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I think the original article touches on some good points, and I can understand the need for Laura to voice her opinion, but the author MUST have wrote the artic

I think the original article touches on some good points, and I can understand the need for Laura to voice her opinion, but the author MUST have wrote the article with good intentions. Personally, if I were really affected by an article I get in touch with the author, have a skype call and get all the concerns out in the open, and work together to revise the article so that both parties are happy with it. Then if the author didn't want to know etc, THEN I'd write the rebuttal. I don't want to be harsh here, but Laura could have shared her input privately and together created a exceptional article with valid points and different perspectives, but instead when to route of going public and (potentially) damaging the authors name in the process. We're all professionals, and can take criticisms, especially if they were voiced in a constructive way as a means to create something better. Laura's article begs the question whether her intentions are destructive, or whether her aim was to build and improve.

zachinglis 14y ago
I know both the writers very well. Faruk and I have known each other for 8 years, we tried to start a business together and I have a lot of respect for him. Laura is my flatmate and best friend. They tried to talk on Twitter beforehand, and it wasn't going very well (as Twitter does.) She wanted to write a post on sexism for a very long while now. This was a catalyst to finally get it done. She also wanted it to be public so people got a full view of the opinions. I, as a man, feel if I don't agree with posts like Faruk's, a lot of people take it as I don't care about women's rights. It can get messy easily. Her opinions were not destructive in my opinion. She was frustrated that yet another man was telling all us what sexism was and that she felt his intentions weren't necessarily good, but more "holier than thou" and that it didn't help anything. I have biases, so take it with a grain of salt.
prodigal_erik 14y ago
I don't view the low proportion of women in tech as a serious problem (I think it's determined by the typical obsessions of twelve-year-olds). I do view the expectation that they be kinder and less assertive as a problem. It's healthy that she's debating honestly, rather than settling for a compromised version of her points in someone else's work.
- panda_person 14y ago
  "I don't view the low proportion of women in tech as a serious problem (I think it's determined by the typical obsessions of twelve-year-olds)." Which also has to do with sexism and gender roles in society.

zachinglis 14y ago

I know both the writers very well. Faruk and I have known each other for 8 years, we tried to start a business together and I have a lot of respect for him. Laura is my flatmate and best friend. They tried to talk on Twitter beforehand, and it wasn't going very well (as Twitter does.) She wanted to write a post on sexism for a very long while now. This was a catalyst to finally get it done. She also wanted it to be public so people got a full view of the opinions. I, as a man, feel if I don't agree with posts like Faruk's, a lot of people take it as I don't care about women's rights. It can get messy easily. Her opinions were not destructive in my opinion. She was frustrated that yet another man was telling all us what sexism was and that she felt his intentions weren't necessarily good, but more "holier than thou" and that it didn't help anything. I have biases, so take it with a grain of salt.

prodigal_erik 14y ago

I don't view the low proportion of women in tech as a serious problem (I think it's determined by the typical obsessions of twelve-year-olds). I do view the expectation that they be kinder and less assertive as a problem. It's healthy that she's debating honestly, rather than settling for a compromised version of her points in someone else's work.

panda_person 14y ago
"I don't view the low proportion of women in tech as a serious problem (I think it's determined by the typical obsessions of twelve-year-olds)." Which also has to do with sexism and gender roles in society.