4 ms·

Ridiculous that the phrase 'tech bro' is allowed here? Why wouldn't it be allowed here? It's ridiculous the things people try and censor...

blahblah1234567 4y ago
No, it's the non-Maoist stuff that dang & HN mods censor. If you call out neon hair safe space ("leftist") hypocrisy... your comment is flagged within minutes.
- A4ET8a8uTh0 4y ago
  Lately, my response to calls to censor 'this one thing' is 'ban everything' and skip all the baby steps. At least then people will immediately realize what is actually bad about word prohibition.
- bigbillheck 4y ago
  Can you give examples of Maoist posting on HN? By which I mean actual Maoism, not just general leftism.
meghan_rain 4y ago
Why should it be allowed? It discriminated based on gender. Or are you ok with that when it's against men?
- Colex 4y ago
  It would take me a huge mental effort to read "tech bros" as a discrimination based on gender - and I'm a man. They are talking about a few selected guys and decided to call them as tech bros - it's not calling for discrimination against men. No need to take it further, censor, ban. (Note: I don't care if it's "tech bro" or "tech gal" - not everything is about indoctrination)
  - meghan_rain 4y ago
    It should simply be "tech person". There are female founders, too.
    - xdennis 4y ago
      But that removes the meaning of "bro". It should be "tech sibling". Of course, "bro" is short for "brother" so maybe the best solution would be "tech sib".
    - Merad 4y ago
      "Tech bro" isn't just a generic reference to tech founders. It refers to a particular negative stereotype of a person, usually male, who works in tech and subscribes to "bro culture." Bro culture itself usually comes from fraternity culture (as in "frat bro") and it's often associated with misogynist beliefs.
      - meghan_rain 4y ago
        This is literally like saying "If refers to a particular negative stereotype of a person, usually from a poor neighbour hood, usually black, usually without a father" and ascribing any kind of prejudice to it. Is this seriously the kind of discussion you want to be having?
        GlacierFox 4y ago
        It literally isn't anything like saying that at all. >>Is this seriously the kind of discussion you want to be having? No, that's the discussion you'd prefer to have to detract from the actual subject of conversation in attempt to push your own agenda.
    - meheleventyone 4y ago
      Right but “tech bro” is literally used to describe stereotype of a type of man in tech rather than all men in tech. Presumably female founders aren’t included in the same way non-bro male founders aren’t. In particular a tech bro doesn’t even have to be a founder.
- claytongulick 4y ago
  > Why should it be allowed? Because free expression matters. You don't have a "right" to not be offended. Adults are able to participate in conversations that make them uncomfortable. Children require protection from certain forms of speech until they've developed the maturity to be able to handle it. Censorship of the type that you're advocating is infantile. We don't need to keep adults safe from speech. And yes, btw, I also find the phrase "tech bros" offensive. It's difficult to have a meaningful conversation without risking offense. So should we all just discuss weather and sports? Or only allow speech around us that agrees with our current beliefs?

blahblah1234567 4y ago

No, it's the non-Maoist stuff that dang & HN mods censor. If you call out neon hair safe space ("leftist") hypocrisy... your comment is flagged within minutes.

A4ET8a8uTh0 4y ago
Lately, my response to calls to censor 'this one thing' is 'ban everything' and skip all the baby steps. At least then people will immediately realize what is actually bad about word prohibition.
bigbillheck 4y ago
Can you give examples of Maoist posting on HN? By which I mean actual Maoism, not just general leftism.

meghan_rain 4y ago

Why should it be allowed? It discriminated based on gender. Or are you ok with that when it's against men?

Colex 4y ago
It would take me a huge mental effort to read "tech bros" as a discrimination based on gender - and I'm a man. They are talking about a few selected guys and decided to call them as tech bros - it's not calling for discrimination against men. No need to take it further, censor, ban. (Note: I don't care if it's "tech bro" or "tech gal" - not everything is about indoctrination)
- meghan_rain 4y ago
  It should simply be "tech person". There are female founders, too.
  - xdennis 4y ago
    But that removes the meaning of "bro". It should be "tech sibling". Of course, "bro" is short for "brother" so maybe the best solution would be "tech sib".
  - Merad 4y ago
    "Tech bro" isn't just a generic reference to tech founders. It refers to a particular negative stereotype of a person, usually male, who works in tech and subscribes to "bro culture." Bro culture itself usually comes from fraternity culture (as in "frat bro") and it's often associated with misogynist beliefs.
    - meghan_rain 4y ago
      This is literally like saying "If refers to a particular negative stereotype of a person, usually from a poor neighbour hood, usually black, usually without a father" and ascribing any kind of prejudice to it. Is this seriously the kind of discussion you want to be having?
      - GlacierFox 4y ago
        It literally isn't anything like saying that at all. >>Is this seriously the kind of discussion you want to be having? No, that's the discussion you'd prefer to have to detract from the actual subject of conversation in attempt to push your own agenda.
  - meheleventyone 4y ago
    Right but “tech bro” is literally used to describe stereotype of a type of man in tech rather than all men in tech. Presumably female founders aren’t included in the same way non-bro male founders aren’t. In particular a tech bro doesn’t even have to be a founder.
claytongulick 4y ago
> Why should it be allowed? Because free expression matters. You don't have a "right" to not be offended. Adults are able to participate in conversations that make them uncomfortable. Children require protection from certain forms of speech until they've developed the maturity to be able to handle it. Censorship of the type that you're advocating is infantile. We don't need to keep adults safe from speech. And yes, btw, I also find the phrase "tech bros" offensive. It's difficult to have a meaningful conversation without risking offense. So should we all just discuss weather and sports? Or only allow speech around us that agrees with our current beliefs?