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6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

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Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#71

Post by sp332 »

stickfigure wrote: post #62
sp332 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Due process is for criminal charges and sentencing. It doesn't apply anywhere else. [Edit: OK and other state stuff. Point stands.] Even if you sue someone, you only need a "preponderance of evidence" and not to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Outside of a courtroom, you can literally make up anything you want. For example, if you're a founder and you hear a rumor of a VC being a serial harasser, you might decide to s…

Judging others based on unsubstantiated rumors creates a toxic environment too. We can behave better than that.

Updating your risk assessment doesn't mean you 100% believe someone is guilty. I stand away from cliff edges even if I'm pretty sure I'm not going to trip and fall to my death. And it's not like we haven't heard both sides: he already released two statements.

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#72

Post by mothers »

jellicle wrote: post #57
sillysaurus3 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, I don't. But do you think it's reasonable to crucify him before any investigation happens? My comment was a bit too female-focused. It wasn't about she-said's or a female conspiracy, but rather the ease of getting people to smear someone that has enemies. It's hard not to notice that the claim of sexual harassment is as equally damaging now as being called a communist was in the 50's. It's obviously quite differe…

What "investigation" are you planning to wait for? Who's doing it? What URL will the final report be published at? Do you apply this standard in other areas? If someone tells you they had chicken for lunch, do you say, "Hold on, let's wait for the investigation to determine what you actually had for lunch"? Or if six people told you they had chicken for lunch?

the difference is that no one is harmed in this situation.

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#74

Post by mumphster »

solotronics wrote: post #42

Serious question, does free speech apply in these situations? You have the unalienable right to speak your mind and some people may be offended but that is not illegal. I totally understand if you are employed by someone you can't easily get away if you are made uncomfortable but this is entirely a voluntary situation. Also, if you really think about it making something that makes someone uncomfortable illegal is wei…

Sexual assault is not an issue of free speech. Its sexual assault.

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#75

Post by dragonwriter »

_m8fo wrote: post #5
asdfologist wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The second paragraph said he sent texts. Texts can be verified.

Are texts really an example of "sexual assault?" My understanding was that sexual assault had to be physical, though I may (probably) be wrong. EDIT: Thanks for the clarification, all. As many have pointed out, there's also the harassment portion. I guess my question is now: how do you prove intent? I know nothing about due process, so I'm curious. I suppose in this case it really matters what it says in the texts.

> I guess my question is now: how do you prove intent?

In a legal case (which is not now pending from any information published, but that could change), any facts from which an observer could infer that the intent at issue was more likely than it would be in the absence of those facts are evidence (providing that they aren't inadmissible for other reasons.)

Legal proof isn't mathematical proof; in general, the ways you'd forms belief about something in your daily life are how it is “proved” in a court of law.

The degree of certainty a juror is expected to have for a conviction in a criminal cases is very high, but that's not a matter of how it is proved, but how conclusively it must be proved.

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#76

Post by bqe »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #14
drewrv wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In this case it's more of a "he said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said, she said".

When it involves rich or powerful people, the ability to get many she-said's becomes easier. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but due process exists for a reason. We should reserve judgement until the investigation progresses further.

Why are you talking about due process when there's no crime that has been committed?

This is about calling out shitty but legal behavior. The VC didn't even deny he was lecherous, just that he didn't do anything illegal. That's tacit confirmation that it did happen.

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#77

Post by ithinkinstereo »

stickfigure wrote: post #62
sp332 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Due process is for criminal charges and sentencing. It doesn't apply anywhere else. [Edit: OK and other state stuff. Point stands.] Even if you sue someone, you only need a "preponderance of evidence" and not to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Outside of a courtroom, you can literally make up anything you want. For example, if you're a founder and you hear a rumor of a VC being a serial harasser, you might decide to s…

Judging others based on unsubstantiated rumors creates a toxic environment too. We can behave better than that.

That's true, but we should also take into account how the nature of sexual harassment, and the often power imbalance between the harasser and victim, naturally provides the harasser with all the advantages.

You are free to judge for yourself, but from the Information and Axios article, there does seem to be a preponderance of evidence to suggest Justin is either a serial sexual harasser/predator, at worst, or a totally inappropriate jerk-douchebag, at the very least. Both deserve condemnation. Bad actors need to be rooted out and ostracized, especially bad actor VCs.

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#78

Post by niniane »

mothers wrote: post #70
niniane wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am one of the three women who went on the record: Niniane Wang. I'm one of the "she-said"s. I have nothing to gain from this. I am not suing. I'm founder & CEO of a Greylock-funded startup. Thankfully Greylock has come out in full support, but I didn't know that beforehand and was very nervous when I decided to do the article. The only way that any reporter would agree to publish was if I used my real name. I knew…

why did your reporter think it was necessary that you go and out yourself?

3 reporters have tried over the years. Justin made threats against them. So they all gave up. One of them describes this in his article: https://www.axios.com/silicon-valleys-sexist-swamp-244683763...

"The unfortunate truth is that I simply could not write this until Albergotti published, as I didn't have anyone on the record, which is virtually essential from a journalistic perspective. "

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#79

Post by ithinkinstereo »

sp332 wrote: post #71
stickfigure wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Judging others based on unsubstantiated rumors creates a toxic environment too. We can behave better than that.

Updating your risk assessment doesn't mean you 100% believe someone is guilty. I stand away from cliff edges even if I'm pretty sure I'm not going to trip and fall to my death. And it's not like we haven't heard both sides: he already released two statements.

His statements are pretty damning and all but confirm this is all true.

Edit: here is his statement

Obviously, I am deeply disturbed by these allegations. While significant context is missing from the incidents reported by The Information, I deeply regret ever causing anyone to feel uncomfortable. The fact is that I have been privileged to have worked with female entrepreneurs throughout my career and I sincerely apologize to anyone who I made uncomfortable by my actions. There’s no denying this is an issue in the venture community, and I hate that my behavior has contributed to it.

Judge for yourself. Innocent, non-harassers, don't apologize when accused of such vile things (especially married, "family" men with kids - a daughter nonetheless).

Re: 6 Women Accuse Tech VC Justin Caldbeck of Sexual Assault and Harassment

#80

Post by V-eHGsd_ »

from the pando article this references:

> We are now in a post-Susan Fowler world,

I think I know what the author was trying to say, but that's a really weird way to say it. Susan is most definitely still alive and well. Susan wasn't an event, like 9/11. she is a woman with a lot of courage who wrote about a series of terrible things that happened to her.

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