This blog talks mostly about working with code, cooperation, and conflict resolution.

30-12-2023

How do kids conceive the internet? - part 4

I wanted to understand how kids between 10 and 18 conceive the internet. With the help of a friend, some more kids were interviewed, kids whose parents have a more technical background. → Read more

21-12-2023

How volunteer work in F/LOSS exacerbates pre-existing lines of oppression, and what that has to do with low diversity

Some thoughts around how volunteer work in F/LOSS exacerbates pre-existing lines of oppression, resulting in low diversity. → Read more

23-05-2022

How do kids conceive the internet? - part 3

I wanted to understand how kids between 10 and 18 conceive the internet. I started doing some interviews and I received a bit of feedback from people. → Read more

20-05-2022

How do kids conceive the internet? - part 2

I wanted to understand how kids between 10 and 18 conceive the internet. I did some more interviews, and received a video recording of an interesting discussion. → Read more

31-03-2022

How do kids conceive the internet?

I wanted to understand how kids between 10 and 18 conceive the internet. Surely, we have seen a generation that we call 'digital natives' grow up with the internet. Now, there is a younger generation who grows up with pervasive technology, such as smartphones, smart watches, virtual assistants and so on. And only a few of them have parents who work in IT or engineering… → Read more

23-03-2022

Workshops about anger, saying NO, and mapping one's capacities and desires

For the second year, I proposed some workshops at the feminist hackers assembly at the remote C3 last December. → Read more

05-02-2021

On anger, misunderstandings, and hearing with different ears

When misunderstandings arise, it's often because messages can be heard with different ears. When anger seemingly suddenly bursts out, it could be that feelings have been bottled up for a while. → Read more

30-10-2020

Better handling emergencies

Everyone working with a computer knows those messages that have URGENT in capital letters in the email subject. What I learnt about dealing with emergencies. → Read more

24-08-2020

Code reviews: from nitpicking to cooperation

How can we have good code review processes without entering a 'you need to be perfect' scenario? → Read more

17-06-2020

On Language

Language is a vehicle for ideas and concepts: we need to replace oppressive racist metaphors that are used in software today. → Read more

12-06-2020

The right to demand change

Two women sit in an office, one asks: "What's the difference between being assertive and being aggressive?" The other replies: "Your gender." (Cartoon by Judy Horacek, 1999.)

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02-04-2020

Breaking the chain reaction of reactions to reactions

Sometimes, in our day-to-day-interactions, communication becomes disruptive, resembling a chain of reactions to reactions to reactions. Sometimes we lose the capacity to express our ideas and feelings. Sometimes communication just gets stuck, maybe conflict breaks out. When we see these same patterns over and over again, this might be due to the ever same roles that we adopt and play. Learnt in childhood, these roles are deeply ingrained in our adult selves, and acted out as unconscious scripts. Until we notice and work on them.

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16-03-2020

Deconstructing the term «control freak»

Control freaks. You may have called people like this. Or you may have been called one yourself. Maybe you got angry. Or, on the contrary, you felt like being a control freak is a feature, because who would notice all these little details that are not exactly perfect if not you? This post is an attempt to deconstruct the term.

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08-03-2020

Implementing feedback into our work culture

Healthy organizations are places in which feedback is encouraged, even if it's about issues that are not easy to hear. How does this work? → Read more

01-03-2020

Conflict as a clash of strategies and a vector for change

In this post I'll introduce a way to look at conflict using concepts of Non-Violent Communication. I'll try to explain how to go from mapping a conflict to transforming the setting in which the conflict occurs. → Read more

25-02-2020

Conflict solving has many layers

In January I started a mediation training, which is specifically aimed at mediation and conflict in workplaces. I'd like to share some of my insights from this training in a series of posts. → Read more

18-02-2020

Reasons for job burnout and what motivates people in their job

Burnout comes in many colours and flavours. Often, it is conceived as a weakness of the person experiencing the burnout. But what if burnout would be an indicator for a toxic workplace? → Read more