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Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

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Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#521

Post by Danihan »

RonanTheGrey wrote: post #373
Danihan wrote: post #326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not snarky, it's just reality. These felonies in question are either from violent crimes, which will always be illegal and a stain on someone's record, or from possessing hard drugs / selling drugs / or committing crimes associated with the black market due to the war on drugs. Obviously, from what I posted, the harder drugs will likely always be illegal and most people continue to support that. We aren't "makin…

And it's not "slap on the wrist years" like 1 year. These things carry penalties of 10, 15, 20 years. That's an entire life, for what? America is a country that enjoys persecuting people. Even better if they "deserve" it. A country once built on second, third, fourth chances, has now dedicated itself to the proposition that the tiniest mistake should destroy your entire life. I am pleased to see that sometimes, we ta…

You can't even discuss it on HN without being accused of being snarky / defeatist (really?) / or having the sub-thread deleted. (see Dang's comment)

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#522

Post by Danihan »

dang wrote: post #399
Danihan wrote: post #291

>Attitudes are changing quickly Are they now? Tell me, which political party is planning on decriminalizing drug offenses?

We detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14912009 and marked it off-topic.

I don't think discussing a leading cause of felonies is off-topic in a thread about employing felons.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#523

Post by newsreader »

RBBronson123 wrote: post #380
newsreader wrote: post #233

Former career criminal here. Spent 19 years of my adult life in a combination of jail and prison. Longest stint was for 14 consecutive years. Been working in IT for the last 17 years, mostly as a developer. Had a very hard time getting my foot in the door; was denied employment more than once because of my record. Not sure that my current employer is even aware that I have a record, and to be honest I have no plans t…

Thanks, and congratulations for having the heart to keep fighting.

One thing that I neglected to say was that it was during the time I was on parole when I was unable to get a job. I got a job immediately after I got off parole. In order to meet parole regulations, I enrolled in school (two years in state university) while working part time on jobs having nothing to do with my skills. Once I was off parole the requirement of having to disclose my felony conviction was no longer. I applied for a job, checked the box that said I had a prior felony conviction, was interviewed and never asked about it. Got the job as a software developer.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#524

Post by leesalminen »

gjjrfcbugxbhf wrote: post #514
leesalminen wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it'd be worded better as "reverse sexism"? Implying that it's "positive" doesn't do any social justice but incites the us vs them, 0 sum game train of thought.

If it's treating people differently on the basis of their gender then it's probably easier to just call it what it is - sexism. Then you can start justifying why this specific incidence of sexism might be a social good.

Fair enough!

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#525

Post by hwoolery »

arglebarnacle wrote: post #274
hwoolery wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? From what I understand, the number of black inmates in prison is roughly equal to the number of white inmates (about 40%/40%). There is a large disparity in terms of the incarceration rate of people of color, but your above statement is not true.

Yeah, but "people of color" doesn't only refer to black people--the other 20% are also people of color. So 60-40, and it's true that US prisons are predominantly populated with people of color.

That seems like splitting hairs. Obviously I can do the math, and I'm not saying there aren't more people of color in prison, I'm saying that it's not just black people, as the website would have you believe.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#528

Post by s73ver »

dang wrote: post #463
brooklyn_ashey wrote: post #449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was James Baldwin speaking. I figured he had enough gravitas to present an idea, but even James Baldwin gets pushback on hacker news!

Would you please stop posting these cheap meta snipes to HN about HN? It's tedious, plus it's incongruent to diss a community while you're participating in it. If you have a substantive point to make, make it thoughtfully; otherwise please don't comment until you do.

"plus it's incongruent to diss a community while you're participating in it."

No. Your attitude here is the crappy one. Without being called out, a community will never grow. It's entirely appropriate to call out a community for the issues it has. And yes, the HN community has a HUGE problem with not recognizing sexism and racism in the industry. Far too many are willing to take the, "I don't see it, so it doesn't exist" point of view, which not only means that things won't improve, but means that they will likely get worse, as those who are doing the bad things are noticing that they can get away with it.

If you don't want people to take snipes at your community, maybe you should look at why people are taking snipes at it, and work to be better.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#529

Post by test6554 »

Mz wrote: post #232
ictoan wrote: post #74

Hi Richard, great idea. I'm a UX designer and want to throw out some suggestions on how to improve the experience of the site. First, use more cheerful/positive messages/visuals. It was a joykill when I checked out your website and there's a sad guy placing his hand on the forehead. Show what's possible. How successful people can be once they get a job.. rather than their current state (unemployment). Don't focus on…

In addition to the above great ideas, here are some stats for you: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/04/... The US has about 4.4 percent of the global population and about 22 percent of the global prison population. The numbers are more startling using a different measure in the report: the prison population rate. Criminologists say this is a reliable way to compare incarceration practices betw…

"Many American citizens have a criminal record for the crime of being an American citizen."

It's better to have the tone of people owning up to their actions and then moving forward rather than saying the US is just giving out criminal records like candy and it's not anybody's fault.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#530

Post by RBBronson123 »

dayve wrote: post #156
RBBronson123 wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are so right on all your comments. Soon we'll be re-doing the entire site. Perhaps we can talk in several weeks?

In line with that, I think you could also put up a blog section for testimonials, in the near future. IMHO, People need to read stories of how 70million Jobs has helped successful candidates, as that will build confidence in the system.

Part of our plans. Thanks for the good suggestion
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