Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

twitter.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 704 posts

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#261

Post by thrwawayaccnt »

rdtsc wrote: post #234
nashequilibrium wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After looking at Adria's vague explanation, you should show your employer her blogpost because "large dongle" is not sexual harassment. This seems more like a case of someone so deep in a cause that they have lost sight of what the core idea of the cause is. This is very overreaching and I feel this way after reading her blogpost, before I thought her complaint had merit but not now.

Not only that. Overreaction goes both ways. It swings like pendulum. It went one way, Adria's and this guy's employer's way. But I am afraid it went to far, and now on the way back it might damage them more than it damaged this guy. What do I mean? His employer before evaluating the situation jumped the gun and fired guy with 3 kids to support. That is fucked up. Adria's online presence will forever be marred by this…

The company she works for is SendGrid, if random redditors discussing this are to be trusted.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#262

Post by oh_sigh »

dodyg wrote: post #48
jorgenev wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How fragile are women, really? It seems amazing to me that they don't all just shatter the day they are born (from what I read on the internet at least).

Your comment is stupid. Sexual jokes made by strangers create a hostile environment for women. Don't do it. Period. If you are among friends, go crazy and nobody gives a damn.

> Sexual jokes made by strangers...

Is a joke about a 'big dongle' a sexual joke, or an anatomical joke?

Is a joke about someone having fat fingers a sexual joke, since fingers can be used in sexual acts?

> ...create a hostile environment for women

And not men?

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#263

Post by kalms »

mr-hank wrote: post #23

Hi, I'm the guy who made a comment about big dongles. First of all I'd like to say I'm sorry. I really did not mean to offend anyone and I really do regret the comment and how it made Adria feel. She had every right to report me to staff, and I defend her position. However, there is another side to this story. While I did make a big dongle joke about a fictional piece hardware that identified as male, no sexual jokes…

You have absolutely zero to apologize for. It's quite the opposite. I hope you get an even better job, at a place that deserves you - and soon.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#264

Post by oh_sigh »

Samihah wrote: post #137
zshprompt wrote: post #10

Its a tough call, but I will say that it is not clear who the bully is in this situation. If the comments were made directly at someone, I am sure all will agree that this is grounds for consequences. However is it really a "safe space" if people are shamed publicly for what someone finds offensive BEFORE the matter is brought up to STAFF? I mean the two dudes in the photo may have grounds to say that they are the on…

A PROFESSIONAL tech conference is not the time nor place to make lewd inappropriate jokes. Save that for golf outings with your former frat bros..

Totally agreed. That should go for tweeting sexist and lewd/inappropriate jokes during the conference, which is why we should find out who made this tweet and let them know that it is not okay: http://instagram.com/p/W3htw7gaR5/

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#265

Post by priya85 »

mr-hank wrote: post #23

Hi, I'm the guy who made a comment about big dongles. First of all I'd like to say I'm sorry. I really did not mean to offend anyone and I really do regret the comment and how it made Adria feel. She had every right to report me to staff, and I defend her position. However, there is another side to this story. While I did make a big dongle joke about a fictional piece hardware that identified as male, no sexual jokes…

was this a private event? she had no right to take your picture without permission. if it was a park or the sidewalk yes, that's a public area, but you could have a case against her.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#266

Post by oh_sigh »

scman wrote: post #77

Who's worse in this situation, the men having a private conversation, or the woman who was eavesdropping and decided to make this into her personal witch-hunt? Posting their pictures online was far worse than what they said. The fact that she sees herself as "Joan of Arc" just shows how self-righteous she is. I would be very concerned if I were working with her.

I'm not on the side of Adria in this fight, but I don't agree with your points. First of all, they were not having a private conversation. Presumably Adria wasn't utilizing some telescopic microphone to record their whispers. She was just sitting near them, and heard them speaking. That is not eavesdropping.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#267

Post by andrewdupont »

nnnslogan wrote: post #255

She posted a picture of two guys and made public allegations about their conduct which resulted in their termination. To me this looks like grounds for a defamation lawsuit. Did they give permission to use the image of them? Did they admit to making these alleged jokes that she took offense to? There's something seriously wrong with this. I could take pictures of any two guys at an event and put it on Twitter and say…

You could've read this thread to find the answers to most of your questions. Yes, the two gentlemen in question did make these jokes; one of them admits as much in this thread, and said so to the PyCon organizers when they investigated the incident. Yes, they had an opportunity to defend themselves.

You might not be familiar with defamation law in the United States, but understand that truth is an absolute defense against defamation. Nobody is disputing the facts of the incident (the actual content of what was said), and Adria's interpretation of the jokes (whether you agree with it or not) is clearly in the realm of opinion.

I could take pictures of any two guys at an event and put it on Twitter and say they were gay bashing or using racial slurs, and they have no opportunity to defend themselves.

Yet ask yourself: does this happen in the real world? Is there an epidemic of false, Twitter-aided public shamings? We've already established that this isn't an example, since no facts are in dispute. Maybe the implications of this incident aren't as far-reaching and scary as you think.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#268

Post by rdtsc »

thrwawayaccnt wrote: post #261
rdtsc wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only that. Overreaction goes both ways. It swings like pendulum. It went one way, Adria's and this guy's employer's way. But I am afraid it went to far, and now on the way back it might damage them more than it damaged this guy. What do I mean? His employer before evaluating the situation jumped the gun and fired guy with 3 kids to support. That is fucked up. Adria's online presence will forever be marred by this…

The company she works for is SendGrid, if random redditors discussing this are to be trusted.

Alright thanks.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#269

Post by enr »

mr-hank wrote: post #23

Hi, I'm the guy who made a comment about big dongles. First of all I'd like to say I'm sorry. I really did not mean to offend anyone and I really do regret the comment and how it made Adria feel. She had every right to report me to staff, and I defend her position. However, there is another side to this story. While I did make a big dongle joke about a fictional piece hardware that identified as male, no sexual jokes…

Dude, you have nothing to apologize for. I understand why you feel like you do, I would to, but you don't. She took the liberty to be offended over something not directed at her, at your expense. By doing so she caused great damage, not only screwing you over greatly but also doing a huge disservice to the struggle for equality within the tech industry. I realize women have to put up with a lot of crap. I'm often flabbergasted by the kind of harassing childish behaviour women witness to at workplaces, conferences and user groups. The kind of stuff you can't believe adults can resort to. This is something different completely.

I hope you find a new job soon. Don't let this unexpected bump keep you down.

Re: Inappropriate comments at pycon 2013 called out

#270

Post by mrprickly »

adriarichards wrote: post #27
mr-hank wrote: post #23

Hi, I'm the guy who made a comment about big dongles. First of all I'd like to say I'm sorry. I really did not mean to offend anyone and I really do regret the comment and how it made Adria feel. She had every right to report me to staff, and I defend her position. However, there is another side to this story. While I did make a big dongle joke about a fictional piece hardware that identified as male, no sexual jokes…

Hey, Thanks for speaking up, contributing your viewpoint on HN and not attacking me. I'm sorry to hear your employer deciding to not to work with you on this and I hope they reconsider, bring you back on and dealing with it constructively. For context, I'm a developer evangelist. That means I'm an advocate for developers, male and female. While I hear abou demanding bosses with impossible deadlines for product launch…

>For context, I'm a cunt

FTFY

Post reply on HN