Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

recode.net

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 185 posts

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#81

Post by Danihan »

ben_jones wrote: post #37
Danihan wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is every company having a HR department not enough?

I had this conversation the other day. HR exists to protect the firm, if that involves sweeping things under the rug, disparaging victims, or enabling illegal behavior by high performers, they will, and historically have, done it.

HR departments are intended to protect the company from liability. Generally speaking, they do that by taking standardized actions regarding harassment claims because otherwise they open the company up to lawsuits and negative PR.

Basically, it's irrational to try to cover up or ignore harassment in the vast majority of cases. Which is why HR is a perfectly decent solution for most of these issues, and we only hear about a few outliers in the media / law suits.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#82

Post by astura »

shifter wrote: post #62
astura wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why you think it makes you a jerk, most of what you said I'd simply include simply under "being professional."

A lot of feminists think this denies networking opportunities for women.

I'm a woman and I am a feminist.

Unless you are an actor or dancer any sort of touching with coworkers is very inappropriate for all genders, sexual or non sexual touching included. Keeping your work and professional lives separate is just good sense. It's rude to make comments about other people's appearances unless you are very close friends with them. Closed door meetings are sometimes needed but you should never do them excessively or with only the young or attractive, that looks like you're being inappropriate.

Basically, it's just professionalism and should apply to everyone, all genders.

I an friendly with my colleagues but I don't want to be friends with them. I prefer to keep my professional relationships professional and my personal relationships personal.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#83

Post by kelukelugames »

Frondo wrote: post #74
shifter wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of feminists think this denies networking opportunities for women.

When men openly discuss not meeting with women because of a fear of being falsely accused (which itself is exceedingly rare) of inappropriate behavior or molestation, what are women supposed to conclude? That they aren't being denied networking opportunities or opportunities to build working relationships? What is a positive take-away for women from powerful or monied men saying, in public, "I am afraid of meeting wi…

I think we lack empathy. How would we men feel if the situation was switched?

At work we discussed a customer who wouldn't shake hands with women because of his religion. A coworker said that's not sexist and the company should accommodate the customer. I asked him how he'd feel if a customer's religion bars handshakes with white dudes. He looked down and had no response.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#84

Post by egwynn »

igloofoo wrote: post #71
egwynn wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not convinced that "career death due to fraudulent sexual misconduct allegations” is a ramptant problem in tech. Based on nearly 100% of women I’ve ever known in tech, the vast majority of sexual misconduct either goes unreported or gets reported and ignored. Maybe you have some better data about this, though. If so, do share. And besides, I have a hard time imagining that a large VC firm would fire one of its fo…

OP just highlights the speed at which careers are getting destroyed on accusations alone (guilty b4 proven innocent), and pragmatically suggests that it is possible for a malicious user to exploit this vulnerability. Also Steve wasn't fired from DFJ (not RFJ), he left to sue

I was gonna reply to your first draft (the one which started “reeks of troll”), but then it was already changed by the time I clicked the “reply” button. You’ve made at least five edits since then. Stop, think, write, post.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#85

Post by Frondo »

kelukelugames wrote: post #70
astura wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why you think it makes you a jerk, most of what you said I'd simply include simply under "being professional."

I don't understand why people hug their co workers. That sounds weird. But some of the things on the list are ridiculous. I'm socially awkward and I still don't have problems having a closed door conversation with a member of the opposite sex. Are you just going to pass on interviewing women because that puts the two of you in a room?

I used to be socially awkward, terribly so, and I was never ever afraid of being in a closed room with a woman, because even at the height of my awkwardness I certainly wouldn't 1) make sexist remarks or jokes, 2) stare at her body or, 3) flirt.

People might've known me as a weirdo who stuttered or referred to Star Trek too much, but no one would ever think of me as inappropriate, simply because I never was, not even close.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#86

Post by ghostbrainalpha »

kelukelugames wrote: post #70
astura wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why you think it makes you a jerk, most of what you said I'd simply include simply under "being professional."

I don't understand why people hug their co workers. That sounds weird. But some of the things on the list are ridiculous. I'm socially awkward and I still don't have problems having a closed door conversation with a member of the opposite sex. Are you just going to pass on interviewing women because that puts the two of you in a room?

In my position if I have to interview a woman (or any candidate), I can talk to her with my team present.

Maybe it would be different if I was the CEO hiring for an executive position, and then I would make an exception. But for white boarding? Even if it were 1 on 1, I don't understand the need to have the door shut.

Privacy makes me uncomfortable anytime in a work environment. I like my home life private, but I'm fine having my work place conversations overheard by others.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#87

Post by jacalata »

Danihan wrote: post #53
jacalata wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently not. Was that a serious question?

Yep, and the answer isn't apparent to me at all. I believe HR departments handle this sort of thing very well in the vast majority of cases.

So your argument is that there is no existing problem that needs dealing with.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#88

Post by Alex3917 »

egwynn wrote: post #67
hkmurakami wrote: post #27

Following these very visible and high profile falls from grace, in politics, media and entertainment, and high tech, there must be some legitimate concerns that in the near future the Billy Graham rule [1] (or lately called the Graham-Pence rule) will find more followers than before. Many men in power will instinctually and subconsciously cut out women from their professional lives more than before, to the detriment…

many others will make a fear-driven overreaction. This. The actual risk involved here (job loss due to fraudulent accusations) must be so tiny as to be negligible.

I'm not convinced the risk of job loss due to false accusations is negligible, but it's hard to see how actually trying to make friends with people would increase that risk.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#89

Post by igloofoo »

downandout wrote: post #80
egwynn wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not convinced that "career death due to fraudulent sexual misconduct allegations” is a ramptant problem in tech. Based on nearly 100% of women I’ve ever known in tech, the vast majority of sexual misconduct either goes unreported or gets reported and ignored. Maybe you have some better data about this, though. If so, do share. And besides, I have a hard time imagining that a large VC firm would fire one of its fo…

If there were proof - emails, texts, etc - it would have been leaked to recode and other publications to avoid perceptions like mine. Public disclosures of these kinds of actions are meticulously calculated. Mr. Jurveston clearly disputes the allegations, to the point where he is promising litigation. The lack of evidence publicly presented likely means that it is a flimsy accusation - likely a “he said/she said” kin…

+1. Although I'd call it a post-Trump world. After all that surfaced about Trump's conduct with women during elections, and him STILL getting elected, women are done with it and taking a stand. I believe Weinstein is merely a happy casualty of Trump's election.

Re: Steve Jurvetson is out at his own VC firm after allegations of sexual harassment

#90

Post by rexpop »

kelukelugames wrote: post #70
astura wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why you think it makes you a jerk, most of what you said I'd simply include simply under "being professional."

I don't understand why people hug their co workers. That sounds weird. But some of the things on the list are ridiculous. I'm socially awkward and I still don't have problems having a closed door conversation with a member of the opposite sex. Are you just going to pass on interviewing women because that puts the two of you in a room?

Frankly, if the power difference is too great, it's not ethically safe to go into a room alone.

Alone in a room with Putin/Duterte in their homefields, and God knows to what you'd agree. If they coerce you, you might not be believed and, besides, they could have you killed.

Never walk into a room, alone with a dictator.

Or, if you're an 18yo store clerk for American Apparel, never do so w/ the CEO of your company.

And it's unethical to ask a subordinate to expose themselves by joining you, the authority, in such a situation.

... extenuating circumstances aside.

Post reply on HN