**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:43

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:43

Are0h @Are0h

Jun 08, 2018, 15:43

Code vs Culture Show more

I'm a designer and developer with 15+ years of professional experience and I would absolutely agree culture is more important than code.

I won't go as far to say as coding is easy, because it isn't. The effort it takes to create a platform is considerable. It's why we don't have that many options when it comes to social media.

But culture? That's HARD. Fostering an environment that's open and inclusive and limits abuse? That's so much more difficult.

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:46

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:46

Jun 08, 2018, 15:46

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

I'm a context guy, so in attempting to explain why it is so difficult, you have to look at the social context of tech, which isn't the most inviting place to begin with if you're not white, straight and a dude.

Combine this with economic inequality factors and it makes that much more difficult for non white people and women to even start building anything.

So you generally get white guys building platforms for ALL of us.

A culture that favors their perspectives.

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:49

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:49

Jun 08, 2018, 15:49

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

I would say the conversation is opening up, albeit slowly. I think we all realize how important the coding aspect is, but we are steady coming to the realization that we need to put more emphasis on culture.

It doesn't matter how fantastic a codebase is if the culture around it stays stagnant and intolerant to anyone that doesn't have the same philosophical posture of the person who created it.

It doesn't matter if we're going to keep repeating the same stupid mistakes.

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:56

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 15:56

Jun 08, 2018, 15:56

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

Honestly, I would say coders should not lead the effort for building community. Having a slick set of features and tools should not define the efficacy of a community that is dependent on a people who don't give a shit about these things.

Do they matter? Of course, but most people don't care about how cool a feature or tool is.

They just want it to work. They want to be safe. They don't want to be harassed.

I have yet to see any coder lead initiative takes this seriously.

**Are0h** @Are0h · 2018-06-08T16:06:33Z

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

As someone that picked up programming on their own, the ability to create something from nothing is very powerful. I can understand why coders think they should lead.

But this is just myopia. If you're just building something for yourself, that's fine, but if you're building some for other people, it _must_ be a collaborative effort with people that are not like you.

And I think we've seen enough platforms built from a singular experience and perspective.

Jun 08, 2018, 16:06 · Web · 18 · 31

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:22

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:22

Jun 08, 2018, 16:22

hvincent @modgethanc@mastodon.art

Code vs Culture Show more

@Are0h coding is like getting the garden set up; you put work down to get the seeds sprouting and the shade just right and the water flow okay, but when you're not looking, birds are gonna pick out the seeds, squirrels are gonna dig at the roots, deer will come in and trample everything to gnaw off the buds. and then you gotta think: did i make this garden just to grow myself some potatoes, or do i want to have a yard full of other lives that share my space?

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 16:23

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 16:23

Jun 08, 2018, 16:23

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

@modgethanc That's a great analogy. Building great projects is very very similar that process.

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:31

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:31

Jun 08, 2018, 16:31

hvincent @modgethanc@mastodon.art

Code vs Culture Show more

@Are0h these are things I've learned from writing programs, managing teams, and alao gardening :)

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 16:35

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 16:35

Jun 08, 2018, 16:35

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

@modgethanc Hard agree on everything. Just a beautiful observation.

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:24

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:24

Jun 08, 2018, 16:24

hvincent @modgethanc@mastodon.art

Code vs Culture Show more

@Are0h and then you figure out how to get the clover patch to take over a corner so the rabbits have something good to gnaw on, and you put up a fence around just your own tomato plants to ask the deer to leave them be, and you realize that the birds are actually picking worms off the kale, and actually life is more fun when you spend all your garden time troubleshooting for everyone that shows up, not just trying to defend what you thought it was supposed to be when you started

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:30

**hvincent** @modgethanc@mastodon.art · Jun 08, 2018, 16:30

Jun 08, 2018, 16:30

hvincent @modgethanc@mastodon.art

Code vs Culture Show more

@Are0h seasons pass and you realize you've been reading about permaculture and trying to maintain native weeds to help out the pollenators and you've torn up all the grass and you recognize individual squirrels that like to hang out and heckle the chipmunk nest and long story short, you started out trying to build something according to your vision but as other people use it, you learned that there are things it could be that you never thought of, and isn't it this beautiful

**c25l_** @c25l_@octodon.social · Jun 08, 2018, 16:27

**c25l_** @c25l_@octodon.social · Jun 08, 2018, 16:27

Jun 08, 2018, 16:27

c25l_ @c25l_@octodon.social

Code vs Culture Show more

@Are0h This part always stumps me. I grew up weird, with few "like me". If I made stuff, i had to be clear who it was for and what they wanted. This code/culture problem is everywhere, yes, but it's such hubris.

Clearly, there was a time when people expected computers to be magic and people had to push back and make the code and process more central and important. it seems that this could be the end result of that dynamic, as a historical trend. Too far now, though. Thoughts?

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 16:31

**Are0h** @Are0h · Jun 08, 2018, 16:31

Jun 08, 2018, 16:31

Are0h @Are0h

Code vs Culture Show more

@c25l_ I mean, yeah I agree. Computers have become such an integral part of our lives, they are more like tools.

I think our progress with them is dependent on more people understanding them so we can get more ideas into the pool rather than keeping this mystique around them as if it is knowledge only a few people can have.