Live data from Hacker News

McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

techcrunch.com

101–110 of 201 posts

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's sexual harassment. As a male, I would be incredibly uncomfortable if I were in this situation with the genders reversed. Picture: you're interviewing for a job you're wildly enthusiastic about. The hiring decision lies with an older woman who you are not at all attracted to, and she fires off that line at you. Who would feel comfortable in that situation?

I wouldnt have any issues with that honestly. We are humans not machines. We say things sometimes that get interpreted as something its not. The comment Mclure made was stupid. But calling it sexism or herrasment as if its some systemic thing seems a tad extreme too.

it's pretty unambiguous what he said. Unless he pulls a Clinton (be skeptical about the definition of "is") there is no way for this to "get interpreted as something its not".

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#103
> "The change I want to see is a startup environment where everyone, regardless of gender and background feels welcome and safe."

So basically her message is "it's ok to be inappropriate and stay as partner in our firm. Our investors' money is more important than sexual misbehaving". Sounds like she doesn't really deliver on her change.

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Raping someone is fucked up. I don't see how that sentence is fucked up. If someone said that to me, I would take it as a compliment. To me it says not only are you smart enough to be hired, you're also attractive. Is it better to split it up into two separate sentences? Obviously the guy is hitting on her, if she's not interested then that's fine. I really don't see the problem, could someone please explain?

Seriously, I think "Always Sunny" explains it best (i.e., because of "the implication") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yUafzOXHPE

Is it really productive to compare this situation to an implication of life-threatening violence?

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#105
something I've never understood. These guys (Kalanick, McClure) are multi millionaires, and could probably get any number of women to take interest in them on that basis alone. Why risk career suicide?

Why would they need to hit on women at their workplaces? Why isn't the normal dating game (where they have a massive edge via being loaded) sufficient? I don't get it (at all).

What am I missing? These guys seem to be (borderline) insane and incapable of rational thought.

At the workplace do the work! Leave the political/religious/mating etc games outside.

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#106
post #90
post #2

The one person that I would have never suspected is Dave McClure. Here's a guy who didn't fit the investment world and he was smart and hustled his way in. He started 500 startups with a female co-founder and said he chose her because she was smarter. He saw an opening for himself and talked about playing Moneyball for venture capital. He spoke often in interviews about chasing investments among founders who didn't f…

I have seen questionable material come from him [1]: Examples: "Money Shot" with kitten spreadings its legs and "Great Products...Get you LAID". [1] https://www.slideshare.net/dmc500hats/how-to-pitch-a-vc-or-a... edit: link directly to slides and deleted nested comment.

Did he come up with "paid, laid, or made"? I've heard it from sales people and thought it predated McClure.

The kitten and "money shot" is absolutely unnecessary, but I get the coarse language for "paid, made, laid"- the idea is that compelling products and services target base desires.

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#107

something I've never understood. These guys (Kalanick, McClure) are multi millionaires, and could probably get any number of women to take interest in them on that basis alone. Why risk career suicide? Why would they need to hit on women at their workplaces ? Why isn't the normal dating game (where they have a massive edge via being loaded) sufficient? I don't get it (at all). What am I missing? These guys seem to be…

Oh sweet summerchild.

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#108
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have seen questionable material come from him [1]: Examples: "Money Shot" with kitten spreadings its legs and "Great Products...Get you LAID". [1] https://www.slideshare.net/dmc500hats/how-to-pitch-a-vc-or-a... edit: link directly to slides and deleted nested comment.

Did he come up with "paid, laid, or made"? I've heard it from sales people and thought it predated McClure. The kitten and "money shot" is absolutely unnecessary, but I get the coarse language for "paid, made, laid"- the idea is that compelling products and services target base desires.

I think the most compelling products deliver utility. Even if targeting base desires is your product design strategy doesn't mean it needs to be in a template for future founders to follow.

Your argument is similar to the argument for having swimsuit models in tabloid newspapers. NYT is a better product.

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#109
post #90
post #2

The one person that I would have never suspected is Dave McClure. Here's a guy who didn't fit the investment world and he was smart and hustled his way in. He started 500 startups with a female co-founder and said he chose her because she was smarter. He saw an opening for himself and talked about playing Moneyball for venture capital. He spoke often in interviews about chasing investments among founders who didn't f…

I have seen questionable material come from him [1]: Examples: "Money Shot" with kitten spreadings its legs and "Great Products...Get you LAID". [1] https://www.slideshare.net/dmc500hats/how-to-pitch-a-vc-or-a... edit: link directly to slides and deleted nested comment.

To be fair, the second slide directly says it is guaranteed to offend.

Re: McClure steps back at 500Startups after internal sexual misconduct investigation

#110
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it is still harassment with the genders reversed. What would make you think otherwise? But that's not actually the bar. It's important to recognize that men and women don't come in on equal footing for these interactions.

I’m playing devil’s advocate here but what if the woman found McClure attractive and didn’t complain because of it. Is it still wrong?

Sincere questions like this should be answered, not downvoted.
Post reply on HN