That's cool, you're entitled to your opinion. But you writing that adds nothing to the conversation.
I think the fact that the vast majority of women are not comfortable going to tech conferences and working at many tech companies is actually a big deal, and the rare cases where someone actually DOES something in response to it is actually a pretty landmark event that deserves significant attention.
If you feel differently, at least try to articulate why.
I'm not disagreeing with you but where do you get this stuff about the vast majority of women being uncomfortable going to tech conferences? Is that anecdotal? Is there a study you can cite?
Also, just because someone is offended doesn't give them the right to respond however they want. They still need to be responsible.
I have no doubt that sexism exists in this industry; I've seen it. And it does need to be addressed, in a very serious way.
But on the other hand, this started when someone made a crude but not (at least to me) harassing or sexist remark. Maybe as a male, you'll think I'm blind to such things and disqualified to judge them as "not harassing", and I actually kind of get that view--I haven't and can never live on the other side.
But I still maintain in the realm of sexist things that go on, this one was hardly a blip. And the chain of events that followed is nearly unbelievable.
There's no reason two people had to lose their jobs and have their names dragged through the mud, there's no reason two companies had to have their reputations sullied, there's no reason anonymous internet bullies needed to direct their bile towards Adria and women in general, and there's no reason any site needed to be hacked or DDOS'd.
Seriously, one loud distracting noise at the right moment and everyone's life would be better off.
What is your definition of well represented? My experience is that most conferences are well under 50% women... although I do tend towards open source, which is worse than average.
This strikes me as yet another overreaction.
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