Is there a way we can talk about empowering people to say 'no' or 'stop' then that doesn't automatically do what it does right now? Because as much as I'm in favor of the fighting back rhetoric, (see, 90% of my comments on this article), I'm still in that place where it leaves this shadow over those who don't have the…

But that's just it. The 'stand up for yourself' argument becomes self-defeating because not everyone has what it takes to be a fighter at all times, nor do I think we should expect them to be. It says we're okay with these scenarios being so commonplace, that the reaction isn't tackle the structural implications of…

I can't agree that it's the best way, I can just agree we need our environments to be safe enough that it's safe to say. Saying 'no' currently invites danger for many people, which is just the twisted part of the problem.

I posit that advocating for women's rights and safety does not automatically preclude advocating for the many other marginalized groups in need of support. It's just the prime topic relevant to these newsworthy events.

Eh I mean that's definitely part of the solution but I'd chuck in a need to improve Children's media to discourage the seeds for these harassing behaviors, toss in some better training for everyone involved in K-12 in terms of recognizing and dealing with harassment, a general need for our culture to be exceptionally…

I apologize, I think my statement was misleading.

But the cultural problem is that we put all this onus on the victim to be responsible for the perpetrator's actions?

You invoked scientific fact, it is upon you to use your magical google machine that you are typing this on to go Google the studies that back up your claim.

Since I don't know your sex/gender, I can't make assumptions about what kind of harassment you might face, but as the article indicates, there's a huge cultural problem in the industry that women who do speak up against sexual harassment will be fired and ostracized. As much as I'm fond of slaying dragons, I can…

I will gladly (metaphorically) light people on fire if they will stop fucking harassing other people. Mattingly built a great site, but he needed to step down because of his actions. A perfectly toasted marshmellow.

Harassment isn't fucking acceptable. Sexual harassment isn't fucking acceptable. If you've been harassed, that isn't acceptable and it isn't 'the natural order of things.'

No. It's not her job for to make sure Mattingly doesn't talk about his genitals in a professional conversation. Any sexual harassment seminar worth its salt sets some basic lines people shouldn't cross, and the fact that we keep insisting she should have done something is a violation of that basic professional…

You could be a sexless robot and you would still have zero credibility in saying this is being blown out of proportion.

Ah friggin crap. I'm really sorry that happened to you and I hate that what you experienced is as common as Rachel highlights. Hopefully articles like this in places like this are part of the many little beats that can change this.

But how is it not? How when 5 women go to HR and report a guy, and get him fired, and are banned from speaking about it ever again, is it not? How is it not when the #OneReasonWhy hashtag contains so many accounts of developer harassment? How is it not when right now I've got multiple industry contacts telling me…

"People should be a little disturbed by the journalistic approach to the issue" I don't understand how you can't read that as "people should be disturbed by journalism"

How on earth is this dragging the issue out?

Revenge games? Seriously? This is sexual harassment dude. In other professions, you get fired for this and blacklisted from the industry. In school, you get suspended or expelled. The fact that she's afraid to use her real name shows how terrible our industry treats women who speak up against their harassers.

It says everything when it's not just Mercier, but the other women interviewed in this article who have dozens of stories of similar incidents, and some are forbidden to talk about it.

Oh my god this was wonderful.