"Can't we all just get along" is a nice sentiment in theory, but I find it's frequently used as a cudgel to try and silence legitimate criticism. Like, someone will say or do something horrifically racist or sexist, people will rightly call them out on it, and then others will weigh into the controversy with "can't we all just get along", as though the critics were just as wrong for objecting as the original person was for doing something objectionable in the first place.
Truth be told, there are underlying currents of racism and sexism in the nerd community. It's not that most nerds engage in such behavior, but nerdism has been a pretty insular group in the past, and the first instinct when someone on "your team" is criticized for something is always to jump to their defense and deny the criticism, and that kind of kneejerk defense of "our own" creates zones where intolerant people can get away with being intolerant.
But nerd culture is growing, and as it grows it becomes more diverse - which provokes those with intolerant feelings to make public asses of themselves, and becomes less insular - so there are more nerds willing to call their "fellow nerds" out on bad behavior. To be sure, there are others still rushing to shout down any criticism, and you get a bunch of nerd on nerd arguments as a result, which are only amplified due to how excellent the internet is as a medium for social drama.
It's a painful and awkward transitional phase, but I think in general our communities will be better off for it in the long run.
Truth be told, there are underlying currents of racism and sexism in the nerd community. It's not that most nerds engage in such behavior, but nerdism has been a pretty insular group in the past, and the first instinct when someone on "your team" is criticized for something is always to jump to their defense and deny the criticism, and that kind of kneejerk defense of "our own" creates zones where intolerant people can get away with being intolerant.
But nerd culture is growing, and as it grows it becomes more diverse - which provokes those with intolerant feelings to make public asses of themselves, and becomes less insular - so there are more nerds willing to call their "fellow nerds" out on bad behavior. To be sure, there are others still rushing to shout down any criticism, and you get a bunch of nerd on nerd arguments as a result, which are only amplified due to how excellent the internet is as a medium for social drama.
It's a painful and awkward transitional phase, but I think in general our communities will be better off for it in the long run.
