I think this issue has been so inflammatory because it covers a lot of sensitive topics.
- Women in one of the last male dominated tech fields
- Privacy between two people having a conversation
- The ramifications stories can have in todays twitter world (i.e. getting fired over hearsay)
There are so many issues one could discuss its difficult to know where to start. On one hand no one really knows exactly what joke was said except for those three individuals involved. At the same time while innocent until proven guilty, no one wants to be painted as unsympathetic to womens plight against sexism in the tech field.
Then there is the issue about whether its acceptable to assume there is a right not to be offended. One persons dongle joke is another person 'trigger'. Is it understandable that some individuals feel threatened by the heavy handed consequences that can come with what is assumed (rightly or wrongly) to be general conference chit chat.
Why is it that as a Muslim I have no right to be offended when people make jokes or down right derogatory comments about Islam (which are protected by the oft affirmed free speech shield) yet this person was allowed to be offended and seek retribution for a comment that she heard.
Note that "free speech" is aimed at the government restricting your speech. Individuals and private venues are not required to provide free speech. (In your home, your newspaper, your website or your hotel you can restrict speech in any way you want.)
> ... yet this person was allowed to be offended and seek retribution for a comment that she heard.
The conference had a clear well thought out policy which they followed. Someone making derogatory comments about religion (yours or anyone elses) would also have been relevant to the code of conduct. Note they want the conference to be for everyone and encourage contacting staff. I have yet to see anyone faulting pycon. https://us.pycon.org/2013/about/code-of-conduct/
Generally everyone has the right to be offended for any reason. The issue is what they can expect others to do about it. You would have every right to kick people out of your house, the supermarket could use their own discretion and pulling Fox News from the air would be a dangerous precedent. On the whole I think the US is better off because of free speech, but like with things that can be used for good it can also be used for bad.
No one has a "right" not to be offended insofar as such would trump any right to freedom of speech. That said, any company under the current circumstances has a "right" to fire an employee who might afford them negative attention one way or the other, and certainly under the conditions of sexual harassment.
Please note, I am not saying that I agree the company should have done so, merely that they likely have the right.
reminds me of a quote... 'It's now very common to hear people say, "I'm rather offended by that", as if that gives them certain rights. It's no more than a whine. It has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. "I'm offended by that." Well, so fucking what?' —Stephen Fry
- Women in one of the last male dominated tech fields - Privacy between two people having a conversation - The ramifications stories can have in todays twitter world (i.e. getting fired over hearsay)
There are so many issues one could discuss its difficult to know where to start. On one hand no one really knows exactly what joke was said except for those three individuals involved. At the same time while innocent until proven guilty, no one wants to be painted as unsympathetic to womens plight against sexism in the tech field.
Then there is the issue about whether its acceptable to assume there is a right not to be offended. One persons dongle joke is another person 'trigger'. Is it understandable that some individuals feel threatened by the heavy handed consequences that can come with what is assumed (rightly or wrongly) to be general conference chit chat.
Why is it that as a Muslim I have no right to be offended when people make jokes or down right derogatory comments about Islam (which are protected by the oft affirmed free speech shield) yet this person was allowed to be offended and seek retribution for a comment that she heard.
It's an interesting situation thats for sure.