I was on a train recently with a fellow member of the new york tech community (who we’ll call Steve to protect the innocent) talking about engineers (as one does).  Several names came up of people that I knew who were close with the other person.

Me: “I love those guys! Please tell them I say hello.”

Steve: “How do you know them?”

Me: “I don’t know, I met them at NY Tech Meetup or something. I was trying to hire one of them. We grab lunch or beers every now and again.”

Steve: “Well, you know the only reason they hang out with you is because you’re a girl.”

Me: shocked (thought: is he fucking serious?)

Me: (politely) “Actually, I’m pretty sure they hang out with me is because I’m fun to hang out with.  And I’d be fun to hang out with if I was a guy too.”

What I should have said: “Hey dude, judging by our conversation, doubt they’re hanging out with you for your personality either!”

Ouch.  Tech sucks like that sometimes.