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HN suffers from this problem, and I have found it increasing over time. Sometimes I am afraid to upvote certain stories or comments as I fear the hidden moderat

HN suffers from this problem, and I have found it increasing over time. Sometimes I am afraid to upvote certain stories or comments as I fear the hidden moderators can see what people are voting on and punish them accordingly. I know that this is irrational but still those feelings creep in. Every time the hate mob takes someone down professionally and the more ridiculous the circumstances the more people self censor. The silent majority is the biggest political and social problem of our time. People forget that far left political movements have been just as bloody and hateful as far right. This stuff is dangerous.

untilHellbanned 11y ago
very important comment. Should get more notice.
siberianbear 11y ago
Actually, as soon as I saw the original post, I wanted to say exactly what you said. (and actually, I didn't because I know that HN is mostly a politically-correct crowd) HN does suffer from leaning to a 'politically correct' narrative. As a technologist, I absolutely love debates about (for instance) whether a startup should adopt Scheme or Haskell as a competitive advantage. But any kind of debate that veers off the liberal politically-correct agenda on HN gets downvoted or hellbanned into oblivion. What you've said is absolutely true: "The silent majority is the biggest political and social problem of our time." HN, despite its enormous contribution to Silicon Valley, is a blue-pill population. Kudos to you for saying it. The emperor wears no clothes.
steve-howard 11y ago
I've never liked appeals to a "silent majority" because it groups everyone who doesn't make their voice heard into a vague group that's assumed to be on the same page. I'm generally silent on these issues, for example, but my stance isn't as simple as "I disagree with those stupid college kids" or "all of you people are so privileged and ignorant." You definitely got at the thrust of the issue, though. I don't really want to present an opinion that's going to trigger an avalanche of hate that might not even relate to what I'm saying. I don't post the vast majority of the comments I start typing.
- ps4fanboy 11y ago
  Sorry I didnt mean to suggest that the silent majority has the same views more that the majority is silent, and I wanted to link that maybe they are silent because of the climate of going after people so aggressively for having the wrong brand (problematic) of views/beliefs. I prefer a society where people can be challenged on their beliefs, when people refuse to have a rational discussion using logic and real facts they are exposing themselves for what they are, hateful.

untilHellbanned 11y ago

very important comment. Should get more notice.

siberianbear 11y ago

Actually, as soon as I saw the original post, I wanted to say exactly what you said. (and actually, I didn't because I know that HN is mostly a politically-correct crowd) HN does suffer from leaning to a 'politically correct' narrative. As a technologist, I absolutely love debates about (for instance) whether a startup should adopt Scheme or Haskell as a competitive advantage. But any kind of debate that veers off the liberal politically-correct agenda on HN gets downvoted or hellbanned into oblivion. What you've said is absolutely true: "The silent majority is the biggest political and social problem of our time." HN, despite its enormous contribution to Silicon Valley, is a blue-pill population. Kudos to you for saying it. The emperor wears no clothes.

steve-howard 11y ago

I've never liked appeals to a "silent majority" because it groups everyone who doesn't make their voice heard into a vague group that's assumed to be on the same page. I'm generally silent on these issues, for example, but my stance isn't as simple as "I disagree with those stupid college kids" or "all of you people are so privileged and ignorant." You definitely got at the thrust of the issue, though. I don't really want to present an opinion that's going to trigger an avalanche of hate that might not even relate to what I'm saying. I don't post the vast majority of the comments I start typing.

ps4fanboy 11y ago
Sorry I didnt mean to suggest that the silent majority has the same views more that the majority is silent, and I wanted to link that maybe they are silent because of the climate of going after people so aggressively for having the wrong brand (problematic) of views/beliefs. I prefer a society where people can be challenged on their beliefs, when people refuse to have a rational discussion using logic and real facts they are exposing themselves for what they are, hateful.