You're right, that was an overly broad generalization about the readership of a public internet forum.
People on here are always willing to read stories with substantiated claims or new information. However, yet another article pointing out how there is a general gender imbalance in the workforce that matches college CS graduation rates is likely to fall flat.
So if HN is downvoting, it's probably because educated people are not liking being played by a tired narrative.
Major tech firm is worse with race/gender discrimination than the community at large? Please, ever worked blue collar and seen their hiring practices?
They are dismissive for a reason.
If the tech community wants to set a good example, great. Being played to feel like they are worse than society... to smart for that narrative.
As long as it is reported as such. Which it is not. Hence my point.
This story is unfounded? Really? We have one solid reason why they didn't run the story:
> Subsequently, several months passed with no word from them. I reached out, and was told by the writer as politely as possible, that the editor killed the story — because I wasn’t the “… archetypal Black entrepreneur to hang the story around”.
So it seems therpe1 is mainly upset that critical commentary takes place here, which is the almost lamest possible thing to complain about. The only thing that would have made it worse is to put something in like "Edit: bring on the downvotes, you know I'm right".
Your race, your country, your culture, your health, your finances, your dependents, your family all have a massive impact on whether you can stop doing whatever you're doing and focus fully on turning an idea into a high growth business. Maybe it's just me, but I personally believe that it is a huge privilege to have the ability to pursue entrepreneurship.
I could be a coal miner in war-torn sub-Saharan Africa trying to make ends meet to pay for my sick child's care, instead I'm sitting in a comfortable air conditioned office in the Bay, able to complain that the snack selection is not sufficiently locally sourced.
Which narrative do you think that is?
It is demeaning and patronizing to hear that you're victim and your race should be what defines you.
The author is trying to say "Here look at the cool business I built with a lot of work and talent. Check out the algorithm I am using etc." and journalist wants to instead write about "Poor black person somehow made it out of a poor neighborhood. Let's point out his race over and over...".
The narrative built could be that journalists are mistreating successful entrepreneurs by looking for stereotypes.
Also, someone could look at this article and think it signals that discussions about race and its effect on entrepreneurship are now actually harmful overall.
Another narrative could be that the archetypal black entrepreneur is well represented by this guy.
Alternatively, someone could build this into a narrative that black people aren't inordinately effected by poverty.
I don't personally think there is enough quantitative evidence relayed in the article to substantiate any of those narratives, but I'm pretty sure at least one or two of those narratives have been cognitively hardened in someone because they read this article.