Source: ATYUN AI platform
One of the most important in the field of machine learning and AI conferences: Neural Information Processing Systems Conference (NIPS) is currently considering changing its name, in part because of acronyms mean sexist connotations, mainly for English speakers. After several public appeal to change the name of the General Assembly in April announced that they are considering changing the name, and soon consult on the matter to the community.
The response to this announcement was mixed:
Some people celebrate the news, and expressed support for renaming.
Some people complain that name even more attention than other initiatives, such as the implementation of the code of conduct and provide child care, which will generate more substantial impact.
Some tweets and posts reddit rejected the name change is ridiculous and unimportant, made this request of jokes, NIPS brand and tradition implies more important, and that those voices calling for change is a "bully" and "White Lotus."
But we have every reason to be dissatisfied with NIPS name change debate, especially since before the new NIPS / ICML Code of Conduct and childcare plans to announce the possibility of changing the name. Change the name of different reasons. We want to emphasize here is that many third type of reply radically minimize and eliminate anyone think the name change will make the conference more inclusive experience. It will soon be summed up from their own experience in it, instead of listening to and amplify these voices: "This for me is never a problem, so get over it!" The irony is, how many people joked to cancel the appeal renamed, motivated in part because people use the name of the open joke.
The emphasis here is to minimize the number of responses from the fundamental and eliminates anyone think the name change will make the meeting more inclusive experience. NIPS Action Team conducted a survey to collect possible new name suggestions, and just start another poll, asking their views on the name change to the community, and to assess some of the recommendations.
Two women talked about the encounter when participating in the NIPS:
The two of us (the writer of this bulletin) meet in a three-week seminar on the work. Annual seminar has been running for a long time, but this is the first time we had, was the primary doctor. We were assigned to the same apartment, and another female participants took part in junior seminars. There is also an apartment, there are female students (also beginners), some of the women participated in high-level meetings, then the seminar participants are male.
At some point late in the seminar, one of us noticed one of the participants and we do not want to take pictures together. We thought it very strange, but then we were told that the photo will be used to select the "Romeo and Juliet" award winners. Each year, the award is given to two during the workshop participants are suspected of having an affair. Some participants were informally assigned, trying to collect this special friendship photographic "evidence" presented during the workshop, and the last time it announced when the awards will be projected onto the screen at the banquet. This award is the cause of our friends and we do not want to take pictures together. Organizing Committee in our apartment for us to take pictures, to collect evidence in any case in our party and another participant ambiguous.
In addition to the inappropriate, the opposite sex, norms and humiliation, the award unfairly affect a very small number of young women attending. A friend of ours overheard someone say, "Romeo and Juliet for the award taking pictures is easy, just follow women." As a young first time participant, if no one told you this award, you might get a terrible surprise. On the other hand, if someone is good enough, you can tell yourself at risk of being ridden, then your only option is to try to spend time with whom you strategies to avoid being humiliated. This creates an uncomfortable environment, especially for the first time to attend the meeting of women. Collaboration and interpersonal critical to the success of a person for the seminar project, but we feel we are not free to interact with other participants.
Our third roommate received a request from one of the members of the organizing committee, it requires us to take pictures in our apartment to collect evidence in case any of our party and another participant ambiguous. We complained to the organizing committee, insisted cancel this award, and to encourage other participants to do the same. We interviewed one of the organizers told us, it's all "very interesting", but some "harmless joke." He pointed out, was awarded robot, children and married couples before the award, in order to refute this assertion. This traditional unfairly targeted at young women. He also insisted that no one has ever complained about this award before, but later revealed that his wife had told him to get rid of this award a long time. We are supportive of a number of discussions with other participants, but others are not. We sexual harassment had been earlier in the seminar who also said publicly that "gender discrimination no longer exists."
Finally, before the final project presentation day, there is an e-mail to announce to all participants Romeo and Juliet prize has been revoked. Several people answered lament end of an era, but agree that it is time to move on. Reply to several other people seem to feel very angry about losing awards, and specially to solve the problems the two of us in an email. Tradition of this award have a strong sense of entitlement, as a rookie, we should adapt rather than trying to change anything. A professor wrote,
"It's really nonsense, this community is that it's pretty open and friendly atmosphere, we never mean. I really think this is the transformation of our communities, newcomers should adapt rather than destroy our spirit. I feel so sad. I want to return to the spirit of the seminar, the award can come back next year! As for democracy, I will vote before deleting something ...... "
One of us replied:
"I might add that some people have experienced espionage, in order to collect 'evidence' that end awards and the conference have been very few women have been unfairly attacked. Yes, sometimes it can be fun, especially if you are in the proper position or rank a familiar environment, but this is not always the case. I'm from a lot of people, whether men or women heard about, it makes them feel unsafe and unwelcome. Please reconsider. "
After that, it was suggested that we should be honest to stay at home:
"This is an interesting place, if you come here, not even (...... for some people) say hello to the other participants in the morning to see them. I think you'd better stay in your lab ......"
The reply is specifically mentioned in one of our interactions with the professor's. One morning, after another walk in the hallway, he called to express his dissatisfaction he has not been appropriate greeting. He said that in the morning should smile and say hello.
More responses are pouring in, he said the Romeo and Juliet Prize and the students made fun of professors is no different, everyone should be a joke. Some people requires that such decisions should be voted by the group rather than administrative choice; some people said that no one should "prohibit" their traditions. Especially for a reply to one of us it shows that if we play together, our role will be improved:
"Joke is that you can make fun of other people, other people can make fun of you, if you can not kill you, it makes you stronger and more interesting."
After these comments, we reached an agreement with only one participant, adding their voices to the public dialogue. Although several other people personally expressed their support, but they defend us in an open forum expressed hesitation.
After e-mail discussions, we conducted a number of interacting with participants who we artificially over-reaction. One of our instructors said the abolition of awards to no avail. He said he has advised many women worked, but not a woman has had any problems with the community. We met with a haute Organizing Committee, hoped that she would be sympathetic. We met with her equally frustrating. She listened to our account, and did not give too much feedback, in addition to saying that "it is all right?"
Read the e-mail subject makes us feel lonely, unsupported, unpopular. This grueling, so that our work is completely distracted. Requirements and the burden of defending the rewards of retirement almost all come into our two people. In addition to the award itself related to harassment, the reaction of the community as well as a double trauma. We were told very unpopular, and not be able to move on, feel safe and at ease. We are still surprised that a professor can unwittingly compromise the photo to show we shot in our own apartment, and a lot of other people think on this Symposium is entirely reasonable. We are pleased to know that the new code of conduct NIPS will prohibit these activities.
In addition to the award itself related to harassment, the reaction of the community as well as a double trauma. We were told very unpopular, and not be able to move on, feel safe and at ease.
A recent article said, "sexual harassment the most powerful, most effective predictor is basically corporate culture, organizational climate researchers call." We believe that this seminar may affect the low standard of consent and sexual harassment of women decided to primary whether to continue in this area. Because of their culture as well as "the importance of a joke," some women to talk openly about avoiding the same meeting, the two of us decided not to participate in this seminar. If the community to vote on whether to re-launch the future Romeo and Juliet award, we would not protest there. We appreciate the extent of the workshop brought academic work is still high, but we can not participate freely and stay productive in this environment.
Romeo and Juliet supporters award does not understand our experience, thus denying its effectiveness. Although we claim that it affects our safety, comfort and the ability to fully participate in the seminar, but it denied that allows them to prove their "fun" tradition. When asked to make decisions by majority vote in a democratic way, they suggested that we experience does not matter (or incorrect), unless most of the other (mostly male) participants agree with us.
We recognize that Romeo and Juliet Award and NIPS name is not the same thing, but they all involve young women require changes to traditional and publicly denied or minimized their experiences. In both cases, community members suggested to solve the problem by majority vote, even if this issue is the most influential person or a few people, or have left the community. In both cases, some community members seem more concerned about the intentions rather than its traditional influence. In both cases, the community discussion on the proposed changes themselves are harmful.
In preparing to change the name to comment on the NIPS, keep in mind that even if you do not understand other people's experiences, please respect others. To achieve equality, those who benefit from the privilege would have to give up. For you seem to be a harmless joke might make other people will never return to the meeting. Only include empathy, we can make our communities more inclusive and equitable.
This switched ATYUN artificial intelligence media platforms, the original link: sophisticated AI conferences NIPS renamed storm: refuse sex discrimination
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