The Adventures of Marissa Mayer • Hacker News Board

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#21

Post by samd » Sat, Jan 08, 2011, 7:20 AM UTC

sp332 wrote: post #8

samd wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's depressing that the article has to start with an exposition of her looks and dress. I've never read an article about a male luminary that focuses so much on looks.

I think they discuss her clothing because it's cool and interesting. I mean, almost every article about Page & Brin mentions their clothing, it just doesn't take as long to communicate "Short-shorts and a t-shirt." Also, the article makes a case that her appearance is relevant: “Marissa is surprisingly pretty in person,” says Valleywag blogger and editor Owen Thomas. “That in itself is a rarity in Silicon Valley, and…

Looks are almost always relevant to people's opinion of you. That's true for men and women, but it's only in articles about women that it seems to be pointed out as if to undermine their accomplishments.

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#22

Post by neworbit » Sat, Jan 08, 2011, 7:33 AM UTC

samd wrote: post #5

tedjdziuba wrote: post #2

Another Marissa Mayer article that boils down to "hey look, a girl!".

It's depressing that the article has to start with an exposition of her looks and dress. I've never read an article about a male luminary that focuses so much on looks.

People often bring personal appearance up when talking about Larry Ellison, mostly in the context of what a snappy dresser the guy is as compared to the rest of Silicon Valley.

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#23

Post by sp332 » Sat, Jan 08, 2011, 7:45 AM UTC

samd wrote: post #21

sp332 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they discuss her clothing because it's cool and interesting. I mean, almost every article about Page & Brin mentions their clothing, it just doesn't take as long to communicate "Short-shorts and a t-shirt." Also, the article makes a case that her appearance is relevant: “Marissa is surprisingly pretty in person,” says Valleywag blogger and editor Owen Thomas. “That in itself is a rarity in Silicon Valley, and…

Looks are almost always relevant to people's opinion of you. That's true for men and women, but it's only in articles about women that it seems to be pointed out as if to undermine their accomplishments.

I know it's subtle, but I think this article put those quotes from other publications at the beginning in order to shoot them down. Quotes like this:

For gossip websites like Valleywag, Mayer is an easy mark... and (so they say)... uses her looks for publicity.

are followed in the next paragraph by:

Mayer manages 150 product managers, who direct the efforts of nearly 2,000 software engineers; levels criticism and praise with the same cool gaze; and is an arbiter of much of what goes before Page, cofounder Sergey Brin, and CEO Eric Schmidt, who trust her as their gatekeeper. Just about everything that goes on at the Mountain View company, which is more valuable than the U.S.’s three largest traditional media companies combined...

OP seems to be undermining the other publications which were undermining Mayer. The substance of the article refutes the pettiness of Vallywag et al.

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#24

Post by foljs » Sat, Jan 08, 2011, 3:49 PM UTC

sabat wrote: post #3

Surely one of the most unimpressive, boring people in technology. Her distinction: she was in the right place at the right time.

Also: blonde and kinda hot.

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#25

Post by jimfl » Sat, Jan 08, 2011, 5:13 PM UTC

sabat wrote: post #3

Surely one of the most unimpressive, boring people in technology. Her distinction: she was in the right place at the right time.

There is a significant component of "in the right place at the right time" involved with anyone of any notability. But once the wave crest comes along, one has to be able to get standing on the board.

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#26

Post by joshu » Sat, Jan 08, 2011, 5:20 PM UTC

nostrademons wrote: post #20

joshu wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just remember that he invented the blink tag.

Supposedly, that's only half true: http://www.montulli.org/theoriginofthe%3Cblink%3Etag

Shrug, I asked Marc.

Re: The Adventures of Marissa Mayer

#27

Post by nostrademons » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 3:53 AM UTC

flyt wrote: post #16

sachitgupta wrote: post #10

Note: the article is from 2008. I thought it was more recent. Still doesn't take away from the content though.

Interesting side note that when this article was originally published it was under the title "Googirl" which, it was pointed out, had a pretty strong nsfw meaning ( http://valleywag.gawker.com/362143/googirl-article-vanishes-... ). It was quickly pulled from the site and reposted with the current, more boring title.

Other interesting side note: if you search for [googirl], 3 of the top 4 results are about Marissa. The remaining one is the urban dictionary entry with the snippet "A whore that enjoys and/or loves the taste of cum." Oops.