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What is a "SF tech bro"? In this context it seems to be intended as some kind of slur, or there is at least some negative connotation here. It's a man who work

What is a "SF tech bro"? In this context it seems to be intended as some kind of slur, or there is at least some negative connotation here. It's a man who works in tech who... what exactly?

jmorphy88 11y ago
It means a non-"progressive" White male who works in technology.
- randomname2 11y ago
  That does sound like what it means. The behavior of the "tech bro" in question is certainly offensive and insensitive, however using terms that bigoted in a headline (shaming a minority group in "tech" for holding different political views) is something one would expect websites on both extremes of the political spectrum to engage in (Vox, Breitbart, ...) rather than the Washington Post, and it's a bit sad to see them resort to such outrageousness. It's also disappointing to see HN moderators be OK with headlines like this.
  - danso 11y ago
    I agree with that. I'm fine with this story being posted and discussed, but using a slur -- even if doesn't really seem to hurt anyone with "power" -- often leads to cheapening of the discussion. Referring to the blogger as a "SF tech entrepreneur" gets the point across...and people can slap on their own connotations with that term as they please.
mikeash 11y ago
"Bro" has become a generic term for a young man with an inflated sense of self worth, a low opinion of others, a macho attitude, and a loud voice. Think of a stereotypical fraternity member.
- tomjen3 11y ago
  Somehow that does _not_ describe most young geeks that I have known. How did we simultaneously come to be known as unable to look strangers in the eye _and_ have an inflated sense of self worth?
  - mikeash 11y ago
    I don't understand your comment. Most geeks are not "bros." As you say, most of us don't fit the "bro" profile. There's no conflict here, there's just different names for different groups of people.
  - rudolf0 11y ago
    It's a sub-category of "Silicon Valley programmer/entrepreneur/founder". Awkward geek is one sub-category, "brogrammer" or "tech bro" is another sub-category. They're separate stereotypes for the same career. I think there are far more geeks in Silicon Valley than there are "tech bros", but the bros certainly exist.
forgottenpass 11y ago
What is a "SF tech bro"? It's a scapegoat boogieman. A tool of techies in SF to manage their cognitive dissonance. There are things everyone else in the city hates the startup/tech scene at large for. There are also people progressives hate for their not-progressive-enough views, and some of them have the gall to work in tech. When either of those (or any other number of criticisms) are stereotypically "bro" (or close enough), the people within startups/tech can blame it on the "tech bros." It is meant as a slur. But bros are just a convenient and useful stereotype to blame. If it wasn't them, it'd be something else. "Tech bros" just happens to be OK to openly deride, because the identity has no social power within "tech" (whatever that means).
- carapace 11y ago
  Co-worker of mine, actual quote: "Yeah, I know there's a pay disparity, and women are paid less than men. But really, socially, they have all the power." THAT, my friend is a "tech bro" and he's in SF.
  - forgottenpass 11y ago
    Does he even lift? Maybe he's a neckbeard instead for having that view. I mean, as long as we're throwing sterotypes around, maybe that one fits better.
    - carapace 11y ago
      He's from Chicago. He's already had a car window busted by a (punk-ass) angry cyclist. He's actually a good guy, there's nothing wrong with him. But yeah, from my POV he's "right out of the stereotype catalog". The vast majority of people are basically doing their best, but they (we, I) have a really hard time getting outside their own head.
theorique 11y ago
"tech bro" is like the n-word for a software engineer. It's demeaning, dehumanizing, and offensive. The writer needs to pick a less offensive word to describe precisely what he means.
- sp332 11y ago
  You're being really fragile about this. A "bro" is someone who's out of touch, not a sub-human creature. If this person doesn't want to be called bad names, they should stop being bad things.
  - nvader 11y ago
    Consider the analogy raised by the parent, reapply your advice, and it should make you cringe.
    - sp332 11y ago
      Gee, I didn't realize tech bros had their civil and human rights trampled. "Tech bro" is nothing like the n-word. The accusation is that they're inhumane, not sub-human. The guy in the article is in favor of maintaining a displaced subclass for the good of the economy, and using force to keep them quiet. He's closer to a slavery apologist than a slave.
JibberMeTimbers 11y ago
They tried to answer this in the article. It looks like it's referring to the general young tech entrepreneur/wantrepreneur who moves to SF to try and make it big. -Obscure startup -Worships tech people who made it big -Fond of quotes from leaders in technology -General enthusiasm for tech/robots/etc and hobbies
flog 11y ago
It's the acceptable-because-it's-male-and-white version of "blond bimbo"

What is a "SF tech bro"? In this context it seems to be intended as some kind of slur, or there is at least some negative connotation here. It's a man who works in tech who... what exactly?

jmorphy88 11y ago

It means a non-"progressive" White male who works in technology.

randomname2 11y ago
That does sound like what it means. The behavior of the "tech bro" in question is certainly offensive and insensitive, however using terms that bigoted in a headline (shaming a minority group in "tech" for holding different political views) is something one would expect websites on both extremes of the political spectrum to engage in (Vox, Breitbart, ...) rather than the Washington Post, and it's a bit sad to see them resort to such outrageousness. It's also disappointing to see HN moderators be OK with headlines like this.
- danso 11y ago
  I agree with that. I'm fine with this story being posted and discussed, but using a slur -- even if doesn't really seem to hurt anyone with "power" -- often leads to cheapening of the discussion. Referring to the blogger as a "SF tech entrepreneur" gets the point across...and people can slap on their own connotations with that term as they please.

mikeash 11y ago

"Bro" has become a generic term for a young man with an inflated sense of self worth, a low opinion of others, a macho attitude, and a loud voice. Think of a stereotypical fraternity member.

tomjen3 11y ago
Somehow that does _not_ describe most young geeks that I have known. How did we simultaneously come to be known as unable to look strangers in the eye _and_ have an inflated sense of self worth?
- mikeash 11y ago
  I don't understand your comment. Most geeks are not "bros." As you say, most of us don't fit the "bro" profile. There's no conflict here, there's just different names for different groups of people.
- rudolf0 11y ago
  It's a sub-category of "Silicon Valley programmer/entrepreneur/founder". Awkward geek is one sub-category, "brogrammer" or "tech bro" is another sub-category. They're separate stereotypes for the same career. I think there are far more geeks in Silicon Valley than there are "tech bros", but the bros certainly exist.

forgottenpass 11y ago

What is a "SF tech bro"? It's a scapegoat boogieman. A tool of techies in SF to manage their cognitive dissonance. There are things everyone else in the city hates the startup/tech scene at large for. There are also people progressives hate for their not-progressive-enough views, and some of them have the gall to work in tech. When either of those (or any other number of criticisms) are stereotypically "bro" (or close enough), the people within startups/tech can blame it on the "tech bros." It is meant as a slur. But bros are just a convenient and useful stereotype to blame. If it wasn't them, it'd be something else. "Tech bros" just happens to be OK to openly deride, because the identity has no social power within "tech" (whatever that means).

carapace 11y ago
Co-worker of mine, actual quote: "Yeah, I know there's a pay disparity, and women are paid less than men. But really, socially, they have all the power." THAT, my friend is a "tech bro" and he's in SF.
- forgottenpass 11y ago
  Does he even lift? Maybe he's a neckbeard instead for having that view. I mean, as long as we're throwing sterotypes around, maybe that one fits better.
  - carapace 11y ago
    He's from Chicago. He's already had a car window busted by a (punk-ass) angry cyclist. He's actually a good guy, there's nothing wrong with him. But yeah, from my POV he's "right out of the stereotype catalog". The vast majority of people are basically doing their best, but they (we, I) have a really hard time getting outside their own head.

theorique 11y ago

"tech bro" is like the n-word for a software engineer. It's demeaning, dehumanizing, and offensive. The writer needs to pick a less offensive word to describe precisely what he means.

sp332 11y ago
You're being really fragile about this. A "bro" is someone who's out of touch, not a sub-human creature. If this person doesn't want to be called bad names, they should stop being bad things.
- nvader 11y ago
  Consider the analogy raised by the parent, reapply your advice, and it should make you cringe.
  - sp332 11y ago
    Gee, I didn't realize tech bros had their civil and human rights trampled. "Tech bro" is nothing like the n-word. The accusation is that they're inhumane, not sub-human. The guy in the article is in favor of maintaining a displaced subclass for the good of the economy, and using force to keep them quiet. He's closer to a slavery apologist than a slave.

JibberMeTimbers 11y ago

They tried to answer this in the article. It looks like it's referring to the general young tech entrepreneur/wantrepreneur who moves to SF to try and make it big. -Obscure startup -Worships tech people who made it big -Fond of quotes from leaders in technology -General enthusiasm for tech/robots/etc and hobbies

flog 11y ago

It's the acceptable-because-it's-male-and-white version of "blond bimbo"