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At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

nytimes.com

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Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#11

Post by provost »

> In 2003 Vice reached a $25,000 settlement with the freelance writer Jessica Hopper. The deal involved defamation claims tied to an interview she did with the rapper Murs that was published in the February 2003 issue of the magazine, according to a copy of the agreement viewed by The Times. During the interview, Murs asked Ms. Hopper if he could have sex with her. She said no and included that answer in her article.

> But before the article was published, the magazine changed her response to yes and printed it under the headline, “I Got Laid But Murs Didn’t.”

> Mortified, Ms. Hopper hired lawyers. The two sides struck a settlement that, in addition to a payout, required Vice to print a retraction and a formal apology.

Wow. I feel so poorly for Ms. Hopper. They defamed her and shamed her, yet a $25,000 settlement likely only paid for her lawyers. Disgusting -- they should feel ashamed.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#13

Post by brian-armstrong »

freeflight wrote: post #10
craftyguy wrote: post #3

> One woman said she was riding a Ferris wheel at Coney Island after a company event when a co-worker suddenly took her hand and put it on his crotch. I have absolutely no idea why someone would think this is OK to do. Generally I can try to piece together how someone might rationalize their behavior but the best I can come up with on this one is: alcohol.

That incident happened after a company event, isn't that considered private time? I mean, she would have had to agree to go with the co-worker, during their off-hours, in the first place and he might have interpreted her willingness to go along as a signal of mutual interest (romantic, sexual) in each other? That isn't meant as an excuse for such creepy, if not straight up criminal, behavior. But as somebody with som…

A good rule of thumb is, if you're not sure, don't stick someone's hand on your crotch.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#14

Post by dominotw »

pwaai wrote: post #12

The co-founder of Vice started a alt-right white boy club[1], which was pretty shocking to be honest. It did make me stop watching Vice & Vice News altogether. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_McInnes

I think they've done a 180 since he left though.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#15

Post by kelukelugames »

freeflight wrote: post #10
craftyguy wrote: post #3

> One woman said she was riding a Ferris wheel at Coney Island after a company event when a co-worker suddenly took her hand and put it on his crotch. I have absolutely no idea why someone would think this is OK to do. Generally I can try to piece together how someone might rationalize their behavior but the best I can come up with on this one is: alcohol.

That incident happened after a company event, isn't that considered private time? I mean, she would have had to agree to go with the co-worker, during their off-hours, in the first place and he might have interpreted her willingness to go along as a signal of mutual interest (romantic, sexual) in each other? That isn't meant as an excuse for such creepy, if not straight up criminal, behavior. But as somebody with som…

The EEOC says the company is responsible for things that happen at company events and on the way to and from events. I'm not a lawyer but I hear lingering after the event qualifies.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#16

Post by dominotw »

TheAdamAndChe wrote: post #9
craftyguy wrote: post #3

> One woman said she was riding a Ferris wheel at Coney Island after a company event when a co-worker suddenly took her hand and put it on his crotch. I have absolutely no idea why someone would think this is OK to do. Generally I can try to piece together how someone might rationalize their behavior but the best I can come up with on this one is: alcohol.

The fact that this happened isn't surprising. There are always creeps in the world, and unless we all live in bubbles that separate men from women, there always will be. What matters more is what happened afterwards. Did the woman report it to HR? Was there a response? Was he fired? Without context, these stories are useless.

There is no way to prove that it actually happened. Not sure what HR can really do in cases like these or what is even expected of them.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#17

Post by vforgione »

freeflight wrote: post #10
craftyguy wrote: post #3

> One woman said she was riding a Ferris wheel at Coney Island after a company event when a co-worker suddenly took her hand and put it on his crotch. I have absolutely no idea why someone would think this is OK to do. Generally I can try to piece together how someone might rationalize their behavior but the best I can come up with on this one is: alcohol.

That incident happened after a company event, isn't that considered private time? I mean, she would have had to agree to go with the co-worker, during their off-hours, in the first place and he might have interpreted her willingness to go along as a signal of mutual interest (romantic, sexual) in each other? That isn't meant as an excuse for such creepy, if not straight up criminal, behavior. But as somebody with som…

If a woman wants to touch you, she will. End of story.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#18

Post by eropple »

pwaai wrote: post #12

The co-founder of Vice started a alt-right white boy club[1], which was pretty shocking to be honest. It did make me stop watching Vice & Vice News altogether. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_McInnes

McInnes is a racist, misogynistic shitheel for sure, but he also left in 2008. Since, Vice has become an outlet that does objectively good stuff with its reporting and its specialist media--I love Waypoint, I have a friend there whose moral compass is beyond reproach as far as I am concerned, and I have zero doubt that that friend wouldn't be there if they weren't convinced of the place.

Near as I can tell, Vice is an outlet that escaped its asshole founder and gone past his goals. Should probably be commended for that (while at the same time expected to clean house when confronted with meritorious allegations).

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#19

Post by pwaai »

trhway wrote: post #6
danso wrote: post #2

Related story from last month: https://www.thedailybeast.com/unsafe-and-just-plain-dirty-wo... One of the interesting parts to come out of that (and from the OP) is VICE's "non-traditional workplace agreement": > New hires at Vice also sign a “Non-Traditional Workplace Agreement,” an infamous internal document that requires employees with no experience at Vice to agree as a condition of employment to not be generally…

> to not be generally offended by anything that goes on there. Is it a one way or two way street at Vice - ie. are you allowed to "offend" in your turn too?

Seems pretty one way:

> One woman said she was riding a Ferris wheel at Coney Island after a company event when a co-worker suddenly took her hand and put it on his crotch.

So basically the letter the women sign is a license for certain men in a elevated position to assault women.

I feel like this kind of shit puts us two steps back, especially when the American president is accused of similar behavior towards woman, now it will give that side another "whatboutism" ammunition.

I have a strong nagging feeling that there are bound to be more #metoo stories shortly from Vice.

I mean it's so fucking bizarre to have a systematic infrastructure set in place to allow it's higher up members to traumatize defenseless women.

If the mainstream media wanted to destroy Vice once and for all, now seems like an appropriate opportunity.

Re: At Vice, Cutting-Edge Media and Allegations of Old-School Sexual Harassment

#20

Post by Operyl »

dominotw wrote: post #16
TheAdamAndChe wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that this happened isn't surprising. There are always creeps in the world, and unless we all live in bubbles that separate men from women, there always will be. What matters more is what happened afterwards. Did the woman report it to HR? Was there a response? Was he fired? Without context, these stories are useless.

There is no way to prove that it actually happened. Not sure what HR can really do in cases like these or what is even expected of them.

On its own, sure, but when you have 5 women saying it happened? 10? It’s always valuable reporting things to HR.
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