The first hack at TechCrunch Disrupt's hackathon is called TitStare.

I'd like to think that, as technical people, we take pride in the quality of our work - its beauty, its innovation, its capability to make people's lives better in big or small ways (e.g. "meaningful hacks and projects"). Even if you set aside the misogyny (not that you should), is this something that the developer would be comfortable serving as a reflection of the sort of work that he does? Was his point presenting this to showcase innovation, cleverness, or execution, or was it to make people think he's a funny person? Stand-up comedy this certainly isn't.

Although the hack was ridiculous, I think it's important to keep the facts straight. There was also a pretty awful 'asl' hack pitch later on, given by a woman. It definitely says something about TechCrunch that folks think this behaviour's OK at their event, but it was not their Disrupt keynote as some folks are seemingly interpreting! (It'll still hurt them a lot, though.)

The 9 year old girl (who went later) is far more worthy of the coverage. :-)

Checking out an attractive individual in a non-aggressive manner? Totally fine, carry on. Making as ass of yourself and possibly offending a ton of people? Not fine, GTFO.

This isn't about checking out attractive members of the opposite sex, it's about being potentially offensive in a totally inappropriate setting.

This was a gutless, sexist, little shitfest in front of a tech audience in a supposedly professional forum, not someone sneaking a peak at a woman.

Do you and the rest of the geniuses who are unable to read the article and who are commenting below about "evolution" and other horseshit really, really not get this?

And to any other eternal 14 year olds out there who think there is anything "hilarious" about this, please understand that if you behave like the morons cited you will have an increasingly difficult time getting a job anywhere after a stunt like this. And many of us will make it our business to get in your face quite a bit more than that.

in a nutshell: we are conditioned to blame others to make us easier to control. This begins when we're children and for must of us continues through our working life until we're dead. A nation full of complainers is easier to ignore and run than a nation of people utilizing the nation's resources directly. (As Herman Hesse said, "A teacher would rather have a classroom full of donkeys than a single genius.") Just watch a group of grumbling work employees scatter when the boss comes around instead of grouping together to tell him/her how they really feel.

however, some of us learn to take responsibility for our own reactions. I now no longer have anyone else to blame for my own negative feelings (since watching a Jack Canfield video about 5 months ago. I tried to find it on the 'tube for ya just now but there are too many). Many might think this is bad, but just as Jack suggests, my mind simply works toward improving my situations instead of bitching about them. Instead of bitching about crappy music, I design new instruments.

I could go on and relate to you about all the screwed up examples of people I've seen, who set themselves up for the One Big Trauma they can milk for the rest of their lives for shallow sympathy for their con games, but I'm gonna take a sweet bike ride before the sun goes down and I've already given enough advice. peace, bastardus carborundum and all that.

In this case, apps such as Titstare being presented at an event (aimed at all ages), such as this, only reinforce the perception that such events are boys clubs for 18-35 year old guys who like staring at tits. Presumably, you want that image to change: isn't it worth imposing restrictions to reduce the amount of "offence" caused to people in order to bring this about?

One way to give expression to a particular opinion would be expressing offence. (Another would be applauding.) If you ask me if I think this sort of thing is offensive, I will say "yes" -- after all, you asked me! -- but it's just a way of putting a marker this. It isn't anywhere close to the core of what I think about this topic.

And anyway, "freedom of speech" only exists as a law when applied to Congress. For the rest of us it's just a guideline.

Humans are emergent species. Even optical illusions, despite being used as evidence of ‘hard wiring’, have been further studied to be learned and emergent phenomena[1].

[1] EG: The Influence of Culture on Visual Perception, MH Segall, DT Campbell, MJ Herskovits - 1966