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Comment by AngusMcQuarrie | Hacker News Reader

Speaking as a privileged cis straight white male under 40 here, can we at least as a community agree to roast assholes who sexually harass our female compatriots alive? If I ever caught someone I know pulling shit like that, I would make it my personal mission to wreck their reputation and end their career. I realize that's not going to level the playing field completely, but I cannot believe stories like this still come out in 2014.

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Vigilanteism is not the right answer. It turns this problem that happens in the real world to real people into a weapon to be used for dishonest ends by people who know a mere accusation is as good as a conviction.

We all want to live in a world where people are treated professionally.

So, please just step into that world. Expect others to do so as well. Hold those that behave abhorrently to account by all means, but take the high road.

i'm incredibly reluctant to post in threads like this, but I think this attitude is actually hurting diversity in the industry: excessive "chivalry" by males gives more of an illusion of preferential treatment when women stand up to discrimination, which is just more fuel for the gender war fire. women need our support, not our defense. it's fine to be outraged, but your response should not be to go on the offensive.

Attitudes like this are why stories like this still happen in 2014.

Attitudes like what?

If women can't speak up, lest they be further marginalized, and men can't speak up, lest they add more fuel, what can be done?...

(Not that I disagree at all! Serious question.)

You are directly responsible for yourself and anyone you employ. You have some responsibility for the actions of those you do business with insomuch as you can stop doing business with them. Lets start here.

Women and men can, and should, both speak up (or, better, take action). It's not a question of IF, it's a question of when and how.

Speaking up is required and necessary. You have to bring terrible situations to light.

Wrecking people's reputations and careers with mob justice is unacceptable. You must not burn situations with fire.

Maybe. But from my perspective when people are actively destroying communities, companies, or other groups I’m a member of, I tend to take action. And I’d be very disinclined to just skip on action because it could be seen as defending a woman.

However it should be said that so many of these things are dependent on the people involved. I’ve never been accused of/(praised for) acting chivalrous in nearly 40 years on the planet. I suspect I can get away with things that people who open car doors can’t.

However I bet those people have plenty of tools at their disposal to make it clear that they aren’t defending anyone - but rather attacking poor behavior. I say they should act and use those tools, rather than not acting.

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