Child's play • Hacker News Board

Re: Child's play

#11

Post by Mountain_Skies » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 5:59 PM UTC

roywiggins wrote: post #2

to be honest I find it hard to take writing that uses "females" as a synonym for "women" super seriously

In current culture, especially SV, not all women are female. It is necessary to specify female if one is actually referring to biological sex instead of cultural gender. Some find this an annoying distinction but it is the cultural norm in an increasingly growing number of places.

Re: Child's play

#12

Post by LandR » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 5:59 PM UTC

> If you've ever been placed in a job by a contracting firm, you know this routine. Oftentimes, the agent will meet you at the employer's office, and walk you in.

This is a thing? Never seen this!

Re: Child's play

#13

Post by mewse-hn » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:00 PM UTC

I don't think some leader acting like Michael Scott and dressing up like Captain America points to a broader problem of childishness in the industry. I'd agree with other commenters that the reference to "a female or two [to] work the booth" is more problematic, culturally.

Re: Child's play

#14

Post by coldtea » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:00 PM UTC

roywiggins wrote: post #2

to be honest I find it hard to take writing that uses "females" as a synonym for "women" super seriously

To be honest, I find it hard to take comments that focus on irrelevant points seriously.

(Or that seem to forget that on the web there are non-native English speakers too, and that particular "language crime" can be totally how the words work in their language -- though in this case the original author does have an english name).

Re: Child's play

#15

Post by coldtea » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:01 PM UTC

ravitation wrote: post #9

If Captain America was instead dressed in a suit, would more people talk to him? In almost any context? I doubt it.

Sure. Most would rather speak to someone in a suit than in someone wearing their underpants on the outside and with full-on nationalistic emblems on their spandex uniform.

Re: Child's play

#16

Post by rdiddly » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:03 PM UTC

__jal wrote: post #6

I don't know that it is worse for devs than other workers. Have any of you seen the incredibly demeaning chanting/cheering fake-excitement bullshit that service workers have to put up with[1]? And that's for shit pay, little meaningful chance of advancement and crappy alternatives. Being talked down to by a bean counter in a superhero suit is empowering in comparison. [1] For one example, google "wallmart pep rally".

This was satirized pretty well in the movie Office Space with the "15 pieces of flair" thing...

Re: Child's play

#17

Post by rblatz » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:04 PM UTC

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #11

roywiggins wrote: post #2

to be honest I find it hard to take writing that uses "females" as a synonym for "women" super seriously

In current culture, especially SV, not all women are female. It is necessary to specify female if one is actually referring to biological sex instead of cultural gender. Some find this an annoying distinction but it is the cultural norm in an increasingly growing number of places.

Yet is still a very small minority, and it appears that you are needlessly seeking out ways to be offended when no offense was meant.

Re: Child's play

#18

Post by stanleydrew » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:06 PM UTC

If you don't want to be infantilized, don't go to the conferences where you feel infantilized and don't find your jobs through contracting firms that treat you like an infant.

You are not powerless in your situation. Stand up for yourself.

Re: Child's play

#19

Post by matte_black » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:06 PM UTC

roywiggins wrote: post #2

to be honest I find it hard to take writing that uses "females" as a synonym for "women" super seriously

I have actually noticed this becoming more common. “Females” is what you refer to as strictly cis-females, where as women generally means a mix of transgendered and cis-females. So if a man’s dating profile says “females only”, you know what he’s talking about.

Re: Child's play

#20

Post by ebbv » Wed, Apr 18, 2018, 6:07 PM UTC

Isn't this just a reflection of changes our culture generally?

When I was a kid "grown men" were only allowed to be really into sports or maybe cars. Now those barriers of what is "acceptable" for adults to be into (among other things) are broken down.

As far as someone dressing up as a super hero for a professional conference; I'm sure if you could dig through the reports of Comdex from the 80s you'll find lots of ridiculous stuff. Most of which would be totally unacceptable today.

Also I think the author maybe should have taken a little more care when referencing attractive females working the booth to contextualize it for people that won't give him the benefit of the doubt that he was pointing out it was absurd. Gender politics being a hot button issue right now.