> Gary hasn't bullied or abused anyone
Let's say he hasn't. So what's at issue? Because this bothers me if I
am to continue to participate in HN.
Pursuing intellectual curiosity involves tolerance, yes, and
forgiveness. And seeing a little of the other in yourself, and you in
them.
You know, I wouldn't presume to say anything about a person I don't
know, or to psychologise too much on an individual. There's a parallel
universe where I'd meet Mr Tan and enjoy some beers, we'd talk about
tech, and maybe after a few we'd get all 'blokey' start comparing our
lists of people who should die horribly. That's all human enough. And
I come from a background that makes me not ashamed to be in touch with
my own disdain, violence, unacceptable sides and masculine toxicity.
We all say cringe things we wish we could take back from time to
time. Shame is a good teacher if we don't leave that unexamined etc.
I'm not "outraged" (the only emotion 21st century people feel) at Tan
for slipping up and going a bit gangsta, channelling his inner 2Pac or
whatever. Who doesn't? I've no doubt some of those Californian
politicians are infuriating and cut from the same cloth as the poor
shower we have over here.
I'm disappointed because of how that reflects on me, on other hackers
and the real tech community - you know, us grunts who actually think
up and build all the stuff.
He's not quite young enough to be my son. But if he were, I'd have to
say "Gary, why are you hanging out with these losers? People who
claim to represent utopian technological ideas, but are massively
stunted as human beings? Tech billionaire trash who are actually a lot
less smart and well educated than they think. They're insecure,
inauthentic, cloistered, frightened of dying, doing far more drugs
than is good for anyone, and hell-bent on imposing technological
terror upon the world we haven't seen since the Third Reich.
Please find some nicer friends."
And what I'd hope to hear is like; "Yes I'm sorry to let the community
down. I feel a lot of anger and frustration at the world. I realise
my worldview is parochial. I see that I'm in a group whose ideas are
not universal, whatever our "progressive" good intentions. Maybe I
can temper myself in a way that's more congruent with the money, power
and consequent responsibility to others' I carry."