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Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

develop-online.net

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Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#31

Post by mturmon »

Jare wrote: post #3
w1ntermute wrote: post #2

This was a very disturbing incident, and I can only hope that it was an isolated incident and not indicative of a larger trend in the startup industry. The demographics are skewed enough as it is when it comes to this industry.

Here's hoping the quick, decisive and very public action by management sends a clear signal.

If the practice was as widespread as it seemed to be, and management was aware of it but did not stop it, then the resulting lawsuits could destroy the company.

Company management has an affirmative requirement to stop workplace harassment under California law. Race and sexual preference are both protected categories under California law. I was amazed at the stupidity of the management (assuming the post was factual).

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#32

Post by indy »

barking wrote: post #24
indy wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you sound racist

He sounds angry and a bit OTT to me. Inferring that someone is a racist (as you're doing) is extremely serious. Your remark comes across as a bit creepy actually

I'm well aware of how serious the accusation is. Mynameishere sounds like a racist, if you find that 'creepy' then so be it

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#33

Post by mcantelon »

mynameishere wrote: post #9

Everyone is trying his best to be PC, but the real takeaway is that you have to be careful not to hire some ultra-sensitive pantywaist thug who publicly cries "racist" at every shitty joke, giving your company weeks of terrible PR to clean up. “Hey he’s dressed like Run DMC, does he know how to rap?” Oh, the poor darling. Let's ruin a bunch of people's livelihoods over this apparently wicked comment.

>Oh, the poor darling. Let's ruin a bunch of people's livelihoods over this apparently wicked comment.

This guy didn't ruin anyone's livelihoods. He relayed what happened to him. Last I heard people are allowed to do that.

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#34

Post by aaronbrethorst »

aeontech wrote: post #30
aaronbrethorst wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they are taking the issue seriously now They are certainly taking the threat of a lawsuit seriously. Edit: I'd be interested in asking you a question privately. Mind emailing me? My email address is in my profile.

The email field in the profile is not publicly visible.

Go look: http://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=aaronbrethorst

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#35

Post by ANH »

mynameishere wrote: post #9

Everyone is trying his best to be PC, but the real takeaway is that you have to be careful not to hire some ultra-sensitive pantywaist thug who publicly cries "racist" at every shitty joke, giving your company weeks of terrible PR to clean up. “Hey he’s dressed like Run DMC, does he know how to rap?” Oh, the poor darling. Let's ruin a bunch of people's livelihoods over this apparently wicked comment.

Did you not read the original blog post? It evoked in me a very strong sense of empathy for the victim. In case it's not clear to you who the victim is in this case, recommend you find that post and read it.

Imagine having these things said to you, having it reinforced by others at your workplace. Imagine how dehumanizing it is. The indignity. Imagine having to face it again, day after day. And you've been dealing with it your entire life. Just take five minutes and think about the real impact this sort of thing has on someone.

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#37

Post by sergiotapia »

npc wrote: post #27
sergiotapia wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a Latino minority, promptly go fuck yourself. You and the PC crowd are the scourge against "getting shit done". Go back to /r/shitredditsays you twat. If you're offended by things like this you are either: a) Extremely sheltered. b) A racist yourself.

how is it necessary to make racist comments in order to "get shit done"? will your production systems all crash if you don't make a minimum of 5 jokes about nappy hair and malt liquor a day? have you encountered a nasty bug in rails that can only be fixed by exposing it to clips of Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's?

It's not a matter of it being necessary or unnecessary. It's a matter of letting small things slide or taking them in strides. Haven't you ever seen a movie where men jostle each other and call each other things too crass to type in here? Do they whine and run to the boss about how "mean they were"?

Of course not, because clearly in this case it's just a case of men being men and flinging the usual shit at each other. I'm surprised I have to spell this out.

Don't you have friends?

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#38

Post by roguecoder »

barking wrote: post #24
indy wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you sound racist

He sounds angry and a bit OTT to me. Inferring that someone is a racist (as you're doing) is extremely serious. Your remark comes across as a bit creepy actually

First, no one inferred that he was racist, they said what he had said sounded racist. Second, why do you think it's "extremely serious" to consider something someone said racist? I consider racism itself extremely serious, but there's no consequence for expressing racism in a quasi-anonymous comment environment. There's not even any consequence for being called a racist. I am utterly confused as to how saying that racist statements sound racist could be "extremely serious", in that we should refrain from doing so. What consequences do you expect to follow?

Actually being a racist? Bad. Pointing out that something sounded racist? An opportunity for the person who said that to apologize and reframe or withdraw, perhaps leading to a less racist environment.

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#39

Post by codenerdz »

I cant help but feel that this qu33riousity guys is coocoo. While I think that what he was subjected to is unacceptable, his rhetoric reminds me of conspiracy nutcases that said that US government played a role in the WTC tragedy:

"And it’s not a matter of generalizing white people, rather it’s being real about the culture San Francisco creates. Other people of color, including some black people are in on it too, but the thing to remember is that there have always been people of color down with white supremacy. Matters of colonization run deep throughout the years and beneath our flesh, behind our eyes."

Re: Employees of kixeye accused of racist remarks fired

#40

Post by csomar »

jacalata wrote: post #8

"We don’t even tolerate people brining up concerns of racism here." Wow. I assume that somewhere along the line, that guy misunderstood 'zero tolerance of racism'.

Nope, but you don't want topics where the conversation can get heated like politics or racism.
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