Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I have to wonder if you are male.. I'm a transgender woman, and honestly before transitioning I would have thought the same thing. But that's because I was really lacking in perspective. I didn't know what it was like to be a vulnerable, marginalized minority.. and if you've never been vulnerable and marginalized (like women and minorities are), things like this seem like "no big deal" when they actually are in fact a big deal. You've probably never been threatened by someone in a sexual context, so hearing "cock" doesn't have the same effect on you that it has on me.

I've been shocked by the daily harassment and hostility that I have to put up with now. The jokes people make about me that they think are "no big deal". People can be unapologetically terrible, and yes pre-pubescent level harassment happens all the time, even in professional environments. It's just not something that you can understand unless you've been in that position.



Sorry if I gave the impression that I'm downplaying anything here, I'm not trying to. I'm simply trying to understand how "harassment" comes into play by a project having a "funny" name. If someone simply utters the word "Coq" it's hardly harassment, but instead the authors/suggesters of the change seems to indicate that people have been harassed over the projects name, I'm simply looking for understanding and/or examples of that happening.

And yes, if it's important, I'm "part" of a couple of marginalized groups myself, but I'm not sure how that's important here.


Well you're acting like you understand what they're talking about when they say the word harassment when obviously you don't. I don't either, but with all the harassment I experience on a daily basis, I have no trouble imagining situations that would fit the definition of harassment that could come about because of this name. Acting like you understand this whole situation, and the point of view of everyone involved make me surprised to hear that you are a marginalized person.


> you're acting like you understand what they're talking about when they say the word harassment [...] Acting like you understand this whole situation

No, I'm genuinely asking about what they are talking about. I'm literally asking clarifying questions here in order to find out more. I'm not stating how anything is, but merely wonder and want to learn more.

I do experience harassment as well, but not in the form of hearing "Oh, you use Coq so you must be a cock" every day, which is why I ask how the project name can be used as harassment.


How is any woman supposed to specialize in this language without hearing jokes like "oh she's an expert in cock".. The fact that you're trying to assert your point of view over the people who are actually involved in the situation, and chose to use the word harassment, makes me feel like you don't understand these issues as well as you think you do.


> The fact that you're trying to assert your point of view over the people

What? I'm sorry but we're talking way past each other and seem to be having two different conversations here. I'm inquiring about the usage of "harassment" from the authors of the proposed change, and you take it as I'm "asserting my point of view"?

Please do try to spread flame somewhere else but not here. I'm now done trying to explain myself to you.


Why did you immediately jump into questioning the validity of their use of the word harassment? Do you have any reason at all to doubt their claims?


How am I spreading flame? This is something I feel passionate about because these issues affect my life.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: