I had the same initial reaction (and came to post something similar), but I think I was wrong. It's not that it doesn't happen to men, because it absolutely doe

I had the same initial reaction (and came to post something similar), but I think I was wrong. It's not that it doesn't happen to men, because it absolutely does, but I think that men, in general, won't understand the emotional impact being give "I'm just being honest in the most prickish way possible" advice might have on a woman. This is not to imply that they are dainty creatures that must be protected, but rather that the way they learn and the influence of that environment is very much different than it is for men. I applaud github for taking this step, but I would applaud them more for giving it to everybody. Then it isn't about whether a woman needs a "safe place", but whether somebody new to programming needs a safe place. And that would be better for everybody.