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An Apology From TechCrunch

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Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#71

Post by mhurron »

WestCoastJustin wrote: post #9

Anyone coming here, wondering what happened, there were two presentation which were clearly inappropriate. First one was an app called TitStare , which allows you to view, upload, and share softcore photos of.. use your imagination. The second, circle shake , was an app to measure how fast you can jerk your wrist, upload and share your scores, accompanied by a pretty wild presentation. I think the first one must have…

> app called TitStare, which allows you to view, upload, and share softcore photos of.. use your imagination

I don't see the problem. Pornography is perfectly legal and big business.

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#72

Post by estel »

farmerjack wrote: post #36
USNetizen wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You had to create a new HN identity to post that? Afraid of something? Hacker culture is no longer a good-ol-boy's club for good reasons. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't feel very included in a culture that denigrated me like certain hacker events of late do to women.

I didn't have an HN identity. I felt like this might be an interesting discussion, so I created an account. Is it a big secret that men like to look at boobs? I'd like to meet the women who were so offended by such an obvious joke. In the entire circle of women I know, I really can't think of one who wouldn't recognize the playfulness of the idea (and not take it seriously). If a female made an app that included men'…

Presenting it at a conference like this reinforces the image of the industry as dominated by white men, and being exactly the sort of really uncomfortable app that can put women off of being a part of the industry.

Even if all things were equal, Tits and Sixpack apps would still be all about objectification, and I for one would be fine with that not being encouraged either.

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#73

Post by radiusq »

Shank wrote: post #18
rfnslyr wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was absolutely hilarious. I encourage stuff like this. Have a little fun people, nothing to apologize for. Who actually got offended?

I hope you're joking. Besides the flurry of tech presenters and writers in the audience that were offended, a nine year old girl was at TechCrunch Disrupt demonstrating a product. Seeing as TCDisrupt isn't marketed as an 18+ event, it should be held to the same standards as any other public, professional gathering of individuals. Judging by TechCrunch's reaction, they wholeheartedly agree.

>Judging by TechCrunch's reaction, they wholeheartedly agree.

Don't be so sure about that. Could have sworn I saw a few hosts on stage laughing when the presenters were finished. TC just wants the aura of being politically correct about it while they bath in the increased viewership/hits to the site.

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#74

Post by estel »

adamnemecek wrote: post #45
objclxt wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may not have been personally offended, but if you're not able to understand why somebody might have been offended then that really does sum up why lots of people think tech has a problem with misogyny. The fact 'it was a joke' really isn't an excuse...I'd argue it actually makes it worse.

Could you please provide an extensive list of things that are ok to be offended by and that others have to accommodate?

No, because we have judgement. (And any given conference has its own rules regarding inclusivity and anti-discrimination).

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#75

Post by rfnslyr »

jessedhillon wrote: post #37
rfnslyr wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry but I really think everyone should collectively loosen up.

Hear hear. For example, I always drop the n-word when I'm walking around. People should be more like me, I don't get offended by that kind of language, why should anyone else? Sometimes people do, and I'm like, "What? Why're you getting so offended? I'm not offended, why are you?" I'm kidding. I don't ask "why are you?" -- that doesn't matter LOL 8-) For some reason, black people get especially offended at this kind…

Yes because tit is exactly like saying "nigger".

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#76

Post by yogo »

david_shaw wrote: post #43
yogo wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the details. I've never read an article I learned nothing from like that one. Sexism aside, these two presentations are too funny for me not to think they were done intentionally.

> Sexism aside, these two presentations are too funny for me not to think they were done intentionally. As opposed to being done accidentally? These presentations were, of course, intended to be jokes. In fact, I'm sure they were designed to be harmless, unoffensive jokes. Who cares? Children and adults who were rightfully offended were all in the audience. TechCrunch showcasing an app designed to turn objectifying w…

As far as it getting publicized that's on Tech Crunch. We can all blame the perpetrators but I still fail to see how this is a tech thing. News stations get phony phone calls everyday and some of them get through. To some people they are funny, while others are offended. This whole TC mishap is turning out to be a cheap attempt at making the tech industry seem misogynistic. I'll reiterate, it happens in every industry.

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#77

Post by paranoiacblack »

ng12 wrote: post #51
objclxt wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may not have been personally offended, but if you're not able to understand why somebody might have been offended then that really does sum up why lots of people think tech has a problem with misogyny. The fact 'it was a joke' really isn't an excuse...I'd argue it actually makes it worse.

I don't understand why the presentations in question were sexist/mysoginistic. Immature? Yes. Crude? Yes. Probably shouldn't have made it on stage? Yes. Sexist? I'm unconvinced. I also don't understand why they were only a problem because they were "sexist". The apps were parodying behavior that well... many men engage in -- which is something you can acknowledge regardless of your gender. The immaturity alone should…

Yeah, I really don't see how an app that literally helps men objectify women in public is sexist at all.

> which is something you can acknowledge regardless of your gender

And age, apparently. Hence the 9-year old girl who I'm sure looked to her parental figure and said, "boy, ain't that the truth"

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#78

Post by estel »

angersock wrote: post #61
Swizec wrote: post #47

I've always wondered why in the US everyone loses their shit over a tittie app, but in Europe you can have billboards containing nothing but naked breasts advertising a conference. Source: http://metro.co.uk/2009/09/11/giant-boobs-advert-turns-heads... Related question: would everyone lose their shit if the app was called GuyStare and was aimed at women to look at hot guys?

It's because sexism only exists in the United States.

No, it doesn't.

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#79

Post by TheZenPsycho »

davidedicillo wrote: post #33
mesozoic wrote: post #26

From my understanding that hackathon is basically just a way to get free tickets to Disrupt. Thus no one takes it seriously and you get things like this.

1) Yes, probably a lot of people was here to get the free ticket (including myself) 2) Most people (including myself) still took it very seriously (proof all the people who worked 20 hours straight and slept on floors for few minutes).

It's sad that in hacker culture, forgoing sleep is seen as "taking it seriously". From my experience at game jams, and from the people who run these game jams, skipping on sleep is an almost certain guarantee of failure.

Sorry for the off topic.

Re: An Apology From TechCrunch

#80

Post by jessedhillon »

rfnslyr wrote: post #75
jessedhillon wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hear hear. For example, I always drop the n-word when I'm walking around. People should be more like me, I don't get offended by that kind of language, why should anyone else? Sometimes people do, and I'm like, "What? Why're you getting so offended? I'm not offended, why are you?" I'm kidding. I don't ask "why are you?" -- that doesn't matter LOL 8-) For some reason, black people get especially offended at this kind…

Yes because tit is exactly like saying "nigger".

I'd love to hear what you think are the salient differences between getting up and presenting Titstare, and showing something fictitious like "N-watcher"

Evidently your reaction if someone got up to present the latter would not be "LOL guys loosen up!" -- even though you are not someone at whom the humor/offense is targeted. Why the difference in attitude?

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