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About this quote

What does it mean?
Computer history is filled with both enthusiastic promotion and exclusionary attitudes.
In plain terms
Tech history mixes hype with bigotry.
What can you take from it?
Recognize both optimism and bias in tech culture.

Where it applies

  • industry retrospectives
  • diversity training

Putting it to work

  • study past tech narratives
  • promote inclusive language

Questions to consider

  • How can we separate hype from substance?
  • What lessons can we learn from past biases?

Another view

Not all past attitudes are extreme; many were neutral.

More from Larry Wall

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  2. If someone stinks, view it as a reason to help them, not a reason to avoid them.

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  3. I don't like your I-can-use-anything-as-an-adjective attitude.

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