4 ms·

Facebook employees and tech workers in general have a much wider spectrum of opinions that what echo chambers like HN allow. I personally know a lot of Facebook

Facebook employees and tech workers in general have a much wider spectrum of opinions that what echo chambers like HN allow. I personally know a lot of Facebook, Apple and Microsoft employees who voted Trump. Palantir employees who are very proud about their jobs and believe that they're making a positive impact on the world. Uber employees who believe that they're engaged in a good fight against regulation and bureaucracy. What's common for all of them, though, is that they generally keep these opinions to themselves and know better than venting them on HN, Techcrunch and social media.

qwerty456127 9y ago
There is nothing wrong in telling what do you feel about something when you are asked. And there is no problem in expressing an unpopular opinion on HN as you can sign-up anonymously at any time and just share whatever thoughts you want.
- golergka 9y ago
  > And there is no problem in expressing an unpopular opinion on HN as you can sign-up anonymously at any time and just share whatever thoughts you want. People are social creatures, programmed to respond to approval and disapproval from others. This includes replies as well as votes. It's irrational, but that's who we are. Now, try registering an alternative account on HN and write political comments, polite, articulated, and reasonable, from a conservative point of view. What do you think the response will be like? Will you feel encouraged to proceed, or will you feel (emphasis on "feel", as these things are emotional and not rational) that you'd rather not continue with your point of view?
- adav 9y ago
  To play devil's advocate, in an arena where all comments are ordered by votes, the unpopular opinion would simply be downvoted to oblivion and not seen anyway. Why would someone with a contentious opinion go to the bother?
  - qwerty456127 9y ago
    Many (not the majority but still many) people scroll straight to the bottom to see what happens to be there after reading the top comments and also quick-read the comments in the middle (as there actually are many valuable comments on HN). Anyway, hesitating to say something is not always the best idea, maybe it ought to be said aloud while everybody hesitates.
  - knowThySelfx 9y ago
    Indeed. I had the same thoughts in mind.
- dingo_bat 9y ago
  Nothing wrong until Google fires you for it.
pavlov 9y ago
Clearly San Francisco needs an annual Surveillance Capitalism Pride Parade.
- knowThySelfx 9y ago
  What will happen if you don't tow the line? Will there be tolerance?
  - pavlov 9y ago
    You’ll be patiently explained how your genetic layout or gender makes it harder for you to understand things. You’ll even get a printout of that personalized 10-page memo so you can study it at home.
    - knowThySelfx 9y ago
      Oh how I mistook them!
    - golergka 9y ago
      This thread is exactly what I'm talking about. Making fun of "the other side" through strawmen and irony will earn you social points among people with the same views, of course. meanwhile, people that you make fun of will think before venting their opinions the next time among you or on this platform in general. What it will not accomplish, though, is changing anybody's minds. Just make the forum more of an echo chamber which creates an illusion of political consensus. Do you want to leave in an illusion? Do you think that bullying people of opposite political opinions into shutting up helps your political agenda in any way? Or, may be, you're setting yourself up for another big surprise come next election?
      - pavlov 9y ago
        You were talking about people who work at Palantir and Uber. They are in a position of power relative to 99% of the population. These are not the “forgotten men” of Trumpist rhetoric. Making fun of their self-victimization is not bullying either. Do you really think Palantir employees are a group that needs to be protected from semianonymous Internet comments?
brepl 9y ago
Which of these opinions would be surprising?
danpalmer 9y ago
I see quite a lot of those views here, I'm often surprised at the amount of support they get here.

qwerty456127 9y ago

There is nothing wrong in telling what do you feel about something when you are asked. And there is no problem in expressing an unpopular opinion on HN as you can sign-up anonymously at any time and just share whatever thoughts you want.

golergka 9y ago
> And there is no problem in expressing an unpopular opinion on HN as you can sign-up anonymously at any time and just share whatever thoughts you want. People are social creatures, programmed to respond to approval and disapproval from others. This includes replies as well as votes. It's irrational, but that's who we are. Now, try registering an alternative account on HN and write political comments, polite, articulated, and reasonable, from a conservative point of view. What do you think the response will be like? Will you feel encouraged to proceed, or will you feel (emphasis on "feel", as these things are emotional and not rational) that you'd rather not continue with your point of view?
adav 9y ago
To play devil's advocate, in an arena where all comments are ordered by votes, the unpopular opinion would simply be downvoted to oblivion and not seen anyway. Why would someone with a contentious opinion go to the bother?
- qwerty456127 9y ago
  Many (not the majority but still many) people scroll straight to the bottom to see what happens to be there after reading the top comments and also quick-read the comments in the middle (as there actually are many valuable comments on HN). Anyway, hesitating to say something is not always the best idea, maybe it ought to be said aloud while everybody hesitates.
- knowThySelfx 9y ago
  Indeed. I had the same thoughts in mind.
dingo_bat 9y ago
Nothing wrong until Google fires you for it.

pavlov 9y ago

Clearly San Francisco needs an annual Surveillance Capitalism Pride Parade.

knowThySelfx 9y ago
What will happen if you don't tow the line? Will there be tolerance?
- pavlov 9y ago
  You’ll be patiently explained how your genetic layout or gender makes it harder for you to understand things. You’ll even get a printout of that personalized 10-page memo so you can study it at home.
  - knowThySelfx 9y ago
    Oh how I mistook them!
  - golergka 9y ago
    This thread is exactly what I'm talking about. Making fun of "the other side" through strawmen and irony will earn you social points among people with the same views, of course. meanwhile, people that you make fun of will think before venting their opinions the next time among you or on this platform in general. What it will not accomplish, though, is changing anybody's minds. Just make the forum more of an echo chamber which creates an illusion of political consensus. Do you want to leave in an illusion? Do you think that bullying people of opposite political opinions into shutting up helps your political agenda in any way? Or, may be, you're setting yourself up for another big surprise come next election?
    - pavlov 9y ago
      You were talking about people who work at Palantir and Uber. They are in a position of power relative to 99% of the population. These are not the “forgotten men” of Trumpist rhetoric. Making fun of their self-victimization is not bullying either. Do you really think Palantir employees are a group that needs to be protected from semianonymous Internet comments?

brepl 9y ago

Which of these opinions would be surprising?

danpalmer 9y ago

I see quite a lot of those views here, I'm often surprised at the amount of support they get here.