeovers without a proper say. Mass layoffs march on. #### Handling Future Controversy -This subject matter is part of the 20% of our [80-20](/operation2030/structure/80-20) content split, so it’s straightforward for community members to skip if there’s no interest. Advisory board members, meetup hosts and paid staff are also not strictly required to promote this subject themselves if it conflicts with their own views. +This subject matter is part of the 20% of our [80-20](/operation2030/structure/80-20) content split, so it’s straightforward for community members to skip if there’s no interest. Advisory board members, meetup hosts and paid staff are also not strictly required to promote this subject themselves if it conflicts with their views. -Lastly, we're open to creating debate panels after a controversial talk. This all is in accordance with our philosophy [Zero Favoritism](/operation2030/philosophy/zero-favorites). +Lastly, we're open to creating debate panels after a hotly contested talk. This all is in accordance with our philosophy [Zero Favoritism](/operation2030/philosophy/zero-favorites). Pierce the taboo. From e75a6b4644a625877acae378ba39b9751bba1213 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Abner Coimbre Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2025 22:01:37 -0700 Subject: [PATCH 2/4] Finesse on 'Software Quality' section --- content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md b/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md index be8889b..d90b798 100644 --- a/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md +++ b/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md @@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ image="" Handmade Cities (HMC) rejects all sponsorship deals. You’ll never see a “sponsored by” disclaimer at our events. Talks and software demos come from presenters sharing what excites them most free from corporate influence. Speakers, demoers, and guests are welcome to criticize any tech company or software as they deem fit. 2. **Software Quality** - The industry has abandoned its users, wresting control from their devices and charging them rent for miserable experiences. HMC is determined to reverse this trend. Users deserve respect as customers and should feel delighted when using our software. + The industry has abandoned its users, wresting control from their devices to deliver miserable experiences while violating privacy. HMC is determined to reverse this trend. Users deserve respect as customers and should feel delighted when using our software. 3. **Self-Hosted Software** We strongly encourage community members to self-host wherever possible or [practical](/operation2030/directives/self-hosting-for-all). Self-sufficiency is a bulwark against corporate overreach. HMC practices what it preaches: anything essential to our conferences or meetups is handled in-house. From bd73bfea96326fa68cd1ec7bcc8b3c34f44db32b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Abner Coimbre Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2025 22:03:19 -0700 Subject: [PATCH 3/4] Finesse x2 --- content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md | 4 ++-- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md b/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md index d90b798..741a8c2 100644 --- a/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md +++ b/content/english/operation2030/philosophy/core-principles.md @@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ image="" Handmade Cities (HMC) rejects all sponsorship deals. You’ll never see a “sponsored by” disclaimer at our events. Talks and software demos come from presenters sharing what excites them most free from corporate influence. Speakers, demoers, and guests are welcome to criticize any tech company or software as they deem fit. 2. **Software Quality** - The industry has abandoned its users, wresting control from their devices to deliver miserable experiences while violating privacy. HMC is determined to reverse this trend. Users deserve respect as customers and should feel delighted when using our software. + The industry abandoned its users, wresting control from their devices to deliver miserable experiences while violating privacy. HMC is keen to reverse the trend. Users deserve respect as customers and should feel delighted when using our software. 3. **Self-Hosted Software** - We strongly encourage community members to self-host wherever possible or [practical](/operation2030/directives/self-hosting-for-all). Self-sufficiency is a bulwark against corporate overreach. HMC practices what it preaches: anything essential to our conferences or meetups is handled in-house. + We strongly encourage community members to self-host wherever possible or [practical](/operation2030/directives/self-hosting-for-all). Self-sufficiency is a bulwark against centralized overreach. HMC practices what it preaches: anything essential to our conferences or meetups is handled in-house. 4. **Directly Funded** From 2b2ddac6f62b0b4ad0d9b34287035e8e3e996585 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Abner Coimbre Date: Fri, 4 Apr 2025 12:27:51 -0700 Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Boston: Minor revision --- content/english/boston/index.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/content/english/boston/index.md b/content/english/boston/index.md index 38f39a5..64634ff 100644 --- a/content/english/boston/index.md +++ b/content/english/boston/index.md @@ -24,6 +24,6 @@ discord_link: "https://handmadecities.com/discord" show_description: true --- -Handmade Boston brings together the brightest minds in low-level programming for two days of technical lectures, job booths, and networking. +Handmade Boston brings together the brightest minds in low-level programming for two days of technical lectures, networking, and job booths. We're the sister conference to Seattle and a fully-offline counterpart: enjoy deeper lectures exclusively in-person and make some new friends for life.