4 ms·

I have such mixed feelings about this being on HN. Yes, I think we should read it and learn from it. I absolutely agree with the author. It's one of those thing

I have such mixed feelings about this being on HN. Yes, I think we should read it and learn from it. I absolutely agree with the author. It's one of those things I wish everyone knew but for some reason there are still people who don't, so maybe showing up on the front page every once and a while is a good reminder. But the comments should be turned off. This is such a heated topic and are there aren't any right answers to this problem besides "keep it in mind, don't do what they did". What can possibly be discussed here besides emotional bickering from both sides. It does not seem productive and is not interesting conversation. (I posted this exact same comment on another thread on HN today, about the sexism at a tech conference... http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4602688 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4602688)

MartinCron 14y ago
The fact that there is such a ...passionate... discussion about it, from "this is terrible" to "this guy is just being too sensitive" or "OMG, the OP is racist as well!" shows that there isn't a consensus opinion about this kind of behavior in the workplace for our industry. This, along with sexism, is difficult to talk about well, but I don't know if that means we need to stop talking.
- thebigshane 14y ago
  Do we need a "consensus opinion"? Does it need to happen here? My point is that discussing controversial social issues is generally unproductive. Worth thinking about, but unless PG devotes his next essay to this topic, I don't think anyone is going to be changing their minds here. For what it's worth I agree with most of your comments on this thread, and the backlash you are getting has really lowered my average opinion of this community. It's disgusting.
  - MartinCron 14y ago
    I totally see where you're coming from, and I don't think that we need a consensus opinion on everything. I'm just really disturbed that "don't be a sexist asshole" and "don't be a racist asshole" are still actual controversial positions in a community I care so much about. I don't know if talking about it will make anything any better, but I have a hard time with the idea of not talking about it as a way to improve things.

MartinCron 14y ago

The fact that there is such a ...passionate... discussion about it, from "this is terrible" to "this guy is just being too sensitive" or "OMG, the OP is racist as well!" shows that there isn't a consensus opinion about this kind of behavior in the workplace for our industry. This, along with sexism, is difficult to talk about well, but I don't know if that means we need to stop talking.

thebigshane 14y ago
Do we need a "consensus opinion"? Does it need to happen here? My point is that discussing controversial social issues is generally unproductive. Worth thinking about, but unless PG devotes his next essay to this topic, I don't think anyone is going to be changing their minds here. For what it's worth I agree with most of your comments on this thread, and the backlash you are getting has really lowered my average opinion of this community. It's disgusting.
- MartinCron 14y ago
  I totally see where you're coming from, and I don't think that we need a consensus opinion on everything. I'm just really disturbed that "don't be a sexist asshole" and "don't be a racist asshole" are still actual controversial positions in a community I care so much about. I don't know if talking about it will make anything any better, but I have a hard time with the idea of not talking about it as a way to improve things.