Boston API Jam's "marketing" problem

by

tech ladymafia@techladymafia

9,550 total views

As seen on

It all started when @sqoot announced an "API Jam" on twitter:
Sqoot @sqoot
We're hosting an API Jam at the end of the month in Boston. Sign up now! http://www.sqoot.com/apijam /apijam
Wed, Mar 14 2012 12:28:23
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/sqoot/status/180012516838084608
— Sqoot (@sqoot)Wed, Mar 14 2012 12:28:23
Which originally linked to this.
skitch
·
Mon, Mar 19 2012 10:54:08
The developer community, because it loves both code and realtalk, spoke out and called bullshit.
Pete Karl II @steyblind
@sqoot this API Jam page is incredibly offensive. 'Featuring' women, booze & massages is just the kind of popped-collar BS we need less of.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:23:11
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/steyblind/status/182110038662447104
— Pete Karl II (@steyblind)Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:23:11
Dannel Jurado @DeMarko
Not only do they diss pizza, but also sexist remarks? Shame on you Boston API Jam http://www.rebeccamurphey.com/i/4f68c81fecfb5.png …rphey.com/i/4f68c81fecfb5.png
Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:58:01
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/DeMarko/status/182194304423432192
— Dannel Jurado (@DeMarko)Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:58:01
Kassandra @kassandra_perch
Watching the Boston API Jam go down swiftly in flames of outrage is really bolstering my faith in the developer community as a whole.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:52:57
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/kassandra_perch/status/182193028130275328
— Kassandra (@kassandra_perch)Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:52:57
@Sqoot initially clarified that they, in fact, were just being hilarious.
Boaz Sender @BoazSender
Why is "Women" a feature of your API jam?!: http://sqoot.com/apijam jaWorkBarBostontosqootoot
Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:27:37
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/BoazSender/status/182111156608040960
— Boaz Sender (@BoazSender)Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:27:37
Sqoot @sqoot
just a little humor @BoazSender
Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:33:38
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/sqoot/status/182112671271878656
— Sqoot (@sqoot)Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:33:38
Boaz Sender @BoazSender
It's not funny @sqoot.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 08:08:50
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/BoazSender/status/182121527565758465
— Boaz Sender (@BoazSender)Tue, Mar 20 2012 08:08:50
Then, they Internet-chest-bumped with bros who didn't realize women could attend hacking events to hack, rather than to serve beer. Boom!
Jeff Clark @ClarkleSparkle
@BoazSender @WorkBarBoston @sqoot @jorydotcom Have you ever met a woman? They are def. a perk amongst sausage-fest hacking events.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:33:46
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/ClarkleSparkle/status/182112702506864640
— Jeff Clark (@ClarkleSparkle)Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:33:46
Sqoot @sqoot
boom! @ClarkleSparkle
Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:34:44
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/sqoot/status/182112944795037696
— Sqoot (@sqoot)Tue, Mar 20 2012 07:34:44
So developers started reaching out directly to sponsors:
Pam Selle @pamasaur
Hey @cloudmine, why are (were?) you sponsoring the (sexist) Boston API Jam? https://img.skitch.com/20120320-fmsc5mciy8e7n3nxhakmegxxg9.png …m/201marcweilscMcCorkley3nxhakmegxxg9.png cc @marcweil @mccorkley
Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:24:50
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/pamasaur/status/182185953656451073
— Pam Selle (@pamasaur)Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:24:50
And then sponsors started to bail.
CloudMine @cloudmine
In light of what happened, we cannot support the @sqoot hackathon and are officially pulling our sponsorship.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 13:01:26
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/cloudmine/status/182195164738093056
— CloudMine (@cloudmine)Tue, Mar 20 2012 13:01:26
Apigee @Apigee
We've pulled our sponsorship from the boston api jam, the marketing isn't consistent with our company values.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:18:07
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/Apigee/status/182184261846183936
— Apigee (@Apigee)Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:18:07
heroku @heroku
Heroku will be pulling our sponsorship from the Boston API Jam.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:33:26
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/heroku/status/182188114876440577
— heroku (@heroku)Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:33:26
MongoHQ @mongohq
After discussions with our founders, we are dropping sponsorship of the Boston API Jam. The marketing content does not reflect our values.
Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:47:40
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/mongohq/status/182191699831955456
— MongoHQ (@mongohq)Tue, Mar 20 2012 12:47:40
Some just asked for unspecified "amends." I mean... ok.
WorkBar Coworking @WorkBarBoston
Torqued about the sexist comments on the Boston API Jam. It's not who we are nor what we want to be part of. Pushing @sqoot to make amends
Tue, Mar 20 2012 13:03:15
Reply Retweet Favorite
http://twitter.com/WorkBarBoston/status/182195621493612544
— WorkBar Coworking (@WorkBarBoston)Tue, Mar 20 2012 13:03:15
But, nerds were heartened!

8