5 ms·

> because if I learned anything, anything you say can and most likely probably will be used against you. Even right now, writing on a niche message board using

> because if I learned anything, anything you say can and most likely probably will be used against you. Even right now, writing on a niche message board using a fake name, I'm hesitant to voice my honest opinions about anything related to race or gender or other topic like that. it's like there's an army of internet people waiting for you to mess up and will punish you with controversy and/or honestly try and get you fired.

andrewmutz 9y ago
I agree 100%. There is no serious dialog on complex issues like this, because if something you say gets misunderstood, your career is in jeopardy.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- Dove 9y ago
  That's a great loss. Freedom and rights are wonderful things. But as I see them used to justify censorship, I can't help but think that's exactly what's happening: they're being used. I don't know about you, but I rather resent being used, and I won't have it. We need our serious dialogue. We are undertaking a revolutionary project, realigning the way the sexes relate. The changes of the last century have been enormous. It is arrogance and folly to think that the monotone wisdom of one political perspective is all we need to guide us through such a storm. We need diversity and respect for opposing opinions. We need to gather wisdom from all experiences and backgrounds, and build something excellent.
scruple 9y ago
Absolutely. 9/10 of the comments that I write on HN never see the light of day. And not just on HN, but pretty much every social media platform I engage with. I don't feel like I have anything particularly controversial, inflammatory, or offensive to say. But, I so strongly don't want to be perceived that way that I just opt-out most of the time.
- mpweiher 9y ago
  "Ask your doctor if Fukitol® is right for you" ;-)
- lostPixels 9y ago
  Which is a shame because often the most polarized commentary is the only thing left in online discourse. There's obviously a silent majority who isn't either an "alt-right nazi" or a "feminazi" etc. but doesn't speak up because they're afraid of being branded as one.
mpweiher 9y ago
Does this ring a bell? "...so I thought the talk was well received. But then the discussion began, and it was the most unremittingly hostile questioning I’ve ever had. I don’t mind when people ask hard or critical questions, but I was surprised that I had misread the audience so thoroughly. My talk had little to do with gender, but the second question was “So you think rape is OK?” [..] After the first dozen questions I noticed that not a single questioner was male." https://heterodoxacademy.org/2015/11/24/the-yale-problem-begins-in-high-school/ https://heterodoxacademy.org/2015/11/24/the-yale-problem-beg...
jd75 9y ago
> it's like there's an army of internet people waiting for you to mess up and will punish you with controversy and/or honestly try and get you fired. It sounds like you can relate to existing as a person who is different in tech, then.
- abiox 9y ago
  seems unclear that being `different in tech` implies that `people [are] waiting for you to mess up and will punish you with controversy and/or honestly try and get you fired`.

andrewmutz 9y ago

I agree 100%. There is no serious dialog on complex issues like this, because if something you say gets misunderstood, your career is in jeopardy.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
Dove 9y ago
That's a great loss. Freedom and rights are wonderful things. But as I see them used to justify censorship, I can't help but think that's exactly what's happening: they're being used. I don't know about you, but I rather resent being used, and I won't have it. We need our serious dialogue. We are undertaking a revolutionary project, realigning the way the sexes relate. The changes of the last century have been enormous. It is arrogance and folly to think that the monotone wisdom of one political perspective is all we need to guide us through such a storm. We need diversity and respect for opposing opinions. We need to gather wisdom from all experiences and backgrounds, and build something excellent.

scruple 9y ago

Absolutely. 9/10 of the comments that I write on HN never see the light of day. And not just on HN, but pretty much every social media platform I engage with. I don't feel like I have anything particularly controversial, inflammatory, or offensive to say. But, I so strongly don't want to be perceived that way that I just opt-out most of the time.

mpweiher 9y ago
"Ask your doctor if Fukitol® is right for you" ;-)
lostPixels 9y ago
Which is a shame because often the most polarized commentary is the only thing left in online discourse. There's obviously a silent majority who isn't either an "alt-right nazi" or a "feminazi" etc. but doesn't speak up because they're afraid of being branded as one.

mpweiher 9y ago

Does this ring a bell? "...so I thought the talk was well received. But then the discussion began, and it was the most unremittingly hostile questioning I’ve ever had. I don’t mind when people ask hard or critical questions, but I was surprised that I had misread the audience so thoroughly. My talk had little to do with gender, but the second question was “So you think rape is OK?” [..] After the first dozen questions I noticed that not a single questioner was male." https://heterodoxacademy.org/2015/11/24/the-yale-problem-begins-in-high-school/ https://heterodoxacademy.org/2015/11/24/the-yale-problem-beg...

jd75 9y ago

> it's like there's an army of internet people waiting for you to mess up and will punish you with controversy and/or honestly try and get you fired. It sounds like you can relate to existing as a person who is different in tech, then.

abiox 9y ago
seems unclear that being `different in tech` implies that `people [are] waiting for you to mess up and will punish you with controversy and/or honestly try and get you fired`.