An Apology From TechCrunch

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by yogo on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:05PM (#6350856)

Thanks for the details. I've never read an article I learned nothing from like that one. Sexism aside, these two presentations are too funny for me not to think they were done intentionally.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by david_shaw on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:28PM (#6350962)

> Sexism aside, these two presentations are too funny for me not to think they were done intentionally.

As opposed to being done accidentally?

These presentations were, of course, intended to be jokes. In fact, I'm sure they were designed to be harmless, unoffensive jokes.

Who cares?

Children and adults who were rightfully offended were all in the audience. TechCrunch showcasing an app designed to turn objectifying women into a social network is absolutely absurd.

I'm not a woman, but I also don't think that these types of "jokes" are acceptable at any sort of conference. If you want to joke around with your friends, fine. Hell, if you want to make an app called TitStare on your own time and publish it, great--but for an all-ages industry conference to publicize it? That's wrong.

I believe that the tech industry as a whole is doing great work towards being less misogynistic and being more diverse. Stunts like this at well-known events are huge road blocks towards that goal.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by pcerioli on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:33PM (#6350985)

I am a woman and I found them funny, but that is my 2 cents :)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by david_shaw on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:35PM (#6350996)

Sure, and I'm positive that you weren't alone.

I'm not saying that they shouldn't make joke apps, but TechCrunch should not have let them take the stage.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by calbear81 on Sunday September 08, 2013 @08:16PM (#6351155)

I'm not sure it's clear what we should discount "joke" apps as not being serious business. After all, they built a place where users upload offensive photos and allow folks to vote and share ... just like 9Gag, Reddit, and countless other legitimate, funded, businesses.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by yogo on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:47PM (#6351048)

As far as it getting publicized that's on Tech Crunch. We can all blame the perpetrators but I still fail to see how this is a tech thing. News stations get phony phone calls everyday and some of them get through. To some people they are funny, while others are offended. This whole TC mishap is turning out to be a cheap attempt at making the tech industry seem misogynistic. I'll reiterate, it happens in every industry.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by tallio on Monday September 09, 2013 @09:40AM (#6353343)

Male sexual desire is healthy. Heterosexual men like tits - deal with it. There's nothing "objectifying" or "misogynistic" about it. Jesus, what's wrong with you people? Is a man allowed to even look at a woman or is even that considered misogyny? I like women and no amount of buzzwords will make me ashamed of it!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by jaredsohn on Monday September 09, 2013 @11:59AM (#6354228)

Reread the GP; it is not arguing with you at all. The issue is the appropriateness of such things within the professional sphere (of which a hackathon is a part.)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by polemic on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:30PM (#6350969)

> "Sexism aside..."

Well, there's your problem.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:An Apology From TechCrunch by steveklabnik on Sunday September 08, 2013 @07:56PM (#6351080)

Whoops, how did I end up on this stage? I've never even seen this presentation before! Must have been an accident!

(of _course_ they were done intentionally.)

[ Parent | on HN ]