Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Black Girls Code launching in Miami

miamiherald.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 98 posts

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#81

Post by pekk »

DanielStraight wrote: post #55

This is an organization started by a black woman who has learned to code for helping black girls learn to code. Can we just give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she knows more about reaching people with similar experiences than we do?

The idea is so innocuous. Nobody is being hurt by it. Maybe some people will be helped. It doesn't prevent anyone else from being helped the same way. There's no real use stirring up a shitstorm about it.

Some political zealots are ruining nice things for the rest of us because all they care about is their own ideology.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#82

Post by benched »

Karunamon wrote: post #52
sp332 wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not "further insular". It's a group that already exists. Treating people as all equal is fine. Pretending that all people are treated as equal in society is not helpful.

I'd argue that perpetuating the problem of people being treated different in society is even worse.

That isn't a singular problem. Helping a group is not just another way of discriminating against them. Just as slapping someone's face is not just another way of kissing them.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#83

Post by vacri »

Karunamon wrote: post #79
vacri wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You just did it, too. You have a very, very low bar for 'rabidly attack'. Actually, taking you on face value, it's curious that you didn't make the same criticism to the parent comment, who is 'rabidly attacking' the group in the article who are 'challenging the status quo when it comes to sociological issues'. Why on earth do you play off "think before you down vote" as a negative?! Oh, please. It was 'playing the i…

Considering this is HN, I'd call the atmosphere in this thread excessively negative, snarky, and unhelpful, and yes, rabid, relatively speaking. That being partially aided by people like you who called out a perfectly innocent comment as a troll. the parent comment, who is 'rabidly attacking' the group in the article who are 'challenging the status quo when it comes to sociological issues' The group in the article ar…

You and the reference comment are engaging in dog-whistle politics, where you make 'innocent' comments that you are well-aware is a coded call to like-minded people to band together. Characterising the comments as 'innocent' is a hallmark of such things.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics

And seriously, how can a comment like the parent, who is explicitly aware of the expected response, be classified as 'perfectly innocent'?

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#84

Post by tinco »

TallGuyShort wrote: post #35
tinco wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one cares if you are thinking of race, because obviously it is not about you. It's easy to not think about racism when racism isn't an issue in your environment. It's not as if now that you're exposed to racism, that you will perpetuate it, right?

Begging your pardon, I grew up in South Africa during apartheid and feel very much the same as the OP. I recognize that these groups have value for victims of racism and are done with good intentions. However, I also feel that if they are over-done or are started with more of a pride about one's (traditionally persecuted) race than the humble intention to serve others, they are only breeding animosity between races a…

I'm sorry if my opinion offended you. It's not that I feel yours is a terrible opinion to have, I believe Morgan Freeman shares it.

I just think that positive energy put towards solving problems minorities are having can be a good thing. And that energy should not be tossed aside for the idealistic idea of ignoring racism to death.

Also, I think it's wildly speculative that these efforts breed animosity. I would ask you to reconsider if that idea has any base to it, perhaps a call for evidence is in place.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#85

Post by tinco »

Karunamon wrote: post #16
tinco wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one cares if you are thinking of race, because obviously it is not about you. It's easy to not think about racism when racism isn't an issue in your environment. It's not as if now that you're exposed to racism, that you will perpetuate it, right?

Jeez, talk about unhelpful and condescending.

I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to be condescending, I was trying to make a point about what I think is wrong about his/her way of thinking.

It's not a terrible opinion to have, it's just that I think it's counterproductive, for the reasons the other replier(s) are trying to point out to you.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#86

Post by tinco »

Karunamon wrote: post #38
sp332 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Condescending maybe but GP has a point. If racism is already a big deal, ignoring it isn't going to help. Explicitly addressing it and helping out the less-privileged group will.

Doesn't really address the point at all. Maybe racism is best solved by treating all as equals instead of creating further insular groups? It does seem logically absurd on its face. The first step is to stop snarking at people who dare to ask.

> Maybe racism is best solved by treating all as equals instead of creating further insular groups?

Straw man argument, your 'creating further insular groups' representation of the original idea is not at all obviously equivalent, and you make no effort to support the representation.

> The first step is to stop snarking at people who dare to ask.

It's really not.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#87

Post by Karunamon »

vacri wrote: post #83
Karunamon wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering this is HN, I'd call the atmosphere in this thread excessively negative, snarky, and unhelpful, and yes, rabid, relatively speaking. That being partially aided by people like you who called out a perfectly innocent comment as a troll. the parent comment, who is 'rabidly attacking' the group in the article who are 'challenging the status quo when it comes to sociological issues' The group in the article ar…

You and the reference comment are engaging in dog-whistle politics, where you make 'innocent' comments that you are well-aware is a coded call to like-minded people to band together. Characterising the comments as 'innocent' is a hallmark of such things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics And seriously, how can a comment like the parent, who is explicitly aware of the expected response, be classified a…

You and the reference comment are engaging in dog-whistle politics

Aaaand now you've stooped to insults. We're done here, and so is the thread.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#88

Post by roderick3427 »

Why is it when we talk about gender, race, and technology together we get so bent out of shape? It’s a fact that in the US the tech scene is predominantly made up of white males. Because of that we have some people who want to add some diversity to our community. And these people have designed and built special programs to address this. Try and remember what got you interested in the tech scene may not work for the next kid.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#89

Post by Nerdfest »

chc wrote: post #21
elwell wrote: post #4

I wasn't thinking about race; now I am. I believe minority focused groups, such as this, perpetuate racial discrimination. Can't we all just be one big group of humans? Disagree with my viewpoint? Please comment before you downvote. I'm willing to rethink my views.

> I wasn't thinking about race Maybe you should just appreciate having that luxury rather than criticize those who do not have it.

It's not a luxury. It's free and everyone can do it. It would be nice if more people started.

Re: Black Girls Code launching in Miami

#90

Post by eseehausen »

Nerdfest wrote: post #89
chc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wasn't thinking about race Maybe you should just appreciate having that luxury rather than criticize those who do not have it.

It's not a luxury. It's free and everyone can do it. It would be nice if more people started.

You can't not think about race if people discriminate against you based on it. That was the point. Some people are forced to think about their identity categories.
Post reply on HN