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Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

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Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#231

Post by thowaway_2mar »

random314 wrote: post #203
vmception wrote: post #57

One day it occurred to me that I can tell if someone is from India, but that I'd never considered to notice more nuances than that, for such a big country with so many groups of people. I have just begun to notice, but I have no idea about the identity politics. I recall in college that some of my friends from India would fawn over certain last names, and I felt it was something to do with the caste system, but I had…

In India dalits are about 20%. In Silicon valley, I would be surprised if they are more than 2%. India is like 3 different countries when sliced by caste. The highest castes are about as privileged as the typical Chinese. The middle are at sub saharan Africa levels. The bottom 25% constitute probably the most deprived population in the world. Better off than the Rohingyas but not by too much. "Jay Bhim" is a great mo…

^ typical Chinese

Is it not racist?

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#232

Post by bradleyjg »

lp0_on_fire wrote: post #141
michaelt wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably not? I know plenty of tech companies that make sure female applicants get interviewed by at least one female engineer during the hiring process. They have a good faith belief this reduces discrimination rather than increasing it. Of course, it could stray into discriminatory territory if you're doing something dumb - like sending all minority applicants to a hardass interviewer who rejects everyone; or givin…

Having a woman in the room when other women are getting interviewed isn't discriminatory. Telling a woman she can't interview someone because she is a woman (or other protected class) is.

The law (in the US) protects everyone against discrimination on the basis of sex. Women have no special status under these laws.

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#233

Post by phyzix5761 »

simmanian wrote: post #25
zozbot234 wrote: post #14

It's so disappointing to see in the article that caste discrimination is still being blamed by some on the religion of Hinduism. There's no dharmic status whatsoever for "caste" in the commonplace sense. The Vedas occasionally talk about something that gets misinterpreted as caste, but it's very clear from the texts that they're talking about individual callings and aptitudes, and not any sort of immutable status. Th…

I think it's fair to say that the caste system is greatly influenced by the flavor of reincarnation in hinduism and vice versa. the buddha himself set out to seek enlightenment and free himself from suffering when he saw that so many people from the lower castes are suffering. it eventually led him to reject hinduism and teach that nobody suffers in this life because of something that happened in "past" lives (in fac…

As a Theravadan Buddhist I can say you are mistaken. There is the concept of rebirth in Buddhism and dependent origination which starts with actions that happened in the past. Including actions in past lives. In fact, there are multiple realms where one can be reborn like heaven, human, animal, hungry ghost, hell, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada#Core_teachings

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_cosmology

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#234

Post by sg47 »

dang wrote: post #8

Past related threads. I think there have been others. How Big Tech Is Importing India’s Caste Legacy to Silicon Valley - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26435117 - March 2021 (195 comments) Caste discrimination in some of Silicon Valley's richest tech companies - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24952698 - Oct 2020 (322 comments) How India's ancient caste system is ruining lives in Silicon Valley - https://n…

Cisco is a hell hole that attracts a particular type of employee without talent who indulge in this type of discrimination blatantly. Narrow-minded Indians (I'm speaking as an Indian myself) who bring their Indian attitudes abroad. These types of Indians put others to shame. This is another side effect of doling out H1Bs and L1s without consideration for assimilation. I'm not sure if this is endemic to Indians though. I had a North Vietnamese classmate who used to complain that South Vietnamese students did not speak properly with them or respect them. Fundamentally boils down to growing up as human beings.

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#236

Post by baremetal »

Mezzie wrote: post #180
baybal2 wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am a non-white citizen of Russia through a rather bizarre family history. My parents changed my, and their names, and surname to Slavic sounding for reasons you can understand. Out of many, lower risk of being drafted (being non-white, and living in far-east increases likelihood of draft 10x,) ease of getting into a good school, or university for me, and simply lower chances of getting into random troubles with off…

I'm a white American, but I'm a homosexual female with a disability and I feel the same way as you. Sometimes, it could be an advantage, but using it that way just feels wrong given I know what it's like to lose out on things due to my sex/sexuality/disability. Why would I ever want anyone to lose to me because they're male/straight/not-disabled? I do wonder if I'm hampering myself, because those aspects of myself ha…

i appreciate this comment a lot.

perhaps it would be best if everyone walked a mile in shoes not their own.

perspective is everything.

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#237

Post by mama123 »

random314 wrote: post #203
vmception wrote: post #57

One day it occurred to me that I can tell if someone is from India, but that I'd never considered to notice more nuances than that, for such a big country with so many groups of people. I have just begun to notice, but I have no idea about the identity politics. I recall in college that some of my friends from India would fawn over certain last names, and I felt it was something to do with the caste system, but I had…

In India dalits are about 20%. In Silicon valley, I would be surprised if they are more than 2%. India is like 3 different countries when sliced by caste. The highest castes are about as privileged as the typical Chinese. The middle are at sub saharan Africa levels. The bottom 25% constitute probably the most deprived population in the world. Better off than the Rohingyas but not by too much. "Jay Bhim" is a great mo…

The movie is quite controversial as it twists reality to target and tarnish specific castes.

The perpetrators in real life were Christians but portrayed as Hindus.

The Hindu villagers who in real life helped the victim seek justice are portrayed as casteists who hinder justice.

A lot of literature, news articles and movies are made to exacerbate the problem and create problems where none exist.

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#238

Post by elevenoh »

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #80
fdgsdfogijq wrote: post #47

In a well known big tech company (FAANG), I have seen many many examples of a whole layer of management from the same caste. So like under one director, every senior manager will have been from the same part of India. Sometimes this will extend to another layer of managers below them. Behind the scenes, there is a strong communication network that is often not caught or shown in org charts. This will include high ran…

I saw the same at a prominent financial services firm. 50 - 60 Indians in the same dept from the same region. A big number. I even asked a senior manager if I needed to be Indian to excel at the company. He said the very fact I asked that question is a problem, whether or not it is true.

Perhaps the manager was critiquing your absolutist use of the word 'need' here.

;)

Re: Trapped in Silicon Valley’s hidden caste system

#240

Post by namecheapTA »

aletzo wrote: post #34
throwaway_dcnt wrote: post #11

The reason for my current user name here at hn was this exact form of racism. It is the first post I made when I created this throwaway. I was assured that my experience was unique and not widespread. I am both sad and happy to see this, sad because it exists, happy because it is getting some attention here at HN. I would like to take this opportunity to point out that everyone of us needs to be vigilant about this t…

I'm sorry, but can you please elaborate a bit more on Greeks and Turks? I happen to be Greek and have worked with 2 Turkish colleagues without any issues. On top of that, during my many travels across Europe, Turks (along with other Balkan nationalities) are by far the most welcoming people I meet once they learn that I come from Greece and I befriended a few of them. Do you have any different experiences to share?

I work in sales and saw a Greek salesperson kick a deal out that cost him thousands because he didnt want to spend another few hours with someone that was Turkish. And this is in California. The easy money didn't matter to him. If someone is willing to lose thousands of dollars to feel good, imagine what little things theyre willing to do that dont really have a cost to them.
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