Comments on: Dave Winer Finds it \”Easier to Read and Point to\” a Man http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/01/dave-winer-finds-it-easier-to-read-and-point-to-a-man/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:36:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paul Lewis http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/01/dave-winer-finds-it-easier-to-read-and-point-to-a-man/comment-page-1/#comment-29484 Paul Lewis Mon, 15 Aug 2005 19:29:15 +0000 #comment-29484 Just like Roger, I tend to roll my eyes at EEOC claims. I prefer less control to more control. Isn't it, after all, a manager's right to hire whomever she/he cares to if it's going to make them comfortable. And, Amy, you hit a sore spot with me when you wrote that you'd heard of someone's compensation "through the grapevine." Revealing information that personal about anyone is wrong and is sometimes grounds for criminal charges. You can't base a claim on information that's illegal to divulge, IMHO. You now work for yourself, which is the way it ought to be if you were uncomfortable or felt stifled in a Corporate environment. For what it's worth, I read Contentious regularly and like it a lot -- and I like you, too, Amy! Keep up the good work! Just like Roger, I tend to roll my eyes at EEOC claims. I prefer less control to more control. Isn’t it, after all, a manager’s right to hire whomever she/he cares to if it’s going to make them comfortable. And, Amy, you hit a sore spot with me when you wrote that you’d heard of someone’s compensation “through the grapevine.” Revealing information that personal about anyone is wrong and is sometimes grounds for criminal charges. You can’t base a claim on information that’s illegal to divulge, IMHO.

You now work for yourself, which is the way it ought to be if you were uncomfortable or felt stifled in a Corporate environment. For what it’s worth, I read Contentious regularly and like it a lot — and I like you, too, Amy! Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/01/dave-winer-finds-it-easier-to-read-and-point-to-a-man/comment-page-1/#comment-28396 Amy Gahran Tue, 02 Aug 2005 03:55:35 +0000 #comment-28396 In this case, the HR department at my former employer responded to the EEOC inquiry on this matter by contending that the fact that my male colleague spoke a second language (which, by the way, never factored into his job duties one whit) justified his higher salary. This response satisfied the EEOC, and that's where it ended. They were unwilling to pursue it further. My US tax dollars at work. - Amy Gahran Editor, CONTENTIOUS In this case, the HR department at my former employer responded to the EEOC inquiry on this matter by contending that the fact that my male colleague spoke a second language (which, by the way, never factored into his job duties one whit) justified his higher salary.

This response satisfied the EEOC, and that’s where it ended. They were unwilling to pursue it further.

My US tax dollars at work.

- Amy Gahran
Editor, CONTENTIOUS

]]> By: Roger Benningfield http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/01/dave-winer-finds-it-easier-to-read-and-point-to-a-man/comment-page-1/#comment-28392 Roger Benningfield Tue, 02 Aug 2005 02:52:50 +0000 #comment-28392 "When I asked him whether a candidate’s actual education, experience, and track record might be more germane to a hiring or pay decision..." IMO, of the items on that list, only the last is really relevant in a promotion scenario. If I'm a harder worker doing a better job, I expect to get a promotion over someone who merely passed a bunch of tests in between bong hits ten years ago. With that said, it seems insane to me that anyone would get paid extra, based solely upon someone's comfort level. I mean, what's the logic? "If I pay her less, maybe she'll learn her lesson and grow a penis for me." Sheesh. I tend to roll my eyes at a lot of EEOC claims that make the news, but it sounds like you had a legit beef... was there a particular reason that it never went anywhere? “When I asked him whether a candidate’s actual education, experience, and track record might be more germane to a hiring or pay decision…”

IMO, of the items on that list, only the last is really relevant in a promotion scenario. If I’m a harder worker doing a better job, I expect to get a promotion over someone who merely passed a bunch of tests in between bong hits ten years ago.

With that said, it seems insane to me that anyone would get paid extra, based solely upon someone’s comfort level. I mean, what’s the logic? “If I pay her less, maybe she’ll learn her lesson and grow a penis for me.” Sheesh.

I tend to roll my eyes at a lot of EEOC claims that make the news, but it sounds like you had a legit beef… was there a particular reason that it never went anywhere?

]]> By: Denise http://www.contentious.com/2005/08/01/dave-winer-finds-it-easier-to-read-and-point-to-a-man/comment-page-1/#comment-28390 Denise Tue, 02 Aug 2005 01:30:05 +0000 #comment-28390 I'd love to hear what Winer says to this. I did link to women's blogher posts today. Scoble at least linked to Nancy White, smart move I believe. I’d love to hear what Winer says to this. I did link to women’s blogher posts
today. Scoble at least linked to Nancy White, smart move I believe.

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