The Open-Source Boob Project

The Open-Source Boob Project was conceived at one con, and implemented at another.
In 2007, TheFerrett attended ConFusion, during which he and a group of friends had had a revelation. His LiveJournal entry on it, dated April 21, 2008, started with this:
From here, theferrett conceived of the Open Source Boob Project.
==The Penguicon Project==
The project premiered at Penguicon complete with a philosophy, rules, and accessories.
==Numbers==
Regarding numbers, theferrett wrote: "For the record, I think there were like twenty to thirty open-sourcers out of a crowd of a thousand." page 2, archive link, page 2
==The Post, and Comments==
The post has 1324 comments. He posted several edits/clarifications on his point of view on what happened. As of 2019, the post is friendslocked.
* page 1, archive link, page 1
* page 2, archive link, page 2
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
=="Open Source" and Boobs, What's the Connection?==
A singular project, perhaps adding to (or more likely detracting from) our understanding of the term 'open source'. That term in the software context, as set out in the GNU General Public License states that the essential foundations of 'open source' are as follows:There are four freedoms that every user should have:
:the freedom to use the software for any purpose,
: the freedom to change the software to suit your needs,
: the freedom to share the software with your friends and neighbors, and
: the freedom to share the changes you make. 
It is not entirely clear how far the equation between 'open source software' as described above and 'women's breasts' was intended to be taken by the Open Source Boob Project, which premiered at Penguicon in 2008 and was brought to the consciousness of fandom at large by a post by TheFerrett, The Open-Source Boob Project, The Ferrett, April 21, 2008 by Livejournal user TheFerrett.
== Reactions ==
Initial responses to the Open Source Boob Project were somewhat mixed. This changed rapidly as the post spread through LiveJournal.
The vast majority of women posting were extremely upset that their bodies were considered targets of opportunity.
Reactions include "it's a selfish grasping onanistic power play disguised as utopian openness and universal freedom." And, "Anyone who thinks that male assumptions of privilege and sexual objectification don't exist any more, and female safe spaces are not necessary, can just take a gander at The Open Source Boobs Project (which as someone said, is more like "The Public Domain Boobs Project" as in: women's breasts should be usable by anyone, ewwwwwww.)"msilverstar post on LiveJournal dated 2008-04-23, accessed 2011-07-01
Some fans reacted by proposing more gender-neutral or male-revenge specific projects in response to the OSBP. One example was the "Open Source Swift Kick to the Balls Project."now offline, was at misia On a more serious note, the "Open Source Women Back Each Other Up Program" was proposed by vito_excalibur on April 23 as a response to encourage women to look out for each other at conventions, to intervene in or at least question the willingness of participants in any events where it may appear that a woman is being coerced into doing something she is not comfortable with, such as being touched in an apparently sexual manner.This is not a joke. This is not satire. This is not a test., post by vito excalibur, has 730 comments
theferrett posted that the OSBP would not continue at future conventions, and that he would not attend ConFusion nor PenguinCon the following year. "[The OSBP] was highly context-specific. What happened to us, even if it was good, is not what will happen to you. The danger of it getting out of hand is too great – and already, people worry that they’re going to be press-ganged into a groping area if they don’t have a button, despite the fact that I (and others) have said that’s not what happened at all. But honestly? That easily could happen without proper supervision, male power being what it is…And the fear is something that can be triggering in itself. I do get that. And nobody should be triggered." post page one
Some fans began posting responses along the lines of "A Straight Geek Male's Guide to Interaction with Females" A Straight Geek Male's Guide to Interaction with Females, timjr, 275 comments which suggested ways for men to interact with women at conventions in an unthreatening, polite way. Some comments to the post A Straight Geek Male's Guide to Interaction with Females, expressed displeasure that such basic ideas as common courtesy, cleanliness, and respect needed to be explained to men attending conventions.
===Comment: Excerpts at the Post===
[fengi]: 
[theferrett]: 
[spiderine]: 
[everinward]: 
[spiderine]: 
[miwome]: 
[rbradakis]: 
[demiurgent]: 
[tormentedartist]: 
[tsgeisel]: 
[mcpreacher]: 
[roniliquidity]: 
[roniliquidity]: 
[tablesaw]: 
[theferrett]: 
[zoethe]: 
[claudelemonde]: 
[veejane]: 
[tdanaher]: 
[greyhat]: 
==Fanworks in Response==
Nineveh_uk encapsulated her response in the Dorothy L. Sayers' story, I've Been to a Marvellous Party.
==Other Links to Discussion==
* open source male assholes by springheel-jack
* Is this truly the only world I can live in? by the-red-shoes
* I'm a Man; I'm a Man; I'm a Man; I'm a Man; I'm a Man; I'm a Man; When We Make Love Together by tablesaw
* open-source boob project by pleonastic
* Oh jesus, am I wearing my "objectify me" pin again? by brown-betty
* Open Source: Clarification by theferrett
* a world of oh fuck no. by blueraccoon
* Bad dog, no cookie by oulangi
* I find it highly amusing that his username is "ferret." by mystickeeper
* On asking to touch the breasts of a stranger by kate-nepveu
* nestra's response by nestra
* My body is not fucking CODE by cereta
* Women who could kick your ass by movies-michele
* Welcome to the Harlan Ellison Memorial Personal Boundaries Club by james-nicoll
* He already apologized and stuff, but I just couldn't resist: by plasticsturgeon
* You Can Not HAZ! by ojouchan
* The Boobs by pixelfish
* elynross's response by elynross
* this would make a lot more sense if I were male, which tells me everything by seperis
* thebratqueen's response by thebratqueen
* The OSKSP by hahathor
* A Modest Proposal by misia
* A proposal to crush the button-enabled sexual harassment proposal by rachelmanija
* OH JOHN RINGO NO posted to unfunnybusiness on Journalfen
* a list of links; reference link; WBM link
* Crowd-sourcing, which is another thing entirely by brown-betty
* Because I just can't let this go... by giandujakiss
* Blah Blah Ginger Blah Blah by sparkymonster
* Female Empowerment: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG by gogogidget
* The right of making available by rivkat
* This is not a joke. This is not satire. This is not a test. by vito-excalibur
* A Straight Geek Male's Guide to Interaction with Females by timjr
* Back Up by rachelmanija
* Response by wicked-socks
* Don't Be That Guy by synecdochic
* I say I'm a bitch like I care. (Hint: I don't.) by spoggly
== References ==
== Related Links ==
* "Oh John Ringo No!"
* Misogyny in Fandom
Category:Fandom Occurrences
Category:Harlan Ellison
Category:2008 Events
Category:Science Fiction Fandom Occurrences