5 ms·

I didn't have an HN identity. I felt like this might be an interesting discussion, so I created an account. Is it a big secret that men like to look at boobs?

I didn't have an HN identity. I felt like this might be an interesting discussion, so I created an account. Is it a big secret that men like to look at boobs? I'd like to meet the women who were so offended by such an obvious joke. In the entire circle of women I know, I really can't think of one who wouldn't recognize the playfulness of the idea (and not take it seriously). If a female made an app that included men's butts, would people have the same reaction?

memset 13y ago
"If a female made an app... would people have the same reaction?" Probably not, but that is because men aren't trying to release themselves from the clutches of institutional harassment and marginalization in tech. It isn't like you can just swap the pronouns for your argument - because in doing so, you also swap the historical context and culture, and when you do that then you come to different conclusions.
estel 13y ago
Presenting it at a conference like this reinforces the image of the industry as dominated by white men, and being exactly the sort of really uncomfortable app that can put women off of being a part of the industry. Even if all things were equal, Tits and Sixpack apps would still be all about objectification, and I for one would be fine with that not being encouraged either.
oneeyedpigeon 13y ago
"If a female made an app that included men's butts, would people have the same reaction?" All things being equal, yes. However, men don't have women catcalling at them in the street, don't have to put up with women ogling them in public, get away with more pay for doing exactly the same work, are more likely to rise to positions of power, are favoured by many systems of monarchy, don't have to put up with other people acting as if they own their bodies and have a right to tell them what to do with them, etc, etc, et-bloody-cetera. I like the way that you think only women can possibly be offended by this kind of behaviour. - a man
jfarmer 13y ago
> If a female made an app that included men's butts, would people have the same reaction? When the jester mocks the king it's funny. When the king mocks the jester it's just mean. The situation is inherently asymmetric, which makes but-what-if-they-were-(men/white/straight/etc.) arguments facile at best and disingenuous at worst.
roguecoder 13y ago
No; they'd be making homophobic jokes instead. For example of a gender-swapped situation that made the man in question extremely uncomfortable even without the history and cultural norms that excuse rape, I recommend reading about Jon Hamm's penis: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/jon-hamm-tired-of-jokes-about-his-impressive-anatomy-20130327 http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/jon-hamm-tired-of-jo...

memset 13y ago

"If a female made an app... would people have the same reaction?" Probably not, but that is because men aren't trying to release themselves from the clutches of institutional harassment and marginalization in tech. It isn't like you can just swap the pronouns for your argument - because in doing so, you also swap the historical context and culture, and when you do that then you come to different conclusions.

estel 13y ago

Presenting it at a conference like this reinforces the image of the industry as dominated by white men, and being exactly the sort of really uncomfortable app that can put women off of being a part of the industry. Even if all things were equal, Tits and Sixpack apps would still be all about objectification, and I for one would be fine with that not being encouraged either.

oneeyedpigeon 13y ago

"If a female made an app that included men's butts, would people have the same reaction?" All things being equal, yes. However, men don't have women catcalling at them in the street, don't have to put up with women ogling them in public, get away with more pay for doing exactly the same work, are more likely to rise to positions of power, are favoured by many systems of monarchy, don't have to put up with other people acting as if they own their bodies and have a right to tell them what to do with them, etc, etc, et-bloody-cetera. I like the way that you think only women can possibly be offended by this kind of behaviour. - a man

jfarmer 13y ago

> If a female made an app that included men's butts, would people have the same reaction? When the jester mocks the king it's funny. When the king mocks the jester it's just mean. The situation is inherently asymmetric, which makes but-what-if-they-were-(men/white/straight/etc.) arguments facile at best and disingenuous at worst.

roguecoder 13y ago

No; they'd be making homophobic jokes instead. For example of a gender-swapped situation that made the man in question extremely uncomfortable even without the history and cultural norms that excuse rape, I recommend reading about Jon Hamm's penis: http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/jon-hamm-tired-of-jokes-about-his-impressive-anatomy-20130327 http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/jon-hamm-tired-of-jo...