Are people actually outraged? Since when did hacker culture take such a large turn toward political correctness?
Political correctness is sensitivity to the minority, and is generally not a bad thing.
An Apology From TechCrunch
41–50 of 186 posts
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#42[deleted]
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#43Anyone 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…
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 women into a social network is absolutely absurd.
I'm not a woman, but I also don't think that these types of "jokes" are acceptable at any sort of conference. If you want to joke around with your friends, fine. Hell, if you want to make an app called TitStare on your own time and publish it, great--but for an all-ages industry conference to publicize it? That's wrong.
I believe that the tech industry as a whole is doing great work towards being less misogynistic and being more diverse. Stunts like this at well-known events are huge road blocks towards that goal.
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Sorry but I really think everyone should collectively loosen up.
It really depends on how you view the event. If it is just a bunch of blokes hanging out, I can see (but do not agree!) with your point of view.
If you see it is as even a semi professional event, then I do know how you could justify it.
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#45Earlier 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?
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?
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Sorry but I really think everyone should collectively loosen up.
It's an app to take and share pictures of a part of the female body. It's socially reinforced sexual objectification.
Perhaps you should go loosen up your knowledge and find out exactly WHY this is offensive before dropping another ignorant comment.
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#47I'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?
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#48Anyone 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…
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..."
Well, there's your problem.
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#49I think one of two things happened. The first is TechCrunch simply didn't screen the hacks being presented in any way before they went up on stage. The second is they did screen them, but whoever did the screening had no problem with the two problematic submissions. It's pretty clear to me the latter was has occurred, for a number of reasons. Firstly, the language in the apology refers to a failure to "properly scree…
I was one of the people who presented at the hackaton today (ChowDown) and I can say that there was no screening, since the only material requested was names, a brief description and special needs (adaptors, etc.).
a brief description...
Whoever was reading the "brief descriptions" should have known better.
Re: An Apology From TechCrunch
#50From 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.
The problem with these particular presentations is that it distorts the whole event. There have been about 250 presentations so far today (and they're still going).
You can watch here: http://techcrunch.com/events/disrupt-sf-hackathon-2013/live-...