News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Jessamyn Smith: Fighting sexist jokes with a Python bot by wpietri on Wednesday March 28, 2012 @12:39PM (#3767085)
Hi! Startup cofounder here. Working in and with startups since Web 0.8. I see you're a student, so I want to take the time to be clear:

Suppose you worked at my startup. Suppose further that you suggested to one of your colleagues, as you did now, that they quit because they weren't inclined to put up with what they saw as a hostile work environment. You know who would be gone? You.

Startups are a team sport. We don't require suits, because how somebody dresses won't change the quality of the product. However, driving off perfectly good people because they're different will definitely change the product. The same applies for a culture where people don't feel respected, or aren't encouraged to fix the problems they see.

Re:Jessamyn Smith: Fighting sexist jokes with a Python bot by tomjen3 on Wednesday March 28, 2012 @01:52PM (#3767472)
I see that I need to update my bio...

The reason I am so pissed is that I work in a company where we do things and make jokes that would get you kicked out the door in most suit companies and everybody enjoys it -- including the girls (who are often the best) -- and yes there is the guy who doesn't find it funny to change his screen, so we don't. To him. If he finds it obnoxious that we make those jokes with others, he can deal with it or leave.

And yet, if somebody where to join us who would get annoyed working there do you suggest the rest of us should leave?

I wouldn't make the joke I did in a company that didn't appreciate it but I wouldn't stand for it being change just to fit a few people either.

Re:Jessamyn Smith: Fighting sexist jokes with a Python bot by mcherm on Wednesday March 28, 2012 @03:21PM (#3767871)
Since everyone in your company enjoys this attitude, it's nothing but good, clean fun (or good dirty fun, depending on the color of the joke).

But someday you may hire someone who, as it turns out, does not appreciate the jokes. Or perhaps, like Jessamyn, enjoys the jokes sometimes but feels that they are overdone to the point of being irritating.

I would not advice you to tell this person "If [you] find it obnoxious [... you can] deal with it or leave." Because in the US (I can't speak for other places) that is illegal. If this sort of behavior is pervasive it is said to "create a hostile (or offensive) work environment", and if someone is fired (or effectively forced to leave) because they do not enjoy the behavior then they are well within their rights to sue your company.

Re:Jessamyn Smith: Fighting sexist jokes with a Python bot by wpietri on Wednesday March 28, 2012 @03:20PM (#3767869)
This seems to be a reiteration of the same point: you believe that if somebody finds the work environment hostile, it's ok to pressure them to leave. You're really not seeing anything wrong with that?

I'd also question your belief that "the girls" (who are, I take it, 8-12 years old) are ok with it. Go talk to some people in the field who have had a few jobs but aren't stereotypical. E.g., gay, female, or black. Ask them if they've ever laughed at something that made them uncomfortable because they wanted to fit in and felt unsafe doing anything else. Because you're ok with pushing out somebody if they don't like the joke, guess what: if they don't like the joke, they'll still pretend to you that they do.

Re:Jessamyn Smith: Fighting sexist jokes with a Python bot by geekchick77 on Thursday March 29, 2012 @02:59PM (#3772548)
Given that you've said you would try to force someone who didn't agree with you out of the company, I'm sure all your current coworkers are completely honest with you about what they enjoy.
Re:Jessamyn Smith: Fighting sexist jokes with a Python bot by prodigal_erik on Thursday March 29, 2012 @06:00AM (#3770457)
"Hostile work environment" is a set of landmines in every US employer's terrain. If you locate here, you can't legally or practically avoid employees who take this stuff very seriously (though I've been fortunate in not seeing anyone go ballistic over anything). The only workable response is to suck it up, don't commit thoughtcrime in the office, and go have a drink and unwind with the people whose discretion you respect.