[HacktionLab] mask tolerance

[clara]

Dear all,

I don't think we need to get into a discussion about the specifics of 
masks, but we can acknowledge the fact that sometimes the needs of 
specific people at a specific (part of) an event can contradict each 
other. Whether thats "masks vs. seeing facial experiences" or "bright 
light to see better vs. dimmed lights against overstimulation" or 
anything else.

If the needs of specific people contradict each other, then altogether 
we need to find a solution for that particular situation. That's not 
something we can map out in all variations beforehand.

But we can create an atmosphere were everybody feels comfortable to make 
their needs known, and an atmosphere where we all feel responsible for 
finding solutions.

And when we have covered people's needs, then we can also aknowledge 
people's wishes.

In solidarity,
Clara


On 18/09/2026 18:40, Mike Harris wrote:
> Hi Nick,
> 
> Thanks for this and the thought you’ve put into it.  I wonder why we need to have something so specific about masks in particular?  The rest of the Policy is quite general and (I would say) deliberately non-specific.  There are many physical (or possibly psychological) conditions that we don’t explicitly mention, and again, like opening windows, physical needs or desires that we don’t explicitly detail either.   Instead of adding that statement, we could add or update an existing item in the Policy with something more generic about how we respect the way people present, what they choose to wear, and their overt and hidden disabilities.  How about something like that that?
> 
> My above thoughts on the first part kind of make this second point a little irrelevant.  Maybe this is splitting hairs, but does “respect their wishes” mean respect that they have wishes, or to have to do what the person wishes?  And this respecting of wishes is covering two very different things: wearing a mask, and wishing a window to be opened.   I’m obviously supportive of someone’s need to wear a mask (whatever the reason and the science behind it), but having the window open for me is a matter of debate and agreement with whosoever is there at the time. It may be very cold, raining and blustery outside, someone may be aged or of ill health and not want the window open, the venue may wish to minimise their heating bills, etc.  For me, this boils down to respecting that someone has wishes, but not having to necessarily act upon them.  We may need to discuss and agree whether the window is opened or not at the time of the request rather than have to have a policy about it.
> 
> Mike.
> 
> Mike Harris
> +44 7811 671 893
> https://mbharris.co.uk . https://xtreamLab.net
> 
> 
>> Missatge enviat per Nick Sellen <hacktionlab at nicksellen.co.uk> el dia 18 set. 2026 a les 11:45:
>>
>> 
>> Hey! I'd like to make an amendment to the hacktionlab safe spaces policy and the best way seems to be to have a post it here for feedback. It came about as I've been organising the event for this year, and trying to make it accessible for some people it might otherwise not be...
>>
>> The current policy is this one: https://hacktionlab.org/index.php?title=Safe_Spaces_policy which is from back in 2017. The proposal is to add one extra line on the Safe Spaces policy document stating:
>>
>> "If people wish to wear a mask or open a window for health reasons please respect their wishes"
>>
>> So, I'm asking for any feedback, which could be an objection, an improvement, or something else!
>>
>> As the event is coming up quite soon, I'd like to conclude this by next monday.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Nick
>> _______________________________________________
>> HacktionLab mailing list
>> HacktionLab at lists.aktivix.org
>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/hacktionlab
>>
>> Hi Nick,
>>
>> Thanks for this and the thought you’ve put into it.  I wonder why we 
>> need to have something so specific about masks in particular?  The 
>> rest of the Policy is quite general and (I would say) deliberately 
>> non-specific.  There are many physical (or possibly psychological) 
>> conditions that we don’t explicitly mention, and again, like opening 
>> windows, physical needs or desires that we don’t explicitly detail 
>> either.   Instead of adding that statement, we could add or update an 
>> existing item in the Policy with something more generic about /how we 
>> respect the way people present, what they choose to wear, and their 
>> overt and hidden disabilities/.  How about something like that that?
>>
>> My above thoughts on the first part kind of make this second point a 
>> little irrelevant.  Maybe this is splitting hairs, but does “respect 
>> their wishes” mean respect that they have wishes, or to have to do 
>> what the person wishes?  And this respecting of wishes is covering two 
>> very different things: wearing a mask, and wishing a window to be 
>> opened.   I’m obviously supportive of someone’s need to wear a mask 
>> (whatever the reason and the science behind it), but having the window 
>> open for me is a matter of debate and agreement with whosoever is 
>> there at the time. It may be very cold, raining and blustery outside, 
>> someone may be aged or of ill health and not want the window open, the 
>> venue may wish to minimise their heating bills, etc.  For me, this 
>> boils down to respecting that someone /has/ wishes, but not /having/ 
>> to necessarily act upon them.  We may need to discuss and agree 
>> whether the window is opened or not at the time of the request rather 
>> than have to have a policy about it.
>>
>> Mike.
>>
>> Mike Harris
>> +44 7811 671 893
>> https://mbharris.co.uk . https://xtreamLab.net
>>
>>
>>> Missatge enviat per Nick Sellen <hacktionlab at nicksellen.co.uk> el dia 
>>> 18 set. 2026 a les 11:45:
>>>
>>> 
>>> Hey! I'd like to make an amendment to the hacktionlab safe spaces 
>>> policy and the best way seems to be to have a post it here for 
>>> feedback. It came about as I've been organising the event for this 
>>> year, and trying to make it accessible for some people it might 
>>> otherwise not be...
>>>
>>> The current policy is this one: https://hacktionlab.org/index.php? 
>>> title=Safe_Spaces_policy <https://hacktionlab.org/index.php? 
>>> title=Safe_Spaces_policy> which is from back in 2017. The proposal is 
>>> to add one extra line on the Safe Spaces policy document stating:
>>>
>>> *"If people wish to wear a mask or open a window for health reasons 
>>> please respect their wishes"*
>>>
>>> So, I'm asking for any feedback, which could be an objection, an 
>>> improvement, or something else!
>>>
>>> As the event is coming up quite soon, I'd like to conclude this by 
>>> next monday.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Nick
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> HacktionLab mailing list
>>> HacktionLab at lists.aktivix.org
>>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/hacktionlab
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> HacktionLab mailing list
>> HacktionLab at lists.aktivix.org
>> https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/hacktionlab

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