Ellen Pao, interim CEO at Reddit, fired a director. The director was popular. Certain Reddit users felt entitled to better communication about the firing. Though I've never heard of a CEO having to seek approval from customers for hiring and firing decisions, perhaps Reddit, a community forum, works differently. Regardless, Pao went on to apologize and promised better communication with Reddit moderators/users.

However, that was not enough. Disgruntled Reddit users first shut down public access to parts of the site (before the apology, I believe), and then a petition was started here on Change.org to have her FIRED.

Fired, for not telling the site's users/moderators she was letting an employee go? No. The more likely reason for this petition against Pao, is the long-simmering beef her detractors have with her: censorship on Reddit. This "censorship" refers to Pao's efforts to clean up the cesspits of fat-shaming, misogyny, and racism that pollute Reddit. The same kind of trolling problem Twitter is trying to address. But for her efforts, Pao is frequently referred to on the site by the c-word (pejorative for female genitalia), "Chairman Pao" etc. You can see the c-word making its appearance among the comments of the Change.org petition to have her fired as well.

Perhaps these good folks are just doing a cut-&-paste from their gamergate trolling. After all, that too was a lame attempt at passing off hate as a petition for "free speech." 

Ellen Pao's efforts in the tech space against bigotry/trolling - and for gender equality (see her "no pay negotiations" initiative) - have repercussions beyond the world of Reddit. As does the campaign to fire her. If Reddit gives in to the misogynistic bullies, fires Ellen Pao, and then tacks on the usual "for performance reasons" ... Reddit, you will be reinforcing a specious narrative frustratingly familiar to women in tech.  

I support Ellen Pao. If you do too, please sign, and ask Reddit to stand with her - and be on the right side of our times.