71–80 of 219 posts
People are crazy. People like to do drugs and have sex. Money adds fuel to the fire. Also, water is wet.
What's up with all these sensational articles about Silicon Valley? Maybe the lifestyle is different as a VC, but as an engineer, this seems so disjointed from reality that it's almost farcical. I can barely get some of my coworkers to stop talking about code for more than a breath. There's no way that they're engaging in any of these activities. Can anyone vouch for this behavior being prevalent? To me it just seems…
I think you and most of us on here fall within "the vast majority" referenced in the article:
"Still, the vast majority of people in Silicon Valley have no idea these kinds of sex parties are happening at all"
This article makes me wonder, what, exactly, is wrong and what is supposed to be done about this. I get that it seems exploitative and probably does have consequences for social attitudes at work, but what I don't understand is what's to be done about this? Surely there's nothing (drug use aside) that's legally actionable about this. The encounters seemed consensual in the sense that the women weren't threatened or f…
An article about cultural practices outside of the social norms doesn't have to imply that there is either something wrong or something that needs to be done about it. Different readers will think different aspects of it are wrong and have their own opinions about how, if at all, to respond to the things they see as wrong.
What's up with all these sensational articles about Silicon Valley? Maybe the lifestyle is different as a VC, but as an engineer, this seems so disjointed from reality that it's almost farcical. I can barely get some of my coworkers to stop talking about code for more than a breath. There's no way that they're engaging in any of these activities. Can anyone vouch for this behavior being prevalent? To me it just seems…
> Maybe the lifestyle is different as a VC, but as an engineer, this seems so disjointed from reality that it's almost farcical. I can barely get some of my coworkers to stop talking about code for more than a breath I think you and most of us on here fall within "the vast majority" referenced in the article: "Still, the vast majority of people in Silicon Valley have no idea these kinds of sex parties are happening a…
Then again, I don't know what I don't know.
Preface: I spend a lot of this response talking about a hypothetical high-status man and a low-status woman. This isn't to be sexist or perpetuate stereotypes; it's just to use a common example that we've all probably seen and witnessed. Preface 2: this response was to someone else in this thread but it got pulled out to the top level for some reason. The intention of the article was, probably, just to shed light on…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Artists are very cringy. A lot of musicians are cringy. Some teachers are cringy. Not sure about chefs or dog walkers.
Also cringey
After all, what well-adjusted adult would consider it a normal hum-drum part of life to interact with previous sexual partners in work situations? /s
My goodness, the pearl clutching sex panic is hilarious coming from Vanity Fair. Rich people have parties and they're fun because when you're rich you can afford good drugs and nice venues. News at 10.
One question I have as a recent grad who moved to Silicon Valley to work in tech is how do I get invited to one of these parties. Setting aside all the social implications, they sound really fun.
The easiest filter is to look for parties where alcohol and drugs are banned, and latecomers are not allowed.
I go to play parties regularly, but only go to ones that are constructed in a manner that encourages enthusiastic consent and safety.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also cringey
At least they wouldn't have to "pretend [they] haven't seen each other naked." After all, what well-adjusted adult would consider it a normal hum-drum part of life to interact with previous sexual partners in work situations? /s
This is a tired old journalistic trope. Take a secretive, not-socially-acceptable topic, and present it to the world, as if exposing some hidden evil lurking behind a corner. Sadly, the truth is a lot more boring than most people will ever realize.
"Perhaps this culture is just one of the many offshoots of the sexually progressive Bay Area"
This is a tiny example of what is happening all over the world, in addition to this country. Ignore that the topic's location is the literal epicenter of not only the sexual revolution, but gay liberation and the effective birthplace of hetero BDSM. These events happen _everywhere_. You can find them in North Dakota, in Alaska. This is not in any way new, or weird, or irregular. This is normal. It's not "socially acceptable", but it is normal.
"It’s worth asking, however, if these sexual adventurers are so progressive, why do these parties seem to lean so heavily toward male-heterosexual fantasies?"
Welcome to swinging culture, enjoy your cisheteropatriarchy. Again, nothing to do with Silicon Valley. The fact that there are men with lots of money throwing parties has nothing to do with tech. You'll find a different set of men [and women] throwing parties in DC, New York, LA, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Sao Paulo, etc.
"The party scene is now so pervasive that women entrepreneurs say turning down invitations relegates them to the uncool-kids’ table."
Oh no, peer pressure!!! We better make an after-school special for the women V.C.s. It's not news that wealthy men have been making deals in strip clubs and private parties for a long time, and breaking those barriers is not easy, but also not some mysterious invisible barrier. People in power should obviously not use these one-sided venues for business, but shaming or banning the events altogether doesn't seem like a healthy answer to this.
"The problem is that weekend views of women as sex pawns and founder hounders can’t help but affect weekday views of women as colleagues, entrepreneurs, and peers."
And I agree! But 'orgies' are not what are creating unfair societal expectations and marginalizing women. The real causes are slew of issues that start and end in everyday human activity. If you want to help marginalized women, help them where they are being marginalized every day! Not by shaming a generic amalgamation of parties that all happen to feature the lowering of inhibitions in ways that won't get you invited back to the church social.
And by the way, writing an article about a bunch of people who cannot or will not give their names leaves no room for them to offer a rebuttal. This isn't journalism, this is an op-ed hit piece.