Login

Recent searches

No recent searches

Search options

Not available on mastodon.xyz.
mastodon.xyz is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
A Mastodon instance, open to everyone, but mainly English and French speaking.

Administered by:

Server stats:

791
active users

mastodon.xyz: AboutProfiles directoryPrivacy policy

Mastodon: AboutGet the appKeyboard shortcutsView source codev4.3.4

Public *
Garrett LeSage

:

is inaccessible for those with:

- mobility issues

- scent sensitivities (no policy against perfume, uses smelly soap in bathrooms); this affects around 30% of the population

- who need/want CC for videos

And refused:

- to have a code of conduct for years; have no real means of enforcing the one they have now

- to implement any kind of sickness mitigation (COVID, "FOSDEM Flu", or other), including encouraging masks and ventilation

And promotes:

- cryptocurrency
- billionaires

Public
QuadRadical

@garrett hmm, the scent one seems like it would be especicially simple, even with just replacing the soap in the bathrooms. what are the reasons for not doing this, @fosdem?

Public
Sebastian "spaetz" Spaeth

@QuadRadical @garrett @fosdem Err, this is a **university** campus. Good luck in finding all restrooms and getting permission to exchange the universities soap for 2 days. It's not like you could just run into a drug store and buy 2 dispensers and be done with it. 🤗

Public
Garrett LeSage

@spaetz @QuadRadical @fosdem It doesn't require luck. It requires caring enough to make an attempt.

They could:

- have a fragrance-free policy that encourages people to attend to avoid stinky products

- remind people about this in opening sessions (among other things they already ask people to think about)

- encourage the university to handle this themselves too

- set up at least a bathroom or few to be accessible

This affects a third of the population worldwide.

link.springer.com/article/10.1

SpringerLinkInternational prevalence of fragrance sensitivity - Air Quality, Atmosphere & HealthEmissions and exposures from fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, have been associated with health problems and societal impacts. This study investigates effects of fragranced consumer products on the general population in four countries: United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Nationally representative population surveys (n = 1137; 1098; 1100; 1100) found that, across the four countries, 32.2% of adults (34.7%, 33.0%, 27.8%, 33.1% respectively) report fragrance sensitivity; that is, adverse health effects from fragranced consumer products. For instance, 17.4% report health problems from air fresheners or deodorizers, and 15.7% from being in a room cleaned with scented products. Commonly reported health problems include respiratory difficulties (16.7%), mucosal symptoms (13.2%), migraine headaches (12.6%), skin rashes (9.1%), and asthma attacks (7.0%). For 9.5% of the population, the severity of health effects can be considered disabling. Further, 9.0% of the population have lost workdays or lost a job, in the past year, due to illness from fragranced product exposure in the workplace. Personal estimated costs due to these lost workdays and lost jobs, across the four countries in one year, exceed $146 billion (USD). A majority of people across the countries would prefer that workplaces, health care facilities and professionals, hotels, and airplanes were fragrance-free rather than fragranced. The study highlights a concern for public health and societal well-being, as well as an approach to reduce risks and costs: reduce exposure to fragranced products.
Garrett LeSage

@spaetz @QuadRadical @fosdem Other conferences and universities have done this already. This isn't uncharted territory.

oit.colorado.edu/about-oit/con

dcc.uic.edu/news-stories/fragr

Again, this affects 1/3 people to some degree, and there are many reasons why, including but not limited to:

Asthma, allergies, Mast Cell Activation Disorders, Mastocytosis, COPD, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, migraines, and many more.

Plus, perfume is often carcinogenic.

It's more than just "soap in a bathroom".

oit.colorado.eduFragrance-Free Initiative | Office of Information TechnologyThe mission of the initiative is to create a comfortable work environment for all by encouraging staff and visitors to minimize their use of products containing fragrance. The fragrance chemicals within these products can cause adverse health effects or discomfort for others.
Jan 18, 2025, 08:50 AM·Public·Moshidon
5boosts·2favorites
Public *
Garrett LeSage

@spaetz @QuadRadical @fosdem And that's just 1 of many points I made where FOSDEM drops that ball. They can do better, and they should at least try to be better.

The entire point of Free Software movement is to be aspirational, work together to solve things, and benefit everyone.

(Yes, software licenses were part of that, but that was a tool, not the entire point of it.)

ExploreLive feeds
About