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Not sure if you did this on purpose, but I really appreciated that you didnt mention the problem's name in your comment. You could copy paste this exact commen

Not sure if you did this on purpose, but I really appreciated that you didnt mention the problem's name in your comment. You could copy paste this exact comment into any number of threads and be spot on. Climate change, political division, etc. Personally I think it is like any other bias, or maybe a combination. People are doing it subconsciously, which means it is going to be hard to get them to stop. Confirmation bias kicks in when we see a person of $group acting in a way that confirms our existing beliefs. Also when a person who feels that discrimination is rampant feels they have been discriminated against. Fundamental attribution error might explain why some people feel like they are the victims of intentional malice, rather than a mistake. Self serving bias might explain why members of $group are unwilling to admit that they discriminate against $group2. Or why we dont hear about how $group2 is a minority in other professions. Framing might explain why a story about one person, which might be missing details(such as seniority); is used to demonstrate the problem. Unfortunately this would mean the solution is for everyone to behave rationally...

Mz 10y ago
No, not really doing that particular thing on purpose. Just trying to tread lightly because I seem to be the highest ranked woman on HN and (among other things) I blog about gender issues and how to address it more effectively. So, what I really want to bitch about is a lack of attention for my writing while people focus on this shit, as usual. But I also get tired of the fact that anything I say about gender issues tends to get vastly more attention than anything else I do on HN in a manner that simultaneously belittles me and pigeonholes me. Meanwhile, if I ask a question like this -- which is me, a woman, trying to develop a business idea and stop being a total fucking loser in life -- crickets chirp and no one replies at all because, no, no one wants to actually do anything constructive at all about such problems: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14000346 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14000346 (Throws hands up in air. Grumpily stomps off.)
- ahartman00 10y ago
  Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I have been to your blog more than a few times. But people like their buttons pushed :(
  - Mz 10y ago
    Eh, that's true, but it's also a little more complicated than that. But, thank you.
- random_comment 10y ago
  Hello Mv, I don't know anything about you or your history here, so I can only comment on what I see in front of me. I hope you will treat this post as well-intended, even if you do not initially react to the content with a feeling of enjoyment. I'm going to try to address your long term sense of happiness and ability to participate positively on HN. > So, what I really want to bitch about is a lack of attention for my writing ... There's no easy way to say this, but none of us are entitled to any attention or feedback whatsoever, here or anywhere, regardless of gender or regardless of how good our ideas/code/writing are. > anything I say about gender issues tends to get vastly more attention than anything else I do on HN in a manner that simultaneously belittles me and pigeonholes me. I know plenty of people who post great projects on here who get no attention for it at all. Sometimes, worse, unfortunately, they even get needlessly unkind horrible criticism. Not getting much feedback on some of your work doesn't belittle you in any way whatsoever. Nor does it suggest people are 'focussed' on other things. No one is so privileged that they are entitled to any feedback at all in a volunteer community. Not you, not Linus Torvalds, not anyone. This is true regardless of gender, regardless of ability, regardless of perceived standing in a community. I suggest stepping back and adjusting your sense of perspective so that you appreciate what you are getting and feel appropriately grateful for it. You are already getting far more than many people get. Hang out on 'new' for a week or two and see how many people get no feedback whatsoever. Most people on HN, regardless of gender, would be delighted to be getting as much feedback and interaction as you already claim to receive. Here are some articles that discuss the link between a sense of entitlement / superiority, and subsequent disappointment. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160913134442.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160913134442.h... http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/09/29/Entitled-people-may-be-pursuing-an-unhappy-path-study-shows/2601475191947/ http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/09/29/Entitled-people-ma... http://thepowerofthrift.com/the-enemy-of-happiness-is-entitlement/ http://thepowerofthrift.com/the-enemy-of-happiness-is-entitl... All of your unhappiness about what you are getting from this volunteer community ('grumpily', 'bitch about', 'belittles') is imposed on you by yourself, not by others. You may also find it interesting to study stoicism. https://janifranck.co.uk/on-entitlement-and-the-stoics/ https://janifranck.co.uk/on-entitlement-and-the-stoics/ Here's a line from that article which in my view (as an uninvolved person) mirrors certain aspects of your post above. "‘I am special, I deserve special treatment, I am ENTITLED to be treated well, dammit!’" > Meanwhile, if I ask a question like this -- which is me, a woman, trying to develop a business idea and stop being a total fucking loser in life -- crickets chirp and no one replies at all because, no, no one wants to actually do anything constructive at all about such problems: Reading this, I have to wonder if you are aware that your gender is totally irrelevant, when the topic at hand is not gender-related and we are interacting through text? If you feel you are a loser in life, stop to consider all that you have and have achieved. Probably about 95% of people on the planet would trade places with you in a moment. Why do you think that is? I wish you happiness for the future.

Mz 10y ago

No, not really doing that particular thing on purpose. Just trying to tread lightly because I seem to be the highest ranked woman on HN and (among other things) I blog about gender issues and how to address it more effectively. So, what I really want to bitch about is a lack of attention for my writing while people focus on this shit, as usual. But I also get tired of the fact that anything I say about gender issues tends to get vastly more attention than anything else I do on HN in a manner that simultaneously belittles me and pigeonholes me. Meanwhile, if I ask a question like this -- which is me, a woman, trying to develop a business idea and stop being a total fucking loser in life -- crickets chirp and no one replies at all because, no, no one wants to actually do anything constructive at all about such problems: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14000346 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14000346 (Throws hands up in air. Grumpily stomps off.)

ahartman00 10y ago
Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I have been to your blog more than a few times. But people like their buttons pushed :(
- Mz 10y ago
  Eh, that's true, but it's also a little more complicated than that. But, thank you.
random_comment 10y ago
Hello Mv, I don't know anything about you or your history here, so I can only comment on what I see in front of me. I hope you will treat this post as well-intended, even if you do not initially react to the content with a feeling of enjoyment. I'm going to try to address your long term sense of happiness and ability to participate positively on HN. > So, what I really want to bitch about is a lack of attention for my writing ... There's no easy way to say this, but none of us are entitled to any attention or feedback whatsoever, here or anywhere, regardless of gender or regardless of how good our ideas/code/writing are. > anything I say about gender issues tends to get vastly more attention than anything else I do on HN in a manner that simultaneously belittles me and pigeonholes me. I know plenty of people who post great projects on here who get no attention for it at all. Sometimes, worse, unfortunately, they even get needlessly unkind horrible criticism. Not getting much feedback on some of your work doesn't belittle you in any way whatsoever. Nor does it suggest people are 'focussed' on other things. No one is so privileged that they are entitled to any feedback at all in a volunteer community. Not you, not Linus Torvalds, not anyone. This is true regardless of gender, regardless of ability, regardless of perceived standing in a community. I suggest stepping back and adjusting your sense of perspective so that you appreciate what you are getting and feel appropriately grateful for it. You are already getting far more than many people get. Hang out on 'new' for a week or two and see how many people get no feedback whatsoever. Most people on HN, regardless of gender, would be delighted to be getting as much feedback and interaction as you already claim to receive. Here are some articles that discuss the link between a sense of entitlement / superiority, and subsequent disappointment. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160913134442.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160913134442.h... http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/09/29/Entitled-people-may-be-pursuing-an-unhappy-path-study-shows/2601475191947/ http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/09/29/Entitled-people-ma... http://thepowerofthrift.com/the-enemy-of-happiness-is-entitlement/ http://thepowerofthrift.com/the-enemy-of-happiness-is-entitl... All of your unhappiness about what you are getting from this volunteer community ('grumpily', 'bitch about', 'belittles') is imposed on you by yourself, not by others. You may also find it interesting to study stoicism. https://janifranck.co.uk/on-entitlement-and-the-stoics/ https://janifranck.co.uk/on-entitlement-and-the-stoics/ Here's a line from that article which in my view (as an uninvolved person) mirrors certain aspects of your post above. "‘I am special, I deserve special treatment, I am ENTITLED to be treated well, dammit!’" > Meanwhile, if I ask a question like this -- which is me, a woman, trying to develop a business idea and stop being a total fucking loser in life -- crickets chirp and no one replies at all because, no, no one wants to actually do anything constructive at all about such problems: Reading this, I have to wonder if you are aware that your gender is totally irrelevant, when the topic at hand is not gender-related and we are interacting through text? If you feel you are a loser in life, stop to consider all that you have and have achieved. Probably about 95% of people on the planet would trade places with you in a moment. Why do you think that is? I wish you happiness for the future.