On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#1

Post by janogonzalez » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:26 PM UTC

On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty
cbracy.tumblr.com

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#2

Post by bobosha » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:44 PM UTC

Can't speak to the Duck Dynasty guy, but the skewering of PG is perfect example of the pc lynchmobs preventing a conversation about the absence of women in tech.

As a techie, I see think there's significant truth to PG's opinions. Surely it takes two to tango, the tech industry is keen to hire and encourage women entrepreneurs, but it's not like women are being turned away at the gates, by sexist VCs.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#3

Post by tomasien » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:49 PM UTC

I think Paul also gets a pass because we're all basically 100% sure he means well. But that should be the opposite of what we do - I'm sure he is the kind of person who is always willing to revealuate his thoughts if presented with a good reason to.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#4

Post by mtrimpe » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:55 PM UTC

One of the things that's always bothered me about HN is how quickly articles about women in tech get flagged off the front page.

It took me a while to realize that this is actually a feature and not a bug as HN exists as a promotional tool for YCombinator.

Having much needed discussions around sensitive topics might be good for the community as a whole; but is much too risky a proposition for YCombinator to take on.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#5

Post by borski » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:56 PM UTC

bobosha wrote: post #2

Can't speak to the Duck Dynasty guy, but the skewering of PG is perfect example of the pc lynchmobs preventing a conversation about the absence of women in tech. As a techie, I see think there's significant truth to PG's opinions. Surely it takes two to tango, the tech industry is keen to hire and encourage women entrepreneurs, but it's not like women are being turned away at the gates, by sexist VCs.

I'm genuinely afraid of stating opinions about women in tech, almost no matter what they are. Being a white male, I have a lot of fear of being completely ripped apart in TechCrunch or ValleyWag for stating my opinions or making suggestions, because I'm never sure if I'm totally PC or not.

It sucks, because I want to help somehow, but I don't want to be misunderstood and have my name be raked through the coals either.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#6

Post by DoctorZeus » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:59 PM UTC

bobosha wrote: post #2

Can't speak to the Duck Dynasty guy, but the skewering of PG is perfect example of the pc lynchmobs preventing a conversation about the absence of women in tech. As a techie, I see think there's significant truth to PG's opinions. Surely it takes two to tango, the tech industry is keen to hire and encourage women entrepreneurs, but it's not like women are being turned away at the gates, by sexist VCs.

And how does dismissing critics as "pc lynchmobs" advance the conversation?

Some people have oversimplified Paul Graham's perspective; doing the same to other people's perspectives will get no one anywhere.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#7

Post by jgh » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:59 PM UTC

I feel like this thread isn't going to be as spectacular as it otherwise would, being that it's been posted on the weekend during the holidays.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#8

Post by hobs » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:59 PM UTC

bobosha wrote: post #2

Can't speak to the Duck Dynasty guy, but the skewering of PG is perfect example of the pc lynchmobs preventing a conversation about the absence of women in tech. As a techie, I see think there's significant truth to PG's opinions. Surely it takes two to tango, the tech industry is keen to hire and encourage women entrepreneurs, but it's not like women are being turned away at the gates, by sexist VCs.

DO you really think that there isnt a conversation about the absence of women in tech? Really? At least every other day I see a front page article highlighting this fact, people getting upset because some conference's either do or do not contain women (some version of either insinuation of "we need women because we dont have them" or "we have women but they might not be as qualified and that makes some dudes mad") People trying to get women into tech with whatever method possible etc.

Maybe it isnt a pervasive piece of EVERY conversation, but you can literally find hundreds of articles on this site about that very topic. Hey look, right now! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6975533

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#9

Post by smadge » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 5:59 PM UTC

bobosha wrote: post #2

Can't speak to the Duck Dynasty guy, but the skewering of PG is perfect example of the pc lynchmobs preventing a conversation about the absence of women in tech. As a techie, I see think there's significant truth to PG's opinions. Surely it takes two to tango, the tech industry is keen to hire and encourage women entrepreneurs, but it's not like women are being turned away at the gates, by sexist VCs.

But women chose not to join the tech industry because it is not an appealing option. It is not an appealing for any reason intrinsic to either women or the tech industry, but because the tech industry is currently dominated by men who are unable to create a comfortable work environment for women and because the tech industry enforces the norm that it is not for women. When an influential leader in the industry says that there is an intrinsic reason women can not be in technology, it is propagating that norm and preventing women from entering the industry.

Re: On Paul Graham and Duck Dynasty

#10

Post by skylan_q » Sat, Dec 28, 2013, 6:00 PM UTC

Many things are manufactured to create outrage. I've no doubt the duck dynasty guy is one of these cases.

He’s been saying crazy shit like this on the regular for a while now...

Crazy? Maybe he's just gleaming from observation and experience or hunches? Is that crazy?