To use the YC/dev culture to your advantage you have to play your cards in a smart way. Make yourself a name (make a cool html5 website promoting yourself as a professional). Make trendy silly things in javascript, post 'em to github, to show HN. Get upvoted. Comment, gather karma. Don't show your depressive attitude to people, it turns them off (because it reminds them about their privilege of being born into a wealthy country).

Basically read this guy http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-pro... and follow the clique.

You can make it if you try hard enough.