9 ms·

Surely you can't be this blind to the power imbalance. A Googler defending Google on HN has the backing of one of the most powerful corporations in the industr

by gress 12y ago

Surely you can't be this blind to the power imbalance. A Googler defending Google on HN has the backing of one of the most powerful corporations in the industry, and no risk to his future career. Calling out this bias or even being critical of the Google carries potentially huge career risk. Anonymity is a necessity if unpopular opinions are to be heard. And by all means assume I work for a competitor (which I do not) - that doesn't change the fact that DannyBee is incentivized to support Google and yet tries to distinct himself from this truth.

tptacek 12y ago
Anonymity is vitally important to civic discourse, which is why it's so galling when it's recklessly abused for cowardly and pointless drive-by character assassination. But that's what I'd expect to see from a secret shill for Yahoo.
- gress 12y ago
  There is no character assassination going on here. I'm simply pointing out the incentives. Bear in mind that DannyBee is also engaging in what you call 'character assasination' on the same basis. You, on the other hand, are now name calling, denying the power imbalance I mentioned, and accusing me of lying. Why do you feel the need to put so much emotional energy into defending DannyBee, who seems quite capable of defending himself? You seem to have clearly deviated from what you call 'civic discourse' - why have you chosen to do that? Does it seem justified by my comment? If you think so, then ask yourself why it is acceptable for you to break from 'civic discourse', and yet it is not justified for me to do so, as you claim I have. Do you think your opinion is more right, or more likely to receive support?
  - tptacek 12y ago
    I stand by what I said and don't see any need for us to continue talking.
    - gress 12y ago
      I'm disappointed you feel justified in your rude and dismissive behavior, but since you don't see any need to examine it, I request that you refrain from challenging my comments on that same basis in future.

by gress 12y ago

tptacek 12y ago

Anonymity is vitally important to civic discourse, which is why it's so galling when it's recklessly abused for cowardly and pointless drive-by character assassination. But that's what I'd expect to see from a secret shill for Yahoo.

gress 12y ago
There is no character assassination going on here. I'm simply pointing out the incentives. Bear in mind that DannyBee is also engaging in what you call 'character assasination' on the same basis. You, on the other hand, are now name calling, denying the power imbalance I mentioned, and accusing me of lying. Why do you feel the need to put so much emotional energy into defending DannyBee, who seems quite capable of defending himself? You seem to have clearly deviated from what you call 'civic discourse' - why have you chosen to do that? Does it seem justified by my comment? If you think so, then ask yourself why it is acceptable for you to break from 'civic discourse', and yet it is not justified for me to do so, as you claim I have. Do you think your opinion is more right, or more likely to receive support?
- tptacek 12y ago
  I stand by what I said and don't see any need for us to continue talking.
  - gress 12y ago
    I'm disappointed you feel justified in your rude and dismissive behavior, but since you don't see any need to examine it, I request that you refrain from challenging my comments on that same basis in future.