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Man who criticized Susan Fowler’s Uber claims changes his tune once he actually reads her blog
If only all of Twitter was this civil.
Rarely do you come across a heated, politicized Twitter exchange between strangers and scroll away thinking, “What a logical, civilized exchange that was.”
Which is why this unicorn of a conversation between former Uber engineer Susan Fowler and a random critic seems all the more relieving—finally, an exchange where both people walk away amicably.
The conversation, pointed out by Guardian technology writer Alex Hern as being “an unexpected turn of events,” took place Thursday night after Fowler tweeted a Bloomberg Business story featuring her efforts to get the U.S. Supreme Court to consider her sexual harassment claims against Uber while deciding to what extent employers can contractually stop workers from pursing class-action lawsuits over work conditions.
In February Fowler disrupted the startup herself with a blog post alleging sexual harassment from a former manager, as well as inaction from HR for her claims, and the daily aggression she faced as a female employee.
That was an unexpected turn of events pic.twitter.com/mhEr5uxWqR
— Alex Hern (@alexhern) August 24, 2017
Nice writeup by Bloomberg https://t.co/jMnWqStpvC
— Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 24, 2017
After Fowler shared the original article, a user by the name of @contratastic, shamed her claims and her push toward the Supreme Court, writing, “She destroyed millions of dollars worth of shareholder value already, but hell hath no fury like a feminist scorned and she is going again.”
Awkwardly, Fowler clarified to the user, “Lol she is me, mah friend.”
Nice writeup by Bloomberg https://t.co/jMnWqStpvC
— Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 24, 2017
She destroyed millions of dollars worth of shareholder value already, but hell hath no fury like a feminist scorned and she is going again.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Instead of getting combative, Contratastic instead said he was going to read her blog post—which, c’mon, he should have done before criticizing her. But, at least he made some sort of goodwill effort to better understand her claims, and without being coaxed into doing it, too. And what do you know, after he read her blog, he realized just how shitty her situation was.
Am going to go read your memo, I never actually did but its gotta be good!
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Oh jeez your ex manager was a shitbag, open relationship, urgh.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Right? Such a mess.
— Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 24, 2017
Even when Contratastic said he didn’t think there was anything “feminist about any of this,” and Fowler believed he meant about her actions instead of the companies, she explained how equal workplace treatment seemed like “the best kind of feminist” to her. He even drew upon an example in her post—that her entire team received personalized leather jackets except for her, the woman—to express his disagreement with Uber.
Jesus sweet Mary mother of Joseph woman, I wish I had read this sooner, there is nothing feminist about any of this.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Am never going to say anything negative about your current actions again, you have my support, thats a really well written post.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Idk, I think it's the best kind of feminist! Being a feminist is a lot about sticking up for equal workplace treatment of men and women.
— Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 24, 2017
I stand corrected, I meant to say that there is nothing third wave about your blog post, I agree traditional feminism is a good thing.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
The most pathetic part is the leather jackets, its a symptom of a deeper rooted problem for sure, the fact nobody made sure you got them.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Yep—the most optimistic Twitter exchange in the world ended with well wishes and genuine thanks.
Its a sorry story for sure, good luck at the Supreme.
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 24, 2017
Thanks!
— Susan J. Fowler (@susanthesquark) August 24, 2017
He even continued to tweet about her on his own—how weirdly kind for a Twitter exchange of this nature.
This is what happens when you tweet at @susanthesquark, non stop notifications for the next 24 hours, she has a lot of people who love her! pic.twitter.com/gJOYbPlnsQ
— CONTЯATASTIC (@contratastic) August 25, 2017
Just goes to show Twitter isn’t just edgelords who are shit-posting meaningless distractions into the void.
H/T alexhern/Twitter

Samantha Grasso
Samantha Grasso is a former IRL staff writer for the Daily Dot with a reporting emphasis on immigration. Her work has appeared on Los Angeles Magazine, Death And Taxes, Revelist, Texts From Last Night, Austin Monthly, and she has previously contributed to Texas Monthly.