Live data from Hacker News

Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

techcrunch.com

61–70 of 1001 posts

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#61
post #34

Well, there are only three Github founders, and a quick search seems to indicate that Tom Preston-Werner is the only one with a wife, Theresa: http://techcrunch.com/2013/11/27/omakase-charity-tech-indust...

This gives me the opportunity to say that I thought this guy sounded like a tool during his talk at Startup School.

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#62
post #20

Two women are dancing to music at work in a tech company and the author compares this to a scene at a strip club as men are watching this. Unless this was a regular exercise, what was everybody expecting? Nobody taking notice?

Yeah this section really damaged her credibility for me. She says the guys were "gawking", so they were not saying anything inappropriate, just "staring openly and stupidly". I can picture a professional business environment where gawking would be inappropriate, but I have a hard time picturing that environment with women hula hooping to music. Plus is gawking a crime? Yes, those random employees were being unprofessional, but worth writing about in an email to Tech Crunch?

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#64
I don't think this was an instance of institutionalized sexism. Rather, the founder's wife seems like an unbalanced individual, and nobody effectively set any boundaries. The other founders and HR seemed unaware or unable to set the situation to right.

As for her romantically inclined co-worker -- I don't see how his behavior qualifies as sexist or hostile. Merely a bit clueless, but isn't it to be expected that employees of a tech company will be somewhat socially awkward?

EDIT: As multiple commenters have noted, ripping out someone's code commits because they rejected your romantic advances is unacceptable and unprofessional. The ripper-outer should be roasted by the project manager if there's no technical justification. Since the two employees no longer get along, one or both should be re-assigned to different projects if possible. And the offender should be disciplined (up to and including dismissal from the company) if he makes life difficult for her in the future. But his actions reflect on him, not Github as a whole. The article includes no information about whether any of his actions were reported to his supervisor or anyone else, and no information about Github's response to the incident. Without those crucial details, I think it's premature to point a finger at Github.

As for the hula hoop incident -- if the girls doing the hooping and the guys doing the watching were okay with it, and everybody kept their clothes on, that seems pretty innocent to me.

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#65
post #53

As usual, another HN thread that perfectly exemplifies victim blaming and a collective burying of heads in the sand. There's a few people on here who seem to get it, but most don't. I'm sick of it. Goodbye, Hacker News.

This should be the top comment.

As long as sexism persists in the tech industry, it's going to drive women out and keep others away.

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#66
post #48
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Er, it's not like she's anonymously accusing them. They can confront her any time they want.

Carried forward, in a court-like environment, or throwing salvos over PR mediums? I take it as a bad smell someone goes the PR route over a lawyer (perhaps a confidential legal threat?) to discuss things privately and settle thing amicably.

Depends on what the aim is. There are some considerations here:

1. People tend to view going for the lawyers as going for the 'big guns,' and can be reluctant to do so.

2. Companies can become less cooperative very quickly once it's a matter being decided by lawyers and/or in a court.

3. She may not have consulted a lawyer because she doesn't think that anything which transpired qualifies as 'illegal,' rather than unprofessional, rude, mean, etc.

From the story presented to us, it sounds like she wants to leverage bad PR to get Github's HR / board to hold the people she views as having wronged her accountable.

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#67
post #29

Well here we go Github-gate. Sigh... Regardless of the truth, just based on allegations, and what they'll stir, this will probably create a big mess. I can't see who can possibly win in this case.

If the situation with the one founder who is injecting outside people into power is resolved, I would say everyone in the company wins (assuming the picture painted in the article is accurate).

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#68
post #64

I don't think this was an instance of institutionalized sexism. Rather, the founder's wife seems like an unbalanced individual, and nobody effectively set any boundaries. The other founders and HR seemed unaware or unable to set the situation to right. As for her romantically inclined co-worker -- I don't see how his behavior qualifies as sexist or hostile. Merely a bit clueless, but isn't it to be expected that empl…

the dude going back and deleting her code after the rejection seems pretty hostile to me.

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#69
post #53

As usual, another HN thread that perfectly exemplifies victim blaming and a collective burying of heads in the sand. There's a few people on here who seem to get it, but most don't. I'm sick of it. Goodbye, Hacker News.

Fuck hacker news. I only come here to be mad at people.

Re: Julie Ann Horvath Describes Sexism and Intimidation Behind Her GitHub Exit

#70
post #64

I don't think this was an instance of institutionalized sexism. Rather, the founder's wife seems like an unbalanced individual, and nobody effectively set any boundaries. The other founders and HR seemed unaware or unable to set the situation to right. As for her romantically inclined co-worker -- I don't see how his behavior qualifies as sexist or hostile. Merely a bit clueless, but isn't it to be expected that empl…

There's socially awkward and there's openly hitting on a co-worker who is known to date another co-worker. And then not exiting as quickly as humanly possible. That's beyond "a little awkward". Saying this as a guy who is somewhat socially awkward.
Post reply on HN