Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

observer.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 484 posts

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

#261

Post by aplarice »

irpapakons wrote: post #214
anothercomment wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, his initial statement sounds like that (like he is genuinely shocked that he is part of the problem after all). His updated statement might reflect his realization of the reality of what went down. He looks pretty attractive - maybe there were other cases were the women were also attracted to him. Maybe women also unconsciously flirted to make him more likely to give him money, and he misinterpreted. (No, wome…

You seem very passionate about defending alleged harassers. I just wonder what fuels that. Perhaps you think these events are not that bad, or some degree of inappropriate behaviour is ok?

It seems to me that accusations of harassment can be as damaging as harassment itself, and that the presumption of innocence applies to both (or all) parties.

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

#262

Post by acid__ »

staticautomatic wrote: post #258
acid__ wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious: if you were somehow in his position -- and were now actually genuinely apologetic, were actually blind to your own actions, were actually sorry for the harm you've done -- How would you word your apology such that it couldn't be interpreted in this (self-serving, not actually sorry) way?

A man who is blind to his own actions cannot sincerely apologize for them.

Of course, but the premise (of both my scenario and Justin's apology) is that his eyes are now open.

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

#263

Post by fishtoaster »

braveo wrote: post #254
munchbunny wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sad part to me is that this is just the part of the iceberg that is visible above the surface. I've heard stories from several female founders/VC's (not naming names or specific details to protect anonymity) who have experienced repeated unwelcome advances even after it was made clear they had a significant other. That's not as egregious as groping (one of the accusations in this article), but that's still sexual…

> I've heard stories from several female founders/VC's (not naming names or specific details to protect anonymity) who have experienced repeated unwelcome advances even after it was made clear they had a significant other. That's not as egregious as groping (one of the accusations in this article), but that's still sexual harassment by the letter of the law and slimy as hell every other way. While I don't know the de…

I think the key word is "repeated." Approaching someone is allowed. Repeatedly approaching them after they tell you know is not.

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

#264

Post by skywhopper »

Alex3917 wrote: post #210
munchbunny wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sad part to me is that this is just the part of the iceberg that is visible above the surface. I've heard stories from several female founders/VC's (not naming names or specific details to protect anonymity) who have experienced repeated unwelcome advances even after it was made clear they had a significant other. That's not as egregious as groping (one of the accusations in this article), but that's still sexual…

> that's still sexual harassment by the letter of the law and slimy as hell every other way. IANAL, but legally it's not sexual harassment because they don't work at the same company. Something is only sexual harassment in two cases: 1) a supervisor offers something to a subordinate in exchange for sexual favors 2) a company is found to have created a hostile work environment. In both cases it's the company that's li…

Did you mean to say there's not a power imbalance between VCs and entrepreneurs? Because you clearly don't understand the situation if you believe that's true.

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

#265

Post by redial »

skywhopper wrote: post #264
Alex3917 wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> that's still sexual harassment by the letter of the law and slimy as hell every other way. IANAL, but legally it's not sexual harassment because they don't work at the same company. Something is only sexual harassment in two cases: 1) a supervisor offers something to a subordinate in exchange for sexual favors 2) a company is found to have created a hostile work environment. In both cases it's the company that's li…

Did you mean to say there's not a power imbalance between VCs and entrepreneurs? Because you clearly don't understand the situation if you believe that's true.

I think he meant it in the context required by law. Power imbalance shows itself in every human (maybe animal?) interaction, whether money is involved or not.

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

#266

Post by staticautomatic »

acid__ wrote: post #262
staticautomatic wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A man who is blind to his own actions cannot sincerely apologize for them.

Of course, but the premise (of both my scenario and Justin's apology) is that his eyes are now open.

You're asking how the apology would sound coming from someone who understood what he had done?

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

#267

Post by DelaneyM »

anotherfounder wrote: post #169

I really wish other founders would name and shame more, even if anonymously, but with examples. For most of the female founders who face these, there is no resource to turn to, to know who to avoid.

Honestly, it wouldn't make a difference.

Some VCs are sleazy, but their money's still green. I know with certainty of at least two firms with predatory/creepy partners, but that wouldn't stop me from including them in a round.

This behaviour is inappropriate, but it's not nearly as bad as what we learn to fend off at the average final club/frat party.

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

#268

Post by braveo »

fishtoaster wrote: post #263
braveo wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've heard stories from several female founders/VC's (not naming names or specific details to protect anonymity) who have experienced repeated unwelcome advances even after it was made clear they had a significant other. That's not as egregious as groping (one of the accusations in this article), but that's still sexual harassment by the letter of the law and slimy as hell every other way. While I don't know the de…

I think the key word is "repeated." Approaching someone is allowed. Repeatedly approaching them after they tell you know is not.

that's still not sexual harassment, there are plenty of stories of men chasing women and eventually marrying them.

human sexuality isn't that cut and dried.

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

#269

Post by DonHopkins »

braveo wrote: post #255
biocomputation wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am the very close relative of two women in tech. One of my relatives was on the receiving end of repeated, unwanted advances over the last several months, none of which were reported to HR because she didn't want to destroy her career at the company. Last weekend she received an unsolicited, nearly naked photo from the same male co-worker. Needless to say, he is no longer at the company. This is sad on two counts.…

I mean, there's a line. If he hadn't crossed it yet, then he hadn't done anything that needed or deserved to be fired for. That's why the line is there. I have to wonder if the woman in question made it clear she didn't appreciate the attention? It could've just been an idiot who took her silence as implicit approval, playing coy, etc, causing him to escalate to naked pictures. And I'm not saying it's her fault, but…

So you're saying idiots can't sexually harass people. Is that your excuse?

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

#270

Post by jikeo »

Bakary wrote: post #232
refurb wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By putting the word "post-" in front of something, it makes the author sound smart. That's why they do it.

I honestly think this is the real thought process behind things like these, even though it sounds a little cheeky.

They said on hacker news.

Personally I don't really see the problem. If you want to argue for a different state of things after some event, "post" seem like the correct word. Just like you would say "post war period". You might of course think that the statement itself is pretentious. But at least they argue their case, i.e the importance of her actions, in the article.

Post reply on HN