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A comment on For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant Nightmare. Parent comment

Re:For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant N... by bittercynic on Monday April 18, 2016 @02:43PM (#11522190)
In my experience (as a man) all you have to do is treat people with respect and you'll be fine.

There are occasionally times when I enter a room where a woman was alone and I can see that my mere presence is making her very uncomfortable and she feels that she can't say/do anything. At those times I quickly excuse myself with a quick "Hello, goodbye" or something.

This really doesn't seem like such a tricky issue if you're just respectful and conscious of the discomfort of others.

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Re:For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant N... by drunken-serval on Monday April 18, 2016 @02:51PM (#11522250)
This assumes you have the social skills and awareness of your surroundings to notice when you've made someone uncomfortable.

I'll often go to the break room with headphones on and make tea while I puzzle through some code I had been working on. I'm barely aware there are other people in the room.

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Re:For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant N... by reitanqild on Monday April 18, 2016 @03:08PM (#11522353)
> This assumes you have the social skills and awareness of your surroundings to notice when you've made someone uncomfortable.

Spot on. I rarely recognize I made people uncomfortable but reading all these discussions I guess I do :-/

OTOH, I try to be nice to everyone, -that way I should (theoretically) have less to worry about.

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Re:For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant N... by FilterSweep on Monday April 18, 2016 @03:08PM (#11522348)
> I'll often go to the break room with headphones on and make tea while I puzzle through some code I had been working on.

It's sometimes in those moments when you come across a solution you wouldn't have thought of at your desk. YMMV though.

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Re:For Female Astronomers, Sexual Harassment Is a Constant N... by nogbit on Monday April 18, 2016 @03:04PM (#11522327)
Respect...exactly right!

I've never had a problem and the respect is reciprocated for 20 years now in my career. I've never had to excuse myself either, if it's only 2 people in the room just start a damm conversation. Talking is really easier than you think.

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