She was treated like she was the only girl in the world – because in this situation, she was.
A woman who attended a hackathon has divided the internet after revealing she was given a handwritten note at the event by one of the other participants.
The note, written on a Post-It note, read: ‘Hey! I think you’re REALLY cute… and I love those two braids in the back of your hair.’
It continued: ‘Let me take you out sometimes. I’d love a lesson from you on how to hack. Lol.’
The note was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the woman’s friend, Rona Wang, a compiler engineer from California.
The note spurred a divisive response, with some slamming Rona for posting the note in the first place, while others thought it illustrated what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated industry – particularly tech.
‘Does she actually know what this man looks like, or is he a mystery person? Other than that, I like it,’ one user responded.
They continued: ‘Giving a girl your number instead of asking for hers seems like a great way to put the choice in her hands without putting pressure on her.’
Another slammed Rona for sharing the note.
‘”Why aren’t men romantic? Why did men stop making the first move?” This. Every little thing can be plastered all over the internet so they can be mocked mercilessly. Extremely unhealthy,’ declared a user.
‘Girl delete this. This is literally such a sweet way to shoot his shot and you exposing his little love note will discourage him and others to ever attempt something like this again,’ another urged. ‘This is why romance is dyingggg.’
‘You’re the problem tbh. The note seems perfectly fine but your impulse to plaster it on social media isn’t,’ another snarked.
‘If she didn’t see his face then this is untrustworthy and strange — you cannot trust an anonymous note with a phone number attached,’ one user argued back.
They continued: ‘If he handed her the note in person, then it’s a little shy but admirable/normal and doesn’t deserve ridicule.’
Following the immense backlash, Rona told Newsweek: ‘My intent was not to belittle those who display vulnerability by asking someone out in this way, but to highlight that receiving unsolicited attention when you are the only woman in the room it can be extremely uncomfortable.’
Notes are often divisive when used to ask someone on a date – or in the case of one woman, end a date.
Last week, a woman, known as Lindsay, shared her story to TikTok, revealing she was handed a note that read ‘JUST NO,’ in big, bold letters by two women sitting nearby.
‘What does it mean?’ she asked, holding up a picture of the note in the clip.
Lindsay, who is based in the Dallas Fort Worth area in Texas, explained she had been given the note by fellow guests sitting at a nearby table on January 20.
In a separate video she revealed the full note, which read: ‘Just no. You can do better.’
In a series of follow-up clips, Lindsay, who is in her 40s, explained the situation, adding that she was feeling conflicted as things were going well with the man, who is in his early 50s.
In yet another upload, Lindsay said she eventually asked her date about the note, which he responded to with a string of drunk messages.
She added it tainted her opinion of him, especially as he claimed not to remember them due to drinking and it had happened before, which led Lindsey to not want to pursue a relationship.
