Paul Cantrell
I’m pleased to report that my Minnebar session on tech ethics and authoritarianism went well. I was a little nervous about this one being the start to the day — maybe contentious, maybe gloomy — but there was a •ton• of positive energy, and it was standing room only.
People are really hungry to talk about this stuff. It was not comfortable breaking the seal on the topic, but I’m really glad I did.
#Minnebar #Minnebar19
https://mathstodon.xyz/@markgritter/114444652625575727
Paul Cantrell
For those who weren’t there, the session description is attached. The format was as follows:
I gave the participants a series of hypothetical scenarios involving technology and authoritarianism, and asked them to imagine with the folks next to them several different ways they could respond in that situation, using the following prompts:
- embrace
- ignore
- rationalize
- adjust
- refuse
- expose
- sabotage
- document
Paul Cantrell
Note: the instruction was to imagine multiple ways they •could• respond. Not “would,” not “should,” but •could.•
The prompt was “Right AND wrong answers!“ That’s a technique I love in the classroom: students are so afraid of being wrong, some are reluctant to speak up at all — even when they have good ideas. “Think of •all• the possibilities, including ones that are clearly wrong” creates space for them to speak up without embarrassment. And it builds the capacity to •imagine• — a capacity which authoritarian movements always seek to dull.
Paul Cantrell
After each scenario, I revealed the actual historical story — surprise, the scenarios weren’t hypothetical at all! — and said what the person in that situation did in real life.
It seems like the thought exercises and the historical stories hit home. I heard a lot of positive things from people after the session and throughout the day.
I mention all this because (1) maybe it’s a thought exercise you can try for yourself, and (2) it might be a tool you can adapt to spur discussion in your own circles. Again, people are hungry to talk about this.
Paul Cantrell
The day had a second big bright spot for me: the Minnestar team had nice surprise for me at the opening ceremony. This meant a lot to me.
I’m a little sheepish about posting about it, but I think we’re supposed to share our wins on social media? And this is a great chance to return the thanks to Minnestar’s leadership and volunteers, who all work so hard to make this event happen. Keeping such a good thing thriving and •sustainable• for all these years is a small miracle!
Paul Cantrell
@xinit
My own mental reading of the title is that there are four blanks, and “kill” and “help” both have four letters
xinit ☕
@inthehands
I like "this machine exposes fascists" though it's hard to beat the good old "kills"
Brian Repko
@inthehands that is awesome - well done you!
Fady Barsoum
@inthehands very cool! Any chance you have a recording of the session (or even just the slide deck)?
Paul Cantrell
@fady
Sorry, no recording, and there were very few slides. (You see most of the content in Mark’s photos.) It was mostly discussion-based, and the discussion scenarios weren’t on slides. I wish I had something better to share with you!
Paul Cantrell
@megaeggz
Sorry, no recording, and there’s very little to share since it was discussion-heavy. I wish I had something to share with you!
Megaeggz
@inthehands this looks really interesting. I hope you don't mind me asking, is there a recording of the event anywhere?
dtbeltramo
@inthehands Just wanted to pop in and say that I attended your presentation on Saturday. It was great! Both amusing and terrifying. The scenarios were thought-provoking, and I appreciated how engaged the audience was. Thanks for "breaking the seal," everyone in tech ought to be thinking about this.
Paul Cantrell
@dtbeltramo
Thanks! I’m really glad to see so much energy around the topic. May it continue.
Megaeggz
@inthehands Ah never mind, thanks anyway. I'll keep an eye out for your future talks. Cheers!
Paul Cantrell
@megaeggz
Sorry!
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