I can't say I can fully side with the natives, but there is one particular set of quotes I couldn't help but reflect on for their mix of arrogance and ignorance

I can't say I can fully side with the natives, but there is one particular set of quotes I couldn't help but reflect on for their mix of arrogance and ignorance, the ones from the anonymous software engineer. "We feel what we're doing helps make the world a better place. Helping people share information is a force of empowerment for individuals." That's highly debatable. A good majority of the world lacks internet access, information sharing doesn't sound very empowering considering many companies essentially milk you for your data, and I really don't want to talk about how absurd it is to think that your average arbitrary SV startup is a force for social good. You know what's empowering? Self-sufficiency. Independence. I'm not talking about homesteading, just being able to provide oneself with a comfortable life with all the basic necessities and then some. Most major tech companies and startups can't really be associated with that form of empowerment unless you really try and fib a little. I have to admit, first thing that came to mind was Airbnb, because it allows ordinary people to collect a little extra income from their home. Anyway, lets continue. "Software engineering is like building something, like a craft, you become completely absorbed in the task. I really like that." I can actually agree with our anonymous software engineer on this statement. Most people on HN probably can as well. If you say that to someone with no coding background though, they'll think you're full of it and that you're an entitled jerk. Yeah, they probably cherry picked this guy's quotes out of plenty of much more boring yet appropriate quotes, but at the same time this mindset seems pretty typical, and probably plays an appreciable role in the grievances of people with more physical professions.