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A Difficult Situation

blog.sendgrid.com

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Re: A Difficult Situation

#391

Post by mlent »

It's all blown out of proportion. Though, I, personally, would be a bit offended by an "I would fork that repo" comment -- because intentions aside, it reminds me of things that have been said to and about me, and you can't say it without making certain connotations. This woman has been getting rape and death threats as well.

It was stupid, inconsiderate, and unprofessional to post a picture, and the guy doesn't deserve to be fired, but that doesn't justify the backlash.

Despite a few sympathies I have with Richards, I do think she deserves to lose her job for her poor judgement. I hope that in the future she continues her work towards getting more women and WoC into tech, but in a more tactful way.

Re: A Difficult Situation

#392

Post by zem »

incongruity wrote: post #160
eridius wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can people please stop bringing up that tweet? It has absolutely nothing to do with what happened at PyCon. Whatever she says on her own personal twitter feed is wholly unrelated to what happens at a professional event. Especially since the only people who see her tweet are people that have explicitly chosen to do so (either by following her or by following someone's link to it). What is acceptable in an opt-in scena…

>Whatever she says on her own personal twitter feed is wholly unrelated to what happens at a professional event. Except: A) She posted the picture in question on that twitter feed and B) She identifies herself as affiliated with her (former) employer at the top of that feed/in her profile. To me, those make her "personal" feed not so personal and wholly germane to this conversation.

are you seriously arguing that if you mention your place of employment on your personal website or blog, they then have the right to police everything you post there?!

Re: A Difficult Situation

#393

Post by FireBeyond »

ceol wrote: post #333
powertower wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In her blog post about this, she was likening herself to Joan of Arc over this event. And that was just the beginning. Too bad that website is down.

I'd like to see anyone take this level of vitriol and be completely level-headed. I would start stockpiling food, because apparently Jesus Christ has come back and the End Times are here.

Her Joan of Arc screed was in her initial blog post - there was no vitriol until then. Chicken and egg.

Re: A Difficult Situation

#394

Post by georgeorwell »

cletus wrote: post #318

I'm honestly surprised that anyone is attacking Sendgrid, defending Ms Richards, attacking PyCon or defending Playhaven in this incident. The fact is that what you do reflects on your employer to a degree. If you're a developer evangelist, that's quite a high degree, particularly if you drag them into your public spat. Most people in the media (news readers and so forth) have a "morals clause" in their contract becau…

> I'm honestly surprised that anyone is [...] defending Ms Richards

Even though I think she messed up in a big way, that there wasn't sexism, that she is a hypocrite, and that she really kept asking for it, much of the aggressive abuse directed at Adria Richards since the initial event has been totally out of control, and would count as criminal hate in some countries.

For starters, look at the comments on her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/adriarichards

Re: A Difficult Situation

#395

Post by thejosh »

danielweber wrote: post #387
ForrestN wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This whole situation makes me deeply uncomfortable. First, because it demonstrates the extent to which a company can be brought to its knees by a group of hostile people organized online. Second because hundreds and hundreds of men here and elsewhere seem quite happy to align themselves with an overtly sexist, violently threatening campaign against an individual whose views they disagree with. I am not in a position…

First, because it demonstrates the extent to which a company can be brought to its knees by a group of hostile people organized online I agree. This is frightening. Any concept of a DDOS being a "digital sit-in" are dumb. PlayHaven may also have been trying to avoid the mob, too. Second because hundreds and hundreds of men here and elsewhere seem quite happy to align themselves with an overtly sexist, violently threa…

DDOS is about the same level as fire bombing a business.

People like Richard Stallman who disagree (Richard Stallman is stuck in the past) really haven't got a clue that's going on.

Re: A Difficult Situation

#396

Post by ceol »

FireBeyond wrote: post #393
ceol wrote: post #333

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like to see anyone take this level of vitriol and be completely level-headed. I would start stockpiling food, because apparently Jesus Christ has come back and the End Times are here.

Her Joan of Arc screed was in her initial blog post - there was no vitriol until then. Chicken and egg.

Her initial blog post isn't what caused this. She was featured on Hacker News before she wrote it.

Re: A Difficult Situation

#397

Post by jennyjenjen »

cletus wrote: post #318

I'm honestly surprised that anyone is attacking Sendgrid, defending Ms Richards, attacking PyCon or defending Playhaven in this incident. The fact is that what you do reflects on your employer to a degree. If you're a developer evangelist, that's quite a high degree, particularly if you drag them into your public spat. Most people in the media (news readers and so forth) have a "morals clause" in their contract becau…

I wish I could say that I'm surprised that anyone is attacking SendGrid. Even though they have done nothing to deserve such backlash - both before and after firing Adria Richards - it doesn't surprise me in the least that people are taking the opportunity to unleash hateful comments and demonstrate poor attitudes.

I agree with you all the way, other than that. SendGrid made a great case for departing with Ms. Richards and I think it's pretty clear that her role as a developer evangelist is certainly harmed and she can no longer continue in that role. It has nothing to do with gender, and it has nothing to do with her being offended by those comments, but it has everything to do with the poor way she handled calling out these guys and the fact that she cannot participate in a developer community without developers being fearful of how they conduct themselves within earshot of her (they weren't even talking to her!).

[Edit: Downvoting this eh? If you downvote, you should really participate in the discussion and tell me why I might be wrong.]

Re: A Difficult Situation

#398

Post by [deleted] »

georgeorwell wrote: post #394
cletus wrote: post #318

I'm honestly surprised that anyone is attacking Sendgrid, defending Ms Richards, attacking PyCon or defending Playhaven in this incident. The fact is that what you do reflects on your employer to a degree. If you're a developer evangelist, that's quite a high degree, particularly if you drag them into your public spat. Most people in the media (news readers and so forth) have a "morals clause" in their contract becau…

> I'm honestly surprised that anyone is [...] defending Ms Richards Even though I think she messed up in a big way, that there wasn't sexism, that she is a hypocrite, and that she really kept asking for it, much of the aggressive abuse directed at Adria Richards since the initial event has been totally out of control, and would count as criminal hate in some countries. For starters, look at the comments on her Facebo…

[deleted]

Re: A Difficult Situation

#400

Post by mlent »

mtrimpe wrote: post #99
robotmay wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He is standing behind his employees; by protecting the jobs of those not involved in the drama. Any CEO who would stand behind an employee to the death of their company would not be CEO for very long.

Why did they feel the need to very publicly post this dismissal (and withdraw, and then reissue) in the heat of the moment while under a DDoS attack though, rather than sooner or later? It very much feels like a cowardly act of throwing someone under a bus.

I totally agree. While I agree with the dismissal, it's like they're trying to save themselves by sacrificing an employee to the angry masses. Not a whole lot of tact going on in this entire situation...
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