Comment by mjevans | Hacker News Reader

Comment by mjevans | Hacker News Reader

I feel like the behavior listed is sadly not isolated to silicon valley nor the tech industry. It might be more prevalent (amplified relative to normal society) due to the social factors.

* Housing in the area makes vibrant communities difficult, thus encouraging isolation.

* Typical social dynamics within those companies encourage long job-focused hours, thus encouraging isolation.

* The old adage "power corrupts" is a sad truth inherent in human social dynamics. The above two factors encourage those disposed to predatory behavior to focus on the workplace rather than high barrier 'third space' settings like bars and clubs.

I believe one of the best ways of combating this issue (that isn't already implemented, if not adequately enforced) would be zoning laws that encouraged housing density to match economic pressure while still maintaining community nexuses to provide positive social interaction environments.

I think you risk minimizing the problem. Yes sexism is near-universal, but there are other areas with housing shortages, and other hard-charging industries, that don't have the problem at this scale. Your third point, I think, is true--and we should look at the specific nature of the power imbalances in Silicon Valley.

Founders are often young and relatively inexperienced, which puts them at a social disadvantage relative to VCs and executives. They're often asking for investments of time and money, which leaves them open to requests for inappropriate quid pro quos. Because companies grow (and shrink) so fast here, a lot of them don't have institutional structures in place, like HR departments, to prevent or deal with these abuses. Because HR is seen as a bureaucratic, non-productive function, it's often disrespected as a necessary evil when present. And the prevailing belief that Silicon Valley is something like a pure meritocracy can be distorted into a sort of law of the jungle ethos, where everyone is responsible only to themselves, and out to get theirs--and lead those on the receiving end of abuse to feel like they have to deal with it on their own.

I don't disagree with what you say, but I think the above factors are more impactful than the isolation, which is certainly real.

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