I think everybody here but especially Sombra mentions a lot of very interesting points.
Disco is a microkosmos and a miniature version of the global society we live in.
I could go on and on and put everything Sombra said in my own words but it's being worded perfectly in his post as it is.
As for Yber, even though I initially read your reply as someone going in full attack against the points I've raised, I have to force myself to try and see things through your perspective.
First of all I didn't quote Joe because he is Joe, I simply felt that reading that particular message, old as it is, changed my look on things and made me realise that we as a community can do better than what is considered normal nowadays, and more than that, that I as an individual have a responsibility to do the right thing. Yber mentioned that I've denied his participation in events, making him feel excluded. I think I know what event he is referring to and although I had nothing to do with its organisation or with the decision to keep the event between certain people I did defend that position. Not because I get to choose who is cool and who is not cool but because I still believe it should be possible to have an event now and then between certain people of the same skill level, or who share whatever else in common. I believe a whole lot in this community is being decided and discussed between closed doors. This leaves room for speculation and as often goes, when left to our imagination we often imagine worst case scenarios. I am not afraid to own my past mistakes, I made plenty of them. In fact I feel fine with being branded a hypocrite as long as that means that I am making a change for the better. My message isn't just about myself or about one particular event though, even though I do want to underline that a little change in everyone of us (including myself) in the way we treat each other can only benefit everyone, leave an impact on this community for the better.
What is holding us all back from trying that? Just the notion of we tried that before and it didn't work out? Even if it's bound to fail and relapse at some point, isn't it worth the effort and the good things that might come out of it until someone 10 years from now gravedigs this thread and starts the circle over again?