This was a very disturbing incident, and I can only hope that it was an isolated incident and not indicative of a larger trend in the startup industry. The demographics are skewed enough as it is when it comes to this industry.
I don't feel that this is a recurring issue in the startup industry. However based on my past work experience, this is definitely not an isolated incident for the video game industry. The only difference between different companies is how they handle it when it arises.
I do remember when working at one of the big three video game publishers:
1) HR and managers would repeatedly educate both new workers and existing employees on both racial discrimination and sexual harassment on a semi-quarterly basis.
2) HR would give anonymous surveys regarding workplace environment every quarter.
Regarding the last item, at my last stint at a gaming company; a co-worker reported a case of racial discrimination and it was handled promptly and professionally. There was no time for anyone to blog about the subject. I'm going to agree with other people, HR wasn't doing their job effectively.
How often and how likely are you, yourself, likely to be a target of racist language? And how keyed into the more subtle forms of racism are you? I mean these as serious questions, not rhetorically.
The thing is, you have to be really careful about selection bias and confirmation bias, here. This example happened to be one of the most egregious examples, the easiest to spot. A lot of the more subtle cues will fly right over your head, especially since a lot of behavior with racist over- or undertones is not something white people are exposed to or experience. (I include myself in this statement.)
Granted, I am assuming you are white, chiefly based on the demographics of HN and the tech community in general.
> How often and how likely are you, yourself, likely to be a target of racist language?
I'm not white, but I'm still extremely not likely to be a target of racist language. In most tech offices, they try to do a good job to avoid unnecessary lawsuits that can cost in the millions. I also feel that tech offices tend to have more educated people on a whole, which massively helps.
> And how keyed into the more subtle forms of racism are you?
I'm aware. "subtle cues" do not "fly right over" my head
> I'm aware. "subtle cues" do not "fly right over" my head
Fair enough. On the basis of the previous threads on this topic, it seems to me, at least, that most HNers who bothered to comment didn't or don't get it.
I wonder how much of that is due to the racist, sexist, and anti-gay speech that's endemic to online gaming? Do people take that as setting the tone for the industry?
Actually, when I think about it, it seems to me that I see less such speech in online games than I did even just a couple of years ago. Maybe I'm just playing different games from that crowd now.
> Do people take that as setting the tone for the industry?
It's just the same juvenile idiots both online and in the office. Videogame companies tend to attract both the most talented engineers as well as a lot of juvenile idiots. A good HR dept helps mitigate these problems. A video game company without one is either really small or really inexperienced and new.
If the practice was as widespread as it seemed to be, and management was aware of it but did not stop it, then the resulting lawsuits could destroy the company.
Company management has an affirmative requirement to stop workplace harassment under California law. Race and sexual preference are both protected categories under California law. I was amazed at the stupidity of the management (assuming the post was factual).
Here's hoping that all those who were involved were given due process and handled fairly with the matter being thoroughly investigated by management, rather than being thoughtlessly fired to appease the masses or to be cannon fodder in the lawsuit brought on against kixeye.
This is completely regardless of the case at hand, mind. I expect companies to act responsibly towards all employees.
