CARE - Awareness
GPN is a place where many different people come together. In order to have a pleasant get together, we must treat each other with respect and consideration. We want to welcome you regardless of gender, nationality, sexual identity, (dis)ability, looks or tongue. Please do respect the boundaries of others!
The CARE Team – what is it?
Chaos Awareness Response Entropians aka CARE. We are here for you if
- you have experienced harassment or discrimination
- your personal boundaries have been violated
- you have been subject to or witnessed (acute or structural) discrimination
- you feel uncomfortable
- you simply need a person to talk to.
Contact us or talk to us. You can recognize us by looking for the green badges.
- Phone: +49721 266 767 113
- DECT: 113
- Matrix: @gpn-care:entropia.de
- Mastodon: @awareness@gulas.ch
Silent Hacking Area
GPN can be overwhelming. For those of you who need a place with less hustle and bustle at this event, there is the Silent Hacking Area. It is located at the ZKM in the Media Lounge (in front of the library on the 1st floor). There you can relax from the many stimuli.
If that's not enough, contact us as described above and we'll take you to a quiet place. Important: This is a space to take a time out, not to sleep. GPN does not allow sleeping on the premises.
Your rights
Everyone who is considerate and respects the hacker ethics of others has the right to be here. You don't have to be able to solder or hack our neighbors. You are welcome.
You have the right to choose when, where, and by whom you want to be photographed or filmed.
You have the right to be addressed by your chosen name of nick. You have the right to have to choose which pronouns should be used to refer to you.
You have the right to be left alone.
You have the right to be treated fairly. You have the absolute right not to be threatened or scared by others. No one may blackmail you, treat you without dignity, or hurt you. You have the right to decide on your own boundaries.
You have the right to decide for yourself when and how to be touched. No one may touch, massage, caress, kiss or urge you to touch somebody else without your consent.
You have the right to say “no” and fight back when someone violates your boundaries, hurts your feelings or those of others. You can say “no” with looks, words, or by your body posture. Even if you have said “yes” before.
You have the right to seek support for yourself and for somebody else. If you are uncomfortable or just feeling down, you have the right to get help.
You can find help here:
- from the CERT for your health: +49 721 266 767 112 | DECT: 112
- to the CARE team in case of discrimination, conflicts or if you just need someone to talk to or need your peace: +49 721 266 767 113 | DECT: 113
According to Amyna e.V., Institute for the prevention of sexual abuse and inspired by Geheimorga.
Food for thought
DISCRIMINATION
Racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, inter-phobia, ableism have no place on the GPN.
AUTISM
Please explicitly ask if it is okay to touch someone else or their belongings. Especially if the other person is not feeling well. Be sure to respect quiet zones and no-photo areas.
Those on the autism spectrum may not be able to speak or add emotional content to their speech in crisis situations. Someone in a crisis might seem composed despite being extremely distressed. If you witness someone having a meltdown (an emotional outburst) you can inform the CARE team.
By the way: avoiding eye contact, rocking their upper body, fidgeting, cuddling with a stuffed animal – these can all help people to listen to you better.
GENDER DIVERSITY
The chaos group and the larger hacker community are a diverse group with many different gender identities. Some even have no gender at all. They all have the right to be accepted. Use names and personal pronouns that are on the badge or ask people how they want to be addressed.
Oh, and please don't ask questions like, "Are you the 'girlfriend of #maleNerd'?"
CHILDREN
GPN is for all ages. Act like you would have wanted older people to act when you were a kid. Let kids explore for themselves and let them make mistakes. Children do ask questions when they want to know something. And ask the child, and possibly the parents, if help is needed. If you don't have time or feel like answering questions, please remain polite and respectful.
KINK
As always, the basic rules of consideration and understanding applies. Always ask yourself: Can you explain to a five-year-old in age-appropriate language what you are doing here? If the answer is no, save it until you get home. The venue is not a place to exchange bodily fluids. Leave your genitals and nipples (also male – out of solidarity!) wrapped up and don't rub them on things or people. Keep in mind that some kinks (e.g., slapping, hair pulling, arm flinging) can be scary or re-traumatizing to some people and there is no place for this at the venue. GPN is not primarily a kink event – so consider the context in which practices like (suspension) bondage happen. Pay attention to consensus, also of those who might see you by chance.
DISABLED
Disabled people experience barriers in everyday life that make social participation difficult. What barriers are and whether they can be mitigated varies, and they are not always visible – depending on the person's disability, context, and social/physical amount of energy available to the individual.
Disabled persons are generally able to request assistance when and if they need it. Imposing assistance or offering it frequently can quickly become annoying. Unwanted assistance is a boundary violation. And if someone is permanently in need of assistance, they probably have their qualified assistant with them.
If your assistance is requested, only provide what has been asked for. If you need to cross potential boundaries (touching arm, taking backpack, etc …) indicate what you are doing.
No means no. Pity has never helped anyone.
And just assume that disabled people are adults and lead a self-determined life.
BIPoC
Racism is not tolerated in any form. This rule includes every-day racism: do not touch anyone's hair without consent. Also, please do not ask “Where are you from, originally?”.