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Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

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Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#11
post #8
post #7

From what I can tell from the article, these are allegations . I don't see any mention of emails or text messages (I skimmed a bit, but not enough to miss something like that). Maybe records exist and can be used to prove harassment, but what's the point of publicizing this until the case has been decided? The media loves to publish this stuff because it gets everyone riled up. But until anything is proven in court,…

> But until anything is proven in court, it doesn't mean anything. I don't know that court is the bar for 'meaning something'. For example, if a victim has evidence but for various reasons cannot succeed in a court case (statute of limitations, for example) are you really saying their allegations don't mean anything?

Yes, but you often don't have all the facts until it goes to court.

Person A reveals plain-as-day romantically suggestive emails, blows the lid off the story, gets media attention.

Only until sometime later does Person B provide the emails proving it was a two way thing.

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#12
post #7

From what I can tell from the article, these are allegations . I don't see any mention of emails or text messages (I skimmed a bit, but not enough to miss something like that). Maybe records exist and can be used to prove harassment, but what's the point of publicizing this until the case has been decided? The media loves to publish this stuff because it gets everyone riled up. But until anything is proven in court,…

A courtroom verdict doesn't "prove" anything. All it means is that a set of lawyers and witnesses were able to convince the people on the jury to believe beyond a reasonable doubt (or not) that the events that were alleged actually happened.

Trials are the best way our society has figured out to come to the correct conclusion, but don't make the mistake of thinking the verdict always accurately reflects the events as they occurred. There are many, many cases with unjust outcomes.

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#13
post #10
post #4

It's honestly shocking to me how people can continue to behave like this, especially in the aftermath of #metoo. I suspect there's just something about being in a position of ultimate privilege that conditions you to think you're invincible until you're not.

The primary point of clawing your way to a CEO slot is power. Once you are in that position: 1) You are going to exercize that power that you finally have. 2) You lose most negative feedback mechanisms as everybody now wants to gain your favor. Consequently, you continue do things until you do the one that is a bridge too far and get burned.

Those are some pretty strong allegations to make so broadly.

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#14
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The primary point of clawing your way to a CEO slot is power. Once you are in that position: 1) You are going to exercize that power that you finally have. 2) You lose most negative feedback mechanisms as everybody now wants to gain your favor. Consequently, you continue do things until you do the one that is a bridge too far and get burned.

Those are some pretty strong allegations to make so broadly.

But extensively covered in literature. E.g. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sorcerer%27s_Apprentice

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#15
post #7

From what I can tell from the article, these are allegations . I don't see any mention of emails or text messages (I skimmed a bit, but not enough to miss something like that). Maybe records exist and can be used to prove harassment, but what's the point of publicizing this until the case has been decided? The media loves to publish this stuff because it gets everyone riled up. But until anything is proven in court,…

A courtroom verdict doesn't "prove" anything. All it means is that a set of lawyers and witnesses were able to convince the people on the jury to believe beyond a reasonable doubt (or not) that the events that were alleged actually happened. Trials are the best way our society has figured out to come to the correct conclusion, but don't make the mistake of thinking the verdict always accurately reflects the events as…

The court of public opinion may be unavoidable, but how do we know when we've crossed over from informing the public of real and present danger to personal vendetta?

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#16
post #8
post #7

From what I can tell from the article, these are allegations . I don't see any mention of emails or text messages (I skimmed a bit, but not enough to miss something like that). Maybe records exist and can be used to prove harassment, but what's the point of publicizing this until the case has been decided? The media loves to publish this stuff because it gets everyone riled up. But until anything is proven in court,…

> But until anything is proven in court, it doesn't mean anything. I don't know that court is the bar for 'meaning something'. For example, if a victim has evidence but for various reasons cannot succeed in a court case (statute of limitations, for example) are you really saying their allegations don't mean anything?

This reminds me of the OJ Simpson murder trials, one criminal and one civil. But two different outcomes.

Harvey Weinstein is facing both a judicial and public trial of sorts. Yet in that case there appear to be more public accusers, and some with nothing to gain and much to lose. (Which I think makes their statements more convincing, if more difficult to produce an independent jury for any judicial trial.)

EDIT: typo

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#18
post #4

It's honestly shocking to me how people can continue to behave like this, especially in the aftermath of #metoo. I suspect there's just something about being in a position of ultimate privilege that conditions you to think you're invincible until you're not.

And yet in other threads here on HN, we're decrying the breakdown of the family, epidemics of loneliness, and low rates of relationships and marriage for young people.

Given that the workplace is now the only place to interact with the opposite sex (for many people), I think it would be healthier to acknowledge it as a relationship foundry, and figure out how to use it to forge healthy adult relationships, whilst avoiding adultery and abuse.

Re: Former Unity Technology VP files lawsuit alleging CEO sexually harassed her

#19
post #7

From what I can tell from the article, these are allegations . I don't see any mention of emails or text messages (I skimmed a bit, but not enough to miss something like that). Maybe records exist and can be used to prove harassment, but what's the point of publicizing this until the case has been decided? The media loves to publish this stuff because it gets everyone riled up. But until anything is proven in court,…

A courtroom verdict doesn't "prove" anything. All it means is that a set of lawyers and witnesses were able to convince the people on the jury to believe beyond a reasonable doubt (or not) that the events that were alleged actually happened. Trials are the best way our society has figured out to come to the correct conclusion, but don't make the mistake of thinking the verdict always accurately reflects the events as…

>What if nothing actually happened? Reputations can be ruined.

Reputation will be ruined.

Let assume the just outcome, and those allegation were false. AND the reputation were ruined. Now do you go on and sue them back?

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