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> If you're not seeing it, it's statistically highly unlikely that you're not coming into contact with it. May I ask on what evidence you base this assertion?

> If you're not seeing it, it's statistically highly unlikely that you're not coming into contact with it. May I ask on what evidence you base this assertion? Note that this is a much stronger claim than just "harassment happens"; you're claiming that, more likely than not, it is also happening in my organization.

jdp23 12y ago
Most women in tech I know have multiple examples of stuff like the authors describe happening to them. Multiple guys in this thread confirm that yes, it happens and is observable. Remember that the authors weren't only talking about harassment. And of course that doesn't mean it happens in your organization, but you can also see and come into contact with it elsewhere -- conferences, networking events, online discussions, etc.
- mreiland 12y ago
  Why is them confirming that it happens more significant than the ones who confirm they don't see it happen?
  - xamebax 12y ago
    Because, putting it shortly, saying "I didn't see it happen" is too close to saying "I didn't see it happen, therefore it doesn't exist".
  - jdp23 12y ago
    If an overwhelming majority of observers report something happening frequently, and a relatively-small percentage report not seeing it, then what would you conclude? That said, I'm not sure I can remember the last time a woman told me she doesn't see it happen.
- bucketsbuckets 12y ago
  > Most women in tech I know have multiple examples of stuff like the authors describe happening to them. Multiple guys in this thread confirm that yes, it happens and is observable. To reiterate, what you've demonstrated is that there are N anecdotes of sexual harassment in the industry, for some N > 0. (Set aside M anecdotes of men and women who have not personally encountered such a thing.) You have not demonstrated that "it's statistically highly unlikely that you're not coming into contact with it." Let's keep this discussion factual and avoid inflammatory hyperbole, please.
  - jdp23 12y ago
    True, I haven't absolutely proven my point. What's your evidence disproving it?
    - hunterloftis 12y ago
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot

jdp23 12y ago

Most women in tech I know have multiple examples of stuff like the authors describe happening to them. Multiple guys in this thread confirm that yes, it happens and is observable. Remember that the authors weren't only talking about harassment. And of course that doesn't mean it happens in your organization, but you can also see and come into contact with it elsewhere -- conferences, networking events, online discussions, etc.

mreiland 12y ago
Why is them confirming that it happens more significant than the ones who confirm they don't see it happen?
- xamebax 12y ago
  Because, putting it shortly, saying "I didn't see it happen" is too close to saying "I didn't see it happen, therefore it doesn't exist".
- jdp23 12y ago
  If an overwhelming majority of observers report something happening frequently, and a relatively-small percentage report not seeing it, then what would you conclude? That said, I'm not sure I can remember the last time a woman told me she doesn't see it happen.
bucketsbuckets 12y ago
> Most women in tech I know have multiple examples of stuff like the authors describe happening to them. Multiple guys in this thread confirm that yes, it happens and is observable. To reiterate, what you've demonstrated is that there are N anecdotes of sexual harassment in the industry, for some N > 0. (Set aside M anecdotes of men and women who have not personally encountered such a thing.) You have not demonstrated that "it's statistically highly unlikely that you're not coming into contact with it." Let's keep this discussion factual and avoid inflammatory hyperbole, please.
- jdp23 12y ago
  True, I haven't absolutely proven my point. What's your evidence disproving it?
  - hunterloftis 12y ago
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_teapot