GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart • Hacker News Board

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#451

Post by untog » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:42 PM UTC

wildmusings wrote: post #433

untog wrote: post #390

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- "This is not work for white folks to lead" This one I actually don't think is so bad, in context. The title of the slide is "Diversity and Inclusion in Tech". It is difficult for someone that is not part of a minority to spearhead efforts to outreach to one, because they don't experience the same issues. Literally, they don't have the right experience for the job. It's a stretch as a comparison, but no-one gets sue…

I'm a white person. My family came from Cuba with the clothes on their backs 50 years ago. Everything they ever had was taken by the Communists. Like millions of other Cubans, they came here with nothing and had to rebuild their lives. I grew up in a very unique environment, the Cuban-American community in Miami. I'd say that's a pretty "diverse" background. But I guarantee that in Github's book, I'm one of the "whit…

But I guarantee that in Github's book, I'm one of the "white folks" that shouldn't be leading this.

I don't see how you can guarantee that. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand what you're saying. But this is a one-line bullet point in a slideshow, I'd like to see some more context before I grab my pitchfork.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#452

Post by api_or_ipa » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:43 PM UTC

exolymph wrote: post #440

proc0 wrote: post #379

I would expect more from a tech company that is supposed to be by programmers for programmers. Programmers are abstract thinkers, and it's disgusting to see them lower themselves and adopt the semantics and memes of obvious cultural constructs like race. What does it even mean to be "white"? Who exactly are they talking about and what is it about this group of people that is so bad? There's no need to bring in this g…

"We need to start learning how to simply NOT THINK about race, and NOT MENTION IT." We live in a world where this is not remotely possible. Suggesting it is the worst sort of idealism.

When is the disease distinct from the cure? At a certain point, we need to move forward and strive towards a harmonious ideal. Otherwise we delay true equality.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#453

Post by wildmusings » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:43 PM UTC

aikah wrote: post #443

proc0 wrote: post #379

I would expect more from a tech company that is supposed to be by programmers for programmers. Programmers are abstract thinkers, and it's disgusting to see them lower themselves and adopt the semantics and memes of obvious cultural constructs like race. What does it even mean to be "white"? Who exactly are they talking about and what is it about this group of people that is so bad? There's no need to bring in this g…

It has more to do with the current cultural war in USA than anything else. Like all wars it's about power, it's a power grab. "Reverse-racism" is now an acceptable ideology in the media and in the tech community, and all the social-studies crowd now get jobs as "diversity officers" in Tech companies. It isn't going to end well for some companies, that might get "disrupted" from the inside because of people pushing po…

It's a protection racket. If you don't have these worthless diversity officers, if you don't kiss Jesse Jackson's ass when he accuses you of racism, they drag you through the media with the worst implications and associations put next to your name.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#454

Post by exolymph » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:44 PM UTC

verylongaccount wrote: post #345

It seems that a large number of posters believe that discriminating against white men is okay because they enjoy "white privilege", whatever that is. Either you believe it is okay to discriminate against someone on the basis of their skin color or you don't. Attempts to redefine the word notwithstanding, those who subscribe to the former philosophy are known as racists. It is hard to distinguish the anti-white vitrio…

I think you're misunderstanding the argument people make about the concept of privilege. Nothing about it is intentional in the standard sense. It's more that people behave to benefit themselves -- which is natural and fine -- and power has slowly accrued over time to white men more than to other types of people. The argument is not that white men are malicious, but that their traits are implicitly favored and promoted because we tend to gravitate toward and feel more comfortable around people who are similar to ourselves. Ergo, white men in power enable other white men to gain more power.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#455

Post by gitthrowaway » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:44 PM UTC

There's real fear about a user driven backlash against policies coming down the pipe. One recent slide deck was titled "Kill Your Idols?" and examined ways to prevent a LinkedIn esque reputation from forming during proposed policy changes to accelerate growth.

I make no claims as to the accuracy of this information or any relationship with GitHub. All assertions should be considered parody.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#456

Post by exolymph » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:45 PM UTC

api_or_ipa wrote: post #452

exolymph wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"We need to start learning how to simply NOT THINK about race, and NOT MENTION IT." We live in a world where this is not remotely possible. Suggesting it is the worst sort of idealism.

When is the disease distinct from the cure? At a certain point, we need to move forward and strive towards a harmonious ideal. Otherwise we delay true equality.

I agree that we need to move forward, but I think it's better to focus on tactics that can succeed.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#457

Post by grimman » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:46 PM UTC

ceejayoz wrote: post #271

yulaow wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well tumblerinas says you can't be racist against white because patriarchy. /s No really, just read reddit.com/r/tumblrinaction and realize wtf people are saying these days shielding behind (false)feminist propaganda and some very confused idea of oppression.

> No really, just read reddit.com/r/tumblrinaction Before reading that subreddit, one should probably be aware of Poe's law. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law

It's a deep, and scary, rabbit hole. If you're at all curious, it seems Sargon of Akkad and Thunderf00t on YouTube are not just slinging shit. I've watched some, and sources have always been included.

Don't get me wrong, they clearly kick things up a notch in the drama department, but they do the ground work in sourcing articles for you.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#458

Post by davesque » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:47 PM UTC

StevePerkins wrote: post #338

Some random thoughts and observations after reading this thread: [1] I'm interested in the differences between reactions to this, versus Brendan Eich's gay marriage scandal at Mozilla a couple of years ago. Don't get me wrong... I supported marriage equality then, and I do not support the worst of the statements called out in this story now. However, there are rational arguments that the HN community overreacted in B…

Agreed about Bitbucket. I've used it for a long time and haven't found it to be substantively different from GitHub in either functionality or reliability. The major downside, as I see it, is that it's just not as popular.

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#459

Post by codyps » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:48 PM UTC

StevePerkins wrote: post #338

Some random thoughts and observations after reading this thread: [1] I'm interested in the differences between reactions to this, versus Brendan Eich's gay marriage scandal at Mozilla a couple of years ago. Don't get me wrong... I supported marriage equality then, and I do not support the worst of the statements called out in this story now. However, there are rational arguments that the HN community overreacted in B…

I was interested in your comparison in #1, wrt "HN community overreacted".

I've been searching through old HN stories about Eich, but can't seem to find any where the comments generally supported firing him due to supporting Prop 8 (banning gay marriage).

Is there a particular thread you had in mind? Or are you stating the overreaction was being angry that he might have been fired over that support?

Re: GitHub is undergoing a full-blown overhaul as execs and employees depart

#460

Post by moistgorilla » Sat, Feb 06, 2016, 10:49 PM UTC

hartpuff wrote: post #284

moistgorilla wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you even saying with this comment?

He's talking about the Nazis, the go to reference for people clueless about Germany who lack any ability to have a serious discussion. He's a clown.

I understood that, what I'm trying to state with my rhetorical question was that all his statement served to say was "Germany created the Nazis, you should feel guilt for that". And even if you think that people deserve some sort of retribution or culpability for the supposed actions of the ancestors (which I personally don't), Germany paid for it already considering the post war fallout and the Russian occupation of Eastern Germany.