Why is it okay to call out white western males, but to focus down on any other gender and race with a negative statement like that would be seen as intolerant?

What's negative about saying this would "chill applications from startups working on problems not relating to white western males'? If Thiel was supporting a candidate who was chauvinistically in favor of black women, it would be fine to worry about people from other backgrounds being excluded. But he isn't (in part because such a candidate doesn't exist.)

I guess my point is a bit of a straw man, but I'd expect backlash if someone did make a statement like "chill applications from startups working on problems not relating to black women".

This is probably just me making assumptions.

Historical context.

Sadly, racists always find ways to rationalize their racism.

We will be finally able to concentrate on intersectional feminist theory and inclusion when all the fucking white racists are dead.

#allracesmatter /s

I know this is in jest but I honestly think the world would be a much better place if race was totally off the radar.

I'm not trying to say white males are victims but the more we draw racial lines the more we segregate our society.

I agree with your sentiment that society would be much better without racial segregation, but pretending it doesn't exist won't make it go away - the first step to fixing a problem is to acknowledge that it exists.

YC gets what 4k applications? You think founders are not going to apply to YC because of who Thiel gives money to?

Seems unlikely.

All it takes is the next Google to decide not to apply, or to turn down their acceptance, to bend the return curve.

Check your priors.

People are known to take principled stands.

Which is what this conversation's about.

People do take stands but my reply was to:

> This in turn chills applications from startups working on problems not relating to white western males.

With the crush of applicants now I doubt more than a very few applicants are not going to apply because Thiel is on the board.

I'd reconsider applying to YC based on this and would definitely not accept money from Thiel himself.