Lack of diversity, measured in any way, is often tied to folks laden with insecurity or a lack of empathy, ending up in a position to impose their lens over others, to the point where it becomes systemic.

At least changes for the better are needed.

Defining what good citizenship is for everyone in tech, and through it, expecting diversity from management first, then downward.

- Diversity is bullshit if it's not reflected and practiced from the very top management to the bottom. When people wax diversity I check the management and it tells me everything I need to know. You put up, or shut up. I applaud guys like Eric Ries for doing the uncomfortable and succeeding. Diversity needs to rise to the levels of decision making, and replacing them with standards of good citizenship that applies to all is what's needed.

- Being a good citizen in technology community needs to be the core of being in the tech community. Maybe this is missing in tech culture, presumably because it's so new. What will happen to the young people who look down on others? They're screwed because the hurt train they build is coming their way in 10 years.

Transforming into a culture where standards of good citizenship apply to everyone, will need everyone to be equally comfortable and fluent in having open minded conversations about diversity that might need us to look at ourselves in the mirror.

Then, with awareness, disrupting the lack of diversity, breaking cycles of discrimination.

In my experience of being a member of multiple minority groups in tech, I have learnt and try to remember:

- People who don't want to work with you will find any reason. That's what's important to focus on, not the reason. You got every shot to make something better to make jerks into dinosaurs. It's good to flush the turds out into the sunlight whenever possible, good citizens will always be supportive of this for the greater good.

- Innovation doesn't live in a mindset of doubts and seeking permission from others. You're not an entrepreneur until you stop asking permission and validation. People who are givers and truly focus on adding value will do it unconditionally, as long as you focus on being someone who focuses on adding value.

- Rather than become radicalized and negative, you may have no choice but to become 8x as good as the average Joe. Your perceived gatekeepers can become your slaves by pushing you to push yourself. If you feel you have to be 2x as good to get half the respect, 4x as good to get equal respect, and 8x too good to be ignored, you get to write more of the script. It's not fair. Nothing worthwhile seems to be. I measure equality in society by what the average joe can access, so by that definition this point fails, but I've selected pursuing improving my abilities beyond what others can squeak by with in the hopes that the future will have more diversity minded people at the top.

Many do not practice discrimination, but benefit from an existing benefit of being a demographic that systemizes it. Becoming aware of the things you never notice is the first step.

Thing you can do nothing about, your age, gender, the family you're born into, where you are born, the color of your skin shouldn't define your opportunities, potential or abilities.

It starts with the majority of people on this site and in our community.

What do you commit to do to become a better citizen of the tech community for diversity? I know I'm sure as hell doing everything I can because I'm on the other end of it far too often.