index.html

---
layout: base
title: Computer Anonymous
---
      <h1>Computer.</h1>

      <h2>Computer ?</h2>

      <h3>Computer :-(</h3>

      <p>Now you understand. Let’s go to computer anonymous.</p>

      <p>This page is also available in the following languages:</p>
      <ul>
          <li><a href="index.de.html">Deutsch/German</a>.</li>
      </ul>

      <p><a href="#groups">See if there’s one already where you live</a> at the bottom of the page, or start one by <a href="https://github.com/computeranonymous/computer">forking the repository</a>, making your changes, and submitting a pull request.</p>

      <h4>The Plan</h4>

      <ul>
        <li>We go to a good pub or venue.</li>
        <li>We eat food, we drink (be it beer, cocktails or soft drinks).</li>
        <li>We say ‘computer’.</li>
      </ul>

      <p>This might be the group for you if you want to meet socially conscious nerds to talk about interesting things. This is not an entrepreneurial meetup, nor is it networking: It is a support group, a place to meet good people and talk about good and bad things.</p>

      <p>Although education and outreach are both important to us, the primary goal is to create a social group for people in and around tech, from all backgrounds, where they feel comfortable and welcome.</p>

      <p>There aren’t regularly organized talks, workshops, or otherwise. We don’t have tickets, we don’t have namebadges. We’re striving to be as disorganised and informal as possible. We will talk computer a lot but we’d also like to not talk computer too. At the end of the day we’re just wanting not to be alone when we find ourselves saying "computer".</p>

      <h4>Imposters Welcome</h4>

      <p>If you’re from a background which isn’t well-represented in most geeky meetups, come along – we want to make a difference.</p>
      <p>If you’re from a background which is well-represented in most geeky meetups, come along – we want your help making a difference.</p>
      <p>If you’re worried about not being computer enough, come.</p>
      <p>If you think you’re an imposter, come.</p>
      <p>If your day job isn’t code, come.</p>
      <p>This isn’t a group of experts, just people.</p>
      <p>We are interested in the social and technical problems.</p>
      <p>This is a support group. No-one knows what they are doing.</p>

      <h4 id="rules">The Rules</h4>

      <p>
        A code of conduct applies wherever we gather to talk computer. This is true both in person and online.
      </p>

      <ul class="rules">
        <li>We want to be inclusive; do not engage in homophobic, racist, transphobic, ableist, sexist, or otherwise exclusionary behavior. Don’t make exclusionary jokes. Don’t even make them "ironically".</li>
        <li>Don’t harass people. Unconsented physical contact or sexual attention is harrassment. Dressing or acting in a certain way is not consent.</li>
        <li>Aggression and elitism are unwelcome here — computering is not a competition.</li>
        <li>Although some groups may meet in a pub, there is no expectation or pressure to drink alcohol. Don’t question anyone’s choice of drink.</li>
        <li>We’d rather you ask about gender than assume, and if you get it wrong, apologise, and use what they prefer.</li>
        <li>We think feminism is a good thing. Discussion of how to make computer more inclusive is welcome. Claims that this "has gone too far" aren’t.</li>
      </ul>
      <p>It might be a good idea to read about <a href="http://theangryblackwoman.com/2009/10/01/the-dos-and-donts-of-being-a-good-ally/" >being a good ally</a> or some <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140406222100/http://superopinionated.dreamhosters.com/101-a-tron/" >specific resources for various issues</a> if you’re worried about offending people.</p>

      <h4>The People</h4>

      <p>On IRC: <a href="https://libera.chat/guides/connect">irc.libera.chat</a> in the <a href="irc://irc.libera.chat/%23%23computer">##computer</a> channel. IRC is logged by members, who are asked not to publicise their logs.</p>

      <p><a href="http://twitter.com/WhyComputer">@WhyComputer</a> on twitter</p>

      <p>If you want to attend, say hello to someone, and they will drag you along.</p>

      <p>We are making plans on <a href="https://github.com/computeranonymous/computer">our GitHub repository</a>, and if you have fixes or comments, open an issue!</p>

      <h4 id="groups">The Groups</h4>
      <ul class="groups">
        <li>
          UK
          <ul>
            <li><a href="uk_london.html">London</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_edinburgh.html">Edinburgh</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_oxford.html">Oxford</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_manchester.html">Manchester</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_cardiff.html">Cardiff</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_brighton.html">Brighton</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_birmingham.html">Birmingham</a></li>
        </ul>
        <p>Currently inactive UK groups</p>
            <ul>
            <li><a href="uk_central_london.html">Central London</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_east_london.html">East London</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_west_london.html">West London</a></li>
            <li><a href="uk_north_london.html">North London</a></li>
            </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
        USA
        <ul>
            <li><a href="us_akron.html">Akron</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_austin.html">Austin</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_boston.html">Boston</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_denver.html">Denver</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_newyork.html">New York</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_portland.html">Portland</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_sanfrancisco.html">San Francisco</a></li>
            <li><a href="us_seattle.html">Seattle</a></li>
        </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
        Elsewhere
        <ul>
            <li><a href="au_ballarat.html">Ballarat, Victoria, Australia</a></li>
            <li><a href="ca_nl_stjohns.html">St. John’s, NL, Canada</a></li>
            <li><a href="ca_qc_montreal.html">Montr&eacute;al, QC, Canada</a></li>
            <li><a href="de_berlin.html">Berlin, Germany</a></li>
            <li><a href="de_hamburg.html">Hamburg, Germany</a></li>
            <li><a href="se_stockholm.html">Stockholm, Sweden</a></li>
          </ul>
        </li>
      </ul>

      <p>If you’d like to start a group nearer you, you can fork the GitHub repo and send us a pull request. We have some help and advice for those <a href="running_a_group.html">starting or running a group</a>, which covers finding venues, handling problems, and people who can help with using GitHub.</p>