[Python-cuba] Going forwards

Thu Jun 25 23:15:51 CEST 2015

Hi Robert,

Thanks for taking the time to prepare your lengthy response.

You will note, I hope, that in agreeing to contact you I made no assumptions about the truth or otherwise of the accusations against you. I was simply concerned that an apparently concerned member of the community should receive some sort of response to the allegations she made. I prefer things to be out in the open, as I have found openness to be the best defense against those who would sow dissent. Clearly on that basis there is now no need for us to have a private conversation.

I hope that Josephine will feel free to respond on this list, so that everyone can determine for themselves what her intent may be (it seems she wants you to leave, but she has no more power than I do to compel that action). For all I know she may be accepting false information from third parties as true.

So, Josephine, now Robert has responded I would like to hear your reply.

regards
 Steve

On Jun 25, 2015, at 1:08 PM, Roberto Rosario <roberto.rosario.gonzalez at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello everybody,
> 
> I rarely engage messages when the supporting evidence is ambiguous or just plain false to avoid escalation. But after careful consideration of this defamation emails against me, and a meeting with my lawyers, I decided to answer this message sent by "Josephine Garcia" (and I use " " because this name may be an alias or not and I have no knowledge of who might be this person).
> 
> It is unfortunate that in the initiative to make Python Cuba there are people who are trying to divide more than unite. I find it interesting that this person uses unfounded arguments to supposedly justify her accusations against me. This person also uses group coercion to have me avoid exposing my points of view on accusations about me: "silently left the group" "having this person on board will send the wrong message, that we and the PSF support his actions."
> 
> 1) Allegation of harassment: I was being labeled a harasser by a tool which equated twitter subscription to harassment. I criticized the logic of the algorithm. Pretty much everybody agreed with my assertion, even The Mary Sue, a feminist blog (http://www.themarysue.com/twitter-users-mad-about-gamergate-block-bots/). Even after all this, I extended an olive branch and publicly apologized for my wording (https://twitter.com/siloraptor/status/536255070086893568), the reaction to my apology left much to be desired and shows the extension of the treatment to which I am subjected daily.
> 
> 1a) In reaction to the shortcomings of IGDA’s tool, I started creating a FOSS case management tool which could be used too to help document harassment (http://blog.robertorosario.com/imperfect-tools/) (https://github.com/Cleisthenes/cleisthenes). It didn't matter that my original intent was helping social services, the attacks and harassment I received for being a man proposing such a tools which technologically undermined the previous one built by a woman forced to abandon the project.
> 
> 2) "entire chapters of initiatives have been dissolved." Since it is not mentioned which initiatives, I'm going to assume this is about the IGDA Puerto Rico chapter. I was chairman of the chapter and neither myself nor any member of the board has even publicized the reasons of the closure in an official manner. It is very irresponsible to pass personal opinions as fact.
> 
> 3) Harassment of women: This can’t be more false as I actively promote the inclusion of women in technology, giving money, making them t-shirts, giving them my time and promoting them and their events. (https://twitter.com/siloraptor/status/553604723144925184) (http://ccom.uprrp.edu/actividades/Crypto-flyer.png) (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/python-django-workshop-tickets-9132677083) (http://ccom.uprrp.edu/actividades/practical.jpg) (http://ccom.uprrp.edu/activity_info.php?aid=80) (http://aldia.microjuris.com/2013/10/07/ciclo-de-conferencias-sobre-criptografia/) (https://www.patreon.com/siloraptor?pat=1)
> 
> I choose several members of the <include> Girls group for first government technology internship at the Office Of Management and Budget working on projects for the Governor of Puerto Rico and they have gone on to do great things.
> 
> 5) I canceled my participation in DjangoCon EU due to economic and health issues. Daniele Procida can attest to this. My wife and myself are personal friends of Daniele (https://twitter.com/siloraptor/status/508491655297515521) (https://twitter.com/siloraptor/status/506913013144625152) (https://twitter.com/siloraptor/status/508092355673485312/photo/1) lying about his supposed actions as organizer of DjangoCOn EU is an offense to all.
> 
> 6) Gamergate: The links you provide don't prove any of your assertions.
> 
> 6a) RationalWiki: The archived talk page about the article shows my representation on the article to be the work of an user by the name Ryulong (http://archive.is/ACBf5#selection-795.49-803.27) whose edits have been reverse time and again: "I have also removed a similarly misleading and unsourced portion, "Rosario blamed feminism". I don't know where you're getting your info, but this is the third misrepresentation I have removed from this article.--Naqoyqatsi (talk) 16:13, 14 May 2015 (UTC)" This is the same Ryulong, a wikipedian banned from Wikipedia, exactly for this (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ryulong)
> 
> 6b) Chris von Csefalvay’s graph only show I was one of the persons being retweeted by people related to the gamergate movement.
> 
> 6c) The Newsweek article doesn't say anything or prove anything about me being a leader or even a member of gamergate.
> 
> 7) In regards to Jefferson, I'm in shock, I do not understand how this person dares to say he was the victim of harassment on my part. Jefferson and I worked in various communities together until he moved from Puerto Rico to pursue graduate studies. Since he left Puerto Rico I have not seen him, but from what I've heard, he is doing well. I agree Jefferson would be a good candidate to have onboard, I personally know him. My wife and myself have helped him in the past to gain exposition to his projects at our events: (http://www.slideshare.net/siloraptor/final-metapiano) (http://www.piloto151.com/betabeers-san-juan-launches-in-piloto-151/) and I'm too featured in his projects (https://vimeo.com/68919925)
> 
> 8) Interestingly, Josephine García did not mention on her email that my family was harassed, that someone published a photo that was private of me with my son, a minor, and my wife, that someone published private information about my family with said picture, that I have been called “cunt”, “harasser”, “scum”, and so on without proof on a daily basis. The stress from the witch hunts to which I am subjected and seeing my work tarnished without proof have cause health problems not the least my last visit to the emergency room with a cardiac event.
> 
> It is unfortunate that when one wants to do things to encourage and foster the community we allow individuals who manipulate information just to create division and drama. In the initiative to make Python Cuba we can’t take seriously, unfounded accusations from people who are trying to divide more than unite. I hope this email leaves everything clear and we can continue working in the same direction to make PyCon Cuba a reality. That being said, I am willing to leave the group if I am not wanted here, but I will not leave the group because of lies about me. I am willing to leave the group so that the possibilities of a PyCon in Cuba are not affected. I await your responses, be public or made in private via my email. If contacted privately via email, I will not disclose your position on the matter be it in favor or against my continued presence in this group.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> --Roberto
> 
> On Thu, Jun 25, 2015 at 3:18 PM, kirby urner <kirby.urner at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jun 25, 2015 at 10:55 AM, Steve Holden <steve at holdenweb.com> wrote:
> 
> << SNIP >>
>  
> I wrote this reply, however, simply to assure you that at least some people do regard this as a potentially serious issue. Sorry of you feel your claims were being taken too lightly. (and I have no idea what David Mertz's message had to do with the discussion, but I imagine he will be able to explain).
> 
> regards
>  Steve
> 
> 
> Thanks Steve.  I could be wrong but I don't think any members of this WG are board members, I stand to be corrected.
> 
> If I were super concerned about a specific member of a Python.org listserv, e.g. Diversity, I would probably find someone on the Board to complain to but I'm not sure which one.  I did some reading but it didn't seem Cuba-related and then the phone rang etc.
> 
> Kirby
> 
> 
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> 
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-- 
Steve Holden steve at holdenweb.com / +1 571 484 6266 / +44 208 289 6308 / @holdenweb

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