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Common man! You don't have to be so overly politically correct. It's ok to say "choices like these separate the boys from the men"! The feminine version just do

by jkuria 16y ago

Common man! You don't have to be so overly politically correct. It's ok to say "choices like these separate the boys from the men"! The feminine version just doesn't capture the essence!

tomjen3 16y ago
Thank you, stupid stuff like that makes the article so annoying to read because you have to scan back. And no, what separates the women from the girls is boobs.
bentoner 16y ago
I doubt he uses female pronouns to be politically correct: rather, he's doing it to address the very real problem of lack of women in tech startups.
- bfe 16y ago
  Ben and his partner Marc Andreessen have been doing this for a long time; not coincidentally, Marc co-founded Ning with Gina Bianchini as the CEO.
  - staunch 16y ago
    Which I thought really cool, then I was disappointed when I read that Andreessen is an ex-boyfriend of Bianchini's. I can't help but feel that taints the coolness of it and reinforces a negative stereotype.
    - qeorge 16y ago
      Strong disagree. I'd guess that most successful cofounding teams have a prior, personal relationship (platonic or otherwise). I know the fact that my cofounder and I have been close friends for > 20 years has been crucial to our success, and pg has cited the strength of the founders' friendship as a deciding factor for YC interviews. So, the fact that Mr. Andressen and Ms. Bianchini have a prior relationship is unsurprising. To imply their romantic past conferred her this opportunity, in a way that a platonic friendship would not have, is dangerously close to calling her a whore. (PS: I'm sorry to jump on you, and I empathize with your sentiment. But its one of those built in stereotypes that we need to actively fight within ourselves.)
      - staunch 16y ago
        If they were two professional equals starting a company as co-founders I wouldn't think anything negative about it. It's the fact that Andreessen (arguably #1 guy in Silicon Valley) funded the company with his money and connections and then gave her the CEO job. He was in a position of power and conferred a benefit to a friend and former lover. It's kind of like the guy that goes to work at his father's company as the CEO. Even if he warrants the appointment it's hard to feel the same level of respect (at least for me). Trust me though, I do feel conflicted and guilty for thinking this. The problem is I can't tell which kind of cultural baggage I'm exhibiting: sexism or political correctness.
DaniFong 16y ago
As a female founder, the idea of a challenge that separates the women from the girls resonates deeply with me. There are women in my life who've shown such courage and strength and selflessness that I know I could not of as a child, and I hope to be be capable of too someday. The ways in which women can be strong, especially for their family, remind me in many ways of the challenges of running a company -- a family in a way of its own.

by jkuria 16y ago

Common man! You don't have to be so overly politically correct. It's ok to say "choices like these separate the boys from the men"! The feminine version just doesn't capture the essence!

tomjen3 16y ago

Thank you, stupid stuff like that makes the article so annoying to read because you have to scan back. And no, what separates the women from the girls is boobs.

bentoner 16y ago

I doubt he uses female pronouns to be politically correct: rather, he's doing it to address the very real problem of lack of women in tech startups.

bfe 16y ago
Ben and his partner Marc Andreessen have been doing this for a long time; not coincidentally, Marc co-founded Ning with Gina Bianchini as the CEO.
- staunch 16y ago
  Which I thought really cool, then I was disappointed when I read that Andreessen is an ex-boyfriend of Bianchini's. I can't help but feel that taints the coolness of it and reinforces a negative stereotype.
  - qeorge 16y ago
    Strong disagree. I'd guess that most successful cofounding teams have a prior, personal relationship (platonic or otherwise). I know the fact that my cofounder and I have been close friends for > 20 years has been crucial to our success, and pg has cited the strength of the founders' friendship as a deciding factor for YC interviews. So, the fact that Mr. Andressen and Ms. Bianchini have a prior relationship is unsurprising. To imply their romantic past conferred her this opportunity, in a way that a platonic friendship would not have, is dangerously close to calling her a whore. (PS: I'm sorry to jump on you, and I empathize with your sentiment. But its one of those built in stereotypes that we need to actively fight within ourselves.)
    - staunch 16y ago
      If they were two professional equals starting a company as co-founders I wouldn't think anything negative about it. It's the fact that Andreessen (arguably #1 guy in Silicon Valley) funded the company with his money and connections and then gave her the CEO job. He was in a position of power and conferred a benefit to a friend and former lover. It's kind of like the guy that goes to work at his father's company as the CEO. Even if he warrants the appointment it's hard to feel the same level of respect (at least for me). Trust me though, I do feel conflicted and guilty for thinking this. The problem is I can't tell which kind of cultural baggage I'm exhibiting: sexism or political correctness.

DaniFong 16y ago

As a female founder, the idea of a challenge that separates the women from the girls resonates deeply with me. There are women in my life who've shown such courage and strength and selflessness that I know I could not of as a child, and I hope to be be capable of too someday. The ways in which women can be strong, especially for their family, remind me in many ways of the challenges of running a company -- a family in a way of its own.