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I'm surprised there is so little controversy in this thread of HN. After all, most comments here confirm that we're a group and we like us as-is, or with very m

by tajen 12y ago

I'm surprised there is so little controversy in this thread of HN. After all, most comments here confirm that we're a group and we like us as-is, or with very minimal changes, which is already a reluctance to diversity. On the one hand maybe the title didn't appeal for a pageview by the controversial types of feminigeeks [vocabulary from this article], and the other hand this is the kind of place where our culture gets shaped. Edit: I can't resist positing this quote. It makes me feel understood. It would make me feel safer if it were acknowledged by the other party during debates: "The voices clamouring for change offer us no money, a social role reversal back to “disempowered outsider,” and a status demotion to “likely sexual predator.”" Edit 2: If anyone here has data, it seems like a lot of communication about feminism in IT started circa 2013 (e.g. the controversy on Paul Graham [1], which probably provoked the Female Founders Conference in 2015). It would be nice if someone made a blogpost about that and explained what that year changed in the geek culture. [1] http://www.thewire.com/technology/2013/12/paul-graham-revives-sexism-tech-talk/356541/ http://www.thewire.com/technology/2013/12/paul-graham-revive...

chralieboy 12y ago
I was equally surprised. The controversy is overwhelming and I loved her point about being against either brogrammers or feminigeeks does not make you the other. I feel like any conversation where everyone doesn't completely agree turns into accusations of privilege or sexism.
pjc50 12y ago
It's been going on for a lot longer than 2013. I was listening to a friend of mine complain about not being taken seriously and attracting a trail of irritating admirers when we were both undergraduates 15 years ago.
throwaway9324 12y ago
It's not controversial because it's largely confirms the view of nerds that "outsiders" agree with. Like a lot of these essays it long winding, full of generalizations and in-group cultural references which makes it hard work to disassemble and disagree with. And most of those that disagree passionately enough with this to do it wouldn't be regulars at HN. One of the few concrete things in this article is how "we won the cryptowars". Which isn't very convincing these days.

by tajen 12y ago

chralieboy 12y ago

I was equally surprised. The controversy is overwhelming and I loved her point about being against either brogrammers or feminigeeks does not make you the other. I feel like any conversation where everyone doesn't completely agree turns into accusations of privilege or sexism.

pjc50 12y ago

It's been going on for a lot longer than 2013. I was listening to a friend of mine complain about not being taken seriously and attracting a trail of irritating admirers when we were both undergraduates 15 years ago.

throwaway9324 12y ago

It's not controversial because it's largely confirms the view of nerds that "outsiders" agree with. Like a lot of these essays it long winding, full of generalizations and in-group cultural references which makes it hard work to disassemble and disagree with. And most of those that disagree passionately enough with this to do it wouldn't be regulars at HN. One of the few concrete things in this article is how "we won the cryptowars". Which isn't very convincing these days.