Hacker News Reader

Sure, that might be good advice, but such absolutism isn't viable as a workplace system. Research into propinquity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propinquity) tells us that romantic relationships are actually quite likely in the workplace. We should develop systems that handle this less-than-ideal(sometimes) behaviors. One of those systems is anti-discrimination law.

There was even another recent HN submission in the same spirit: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4005906

Smoking is forbidden on airplanes. But if someone does smoke, it's better that they have an ashtray available rather than starting a fire by trying to dispose of the ashes improperly.

Never sexually harass people at work. Avoid the ambiguity. You're colleagues. Period.

I work in a place, a small one as a matter of fact, where 3 pair of people met and each went on to either get married, or be engaged to each other.

Or at the very least with people who you report to or who report to you.

It's strange -- people don't seem to harass up the chain of command. I wonder why that is?

People who engage in sexual harassment may not understand office norms, but like everyone else, they have an instinctive understanding of power relationships.