4 ms·
Part of the problem is also frankly that HN has a culture that encourages serious engagement (or at least a facsimile of it) with the worst opinions it's possib
by giraffe_lady 11mo ago
Part of the problem is also frankly that HN has a culture that encourages serious engagement (or at least a facsimile of it) with the worst opinions it's possible to have. You just can't keep your sense for sincerity finely honed in an environment like that.
- Chris2048 11mo ago> the worst opinions it's possible to have can you give examples?
- dylan604 11mo agohttps://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45982802 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45982802
- Chris2048 11mo agoyour example is obvious sarcasm?
- tclancy 11mo agohttps://www.reddit.com/r/ShitHNSays/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ShitHNSays/ Exists for just this.
- Chris2048 11mo agoAnd reddit exist for the sake of smug echo-chamber dwellers. Or bots. A lot of the posts listed there are: * obvious joke/sarcasm/tongue-in-cheek etc * taken out of context, or editorialised to similar effect (e.g. missing nuance that often exists in the same thread) * based on the disbelief or disapproval of equally unqualified reddit-bros * flagged/dead or heavily downvoted, the opposite of being 'encouraged' In other words, a lot of low effort 'gotcha' point scoring against alleged 'tech-bros' which may or ma not mean everyone in HN is a SV start-up pitcher, or that no one really know what a tech-bro is.
- tclancy 11mo ago>that no one really know what a tech-bro is. If you think this is possibly true, I think we are far apart the discussion wouldn't go anywhere. Not a judgement, just trying to be better about my online engagement style.
- Chris2048 11mo agoOK, then in good faith let's dig into it. My perception is a 'tech-bro' is someone in a tech hub (i.e. SV) with access to large amounts of capital (e.g. VC funding), likely involved in start-ups, or with some sway in tech companies (the prototype is often Elon Musk, et al); and their tendency to treat technology as a cure-all, especially in naïve or overoptimistic way, overestimating their own grasp of technology, or applications of technology, to various pursuits. There might also be a machoistic 'frat' element to it as well. A large group within HN perhaps, but probably not a majority of HN-ers. This definition is not a million miles away from the sentiment of 'I could build that in a weekend' from the dev-side, or 'I just had a great idea (a clone of something well know etc) - you implement it, I'll be compensated equally as the "ideas guy"' from the biz-end. In contrast, I think some (per r/SHNS) believe a 'tech-bro' is any man with a background in tech (usually software, maybe hardware), and hence most (the majority of) of the male population (still significant majority..) of HN. By this definition, we aren't a million miles away from the gendered insult/accusation of 'mansplaining', which is basically arrogance, but when a man does it (or specifically, in respect to a woman), with the implication of them misogynistically underestimating women; Not clear if there is an implication that they otherwise treat other men differently - most anecdotes cover the former case without establishing a baseline of behaviour/arrogance. What I'm saying is, as the term is weaponised, there is a scope-creep in direction of greatest utility / weaponised potential - It's inconvenient to establish someone is actually involved in the tech industry, SV-culture or tech-start-up-mentality, such as to critique those things in any relevant or substantial way, so instead any rando is a 'tech-bro' purely because they post on HN, i.e. HN-er == tech-bro, and it just become bashing men in tech; From my perspective 'man involved in technology', generalised across all tech-scene and cultures, isn't a meaningful or relevant distinction or discussion.