Hacker News is depressing

Re:Hacker News is depressing by HelloMcFly on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:32PM (#5744796)

It's not OK for anyone (in my opinion). However, because it's a sexualized email sent from a man it would have a not insignificant chance of being interpreted as sexual harassment (i.e., meeting the legal definition for creating a hostile work environment) towards a woman.

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Re:Hacker News is depressing by claudius on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @12:37PM (#5744828)

So I can send such an email to a woman as I am gay? But if I sent it back to Linus, it’s sexual harassment?

As I said, ridiculous.

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Re:Hacker News is depressing by HelloMcFly on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @02:42PM (#5745818)

> So I can send such an email to a woman as I am gay?

No, probably not. I painted in broad strokes, but the situation is more murky. I don't know of any situations where legal action for this kind of behavior has come from men doing it to men.

> But if I sent it back to Linus, it’s sexual harassment?

Possibly. That may depend on the state? I'm not terribly familiar with same-sex sexual harassment issues, I'm afraid. Need to re-read up on it, I guess.

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Re:Hacker News is depressing by lelandbatey on Tuesday May 21, 2013 @04:54PM (#5746753)

Sadly, it's not about what you intended. It's about how things are perceived on the receiving end. That's the only thing that matters.

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