4 ms·

So, would you accept a known racist in your community?

yarou 11y ago
I would accept a demon that worked, rather than an angel that spoke. A person's beliefs have nothing to do with the quality of their work.
- sandofsky 11y ago
  You are an embodiment of tech's diversity problem.
  - yarou 11y ago
    No, I am the embodiment of logic and reason in a world where nepotism reigns. Except the nepotism isn't derived from hereditary privilege or income; it is derived from a particularly virulent philosophy that is not rooted in reality. Also, I am an Indian-American male, second generation. Please don't speak for me when you have no idea how it feels to be a minority in the US. I'm not some mascot you can parade around to make yourself feel justified in your flawed philosophy and ideals.
    - sandofsky 11y ago
      Would you work at a company where your boss doesn't think Indians should be allowed to marry? Despite donating to campaigns to outlaw it, he promises it won't affect your job.
      - yarou 11y ago
        I already work at a company (a "major one" like the Narrator of Fight Club references) where someone like me shouldn't marry a white woman (or even an Asian one for that matter). That doesn't stop me from achieving my goals. [0] [0] http://youtu.be/1QSFQoOL92A http://youtu.be/1QSFQoOL92A
  - dang 11y ago
    > You are an embodiment Personal attacks are not allowed on HN, even if someone's view is wrong.
clocksld 11y ago
Let's flip this question around: If the project owner is a known racist, should they accept a pro-equality person into their project? Are you arguing that people should close off their communities to people with differing opinions, or are you arguing that people should close off their communities to people who you personally disagree with? If it is the former, then you are short-sighted and petty, and if it is the latter, then YOU are what is wrong with the open-source world. One of the major ideas behind the hacker ethic and the open-source collaborative ideal is that ANYONE skilled enough can contribute to projects, get their ideas heard, and improve the community effort. No amount of fascist and self-flagellating political bullying will make your walled-garden alternative a better idea than a truly all-inclusive community. Yes, If a contributor spouts their political opinions on mailing lists or developer forums and derails discussions, then it is obvious that they are having a negative impact on the community. But kicking out a well-behaved and technically adept contributor simply because you don't like their views? By doing that, you have made your project appear FAR worse to potential contributors than accepting contributions from a "known racist" ever could. The REAL "toxic people" in a community are those who try to get skilled and reasonable contributors thrown out because of childish political quibbles.

yarou 11y ago

I would accept a demon that worked, rather than an angel that spoke. A person's beliefs have nothing to do with the quality of their work.

sandofsky 11y ago
You are an embodiment of tech's diversity problem.
- yarou 11y ago
  No, I am the embodiment of logic and reason in a world where nepotism reigns. Except the nepotism isn't derived from hereditary privilege or income; it is derived from a particularly virulent philosophy that is not rooted in reality. Also, I am an Indian-American male, second generation. Please don't speak for me when you have no idea how it feels to be a minority in the US. I'm not some mascot you can parade around to make yourself feel justified in your flawed philosophy and ideals.
  - sandofsky 11y ago
    Would you work at a company where your boss doesn't think Indians should be allowed to marry? Despite donating to campaigns to outlaw it, he promises it won't affect your job.
    - yarou 11y ago
      I already work at a company (a "major one" like the Narrator of Fight Club references) where someone like me shouldn't marry a white woman (or even an Asian one for that matter). That doesn't stop me from achieving my goals. [0] [0] http://youtu.be/1QSFQoOL92A http://youtu.be/1QSFQoOL92A
- dang 11y ago
  > You are an embodiment Personal attacks are not allowed on HN, even if someone's view is wrong.

clocksld 11y ago

Let's flip this question around: If the project owner is a known racist, should they accept a pro-equality person into their project? Are you arguing that people should close off their communities to people with differing opinions, or are you arguing that people should close off their communities to people who you personally disagree with? If it is the former, then you are short-sighted and petty, and if it is the latter, then YOU are what is wrong with the open-source world. One of the major ideas behind the hacker ethic and the open-source collaborative ideal is that ANYONE skilled enough can contribute to projects, get their ideas heard, and improve the community effort. No amount of fascist and self-flagellating political bullying will make your walled-garden alternative a better idea than a truly all-inclusive community. Yes, If a contributor spouts their political opinions on mailing lists or developer forums and derails discussions, then it is obvious that they are having a negative impact on the community. But kicking out a well-behaved and technically adept contributor simply because you don't like their views? By doing that, you have made your project appear FAR worse to potential contributors than accepting contributions from a "known racist" ever could. The REAL "toxic people" in a community are those who try to get skilled and reasonable contributors thrown out because of childish political quibbles.