In general the tech community has gotten a lot softer (online and IRL) over time as the field has become more professional and mainstream. In my experience the

In general the tech community has gotten a lot softer (online and IRL) over time as the field has become more professional and mainstream. In my experience the stereotypical tech jerk with open contempt for everyone - see for example Nick Burns 'your company's computer guy' from late 90s SNL - has been replaced by a friendlier, more diplomatic (but perhaps just as cocky) sort. My experience when I first joined HN (2009) was truly terrible, it left a sour taste in my mouth for a couple of years. If HN were still like that I definitely wouldn't be here. And if my coworkers all behaved like that, I'd probably be in a different field entirely.