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Comment by foolrush | Hacker News Reader

The posts to these sorts of articles in a forum absolutely littered with male white dudes and a dearth of sociologists is a perfect echo chamber.

Have a look at your statement and see where cultural feedback loops apply.

> Why does YC invest overwhelmingly in more young men than women?

Equating investment, or return on investment of capital, as a barometer of "success" or some form of empiricist metric of adaptability is a first issue.

> Is this just a big ole bastion of discrimination here?

As to the second point regarding discrimination, yes. It is a perfect case in point as to where and how discriminatory practice gains a foothold.

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"Equating investment, or return on investment of capital, as a barometer of "success" ... is a first issue"

No, ROI is a great measure of 'success' for an institution like YC, in fact probably the best individual metric.

" It is a perfect case in point as to where and how discriminatory practice gains a foothold"

Or it could be the opposite of that: a place where people are mostly free of ideological assumptions and discrimination.

"absolutely littered with male white dudes and a dearth of sociologists is a perfect echo chamber."

Making such an assumption is 'actual' bigotry, not 'possible discrimination' because the statement devalues the opinions of those making comments essentially on the basis of their gender etc..

Personally, I'm perfectly open to nuanced ideas on how all of this should work out. I definitely think there is work to be done, and we can be more thoughtful about all of this ... but I find so many of the SJW arguments are 'hammers' from the 1960's, like 'unequal outcomes = sexism'. Those arguments are having less and less validity. We need nuance and dispassion on the issue.

> No, ROI is a great measure of 'success' for an institution like YC, in fact probably the best individual metric.

It makes for a broken culture. Have a look around you. Chasing profit is no indicator of cultural value. Unless you want to start discussing Beanie Babies and Tulip crazes. Or the problematic aspects of Facebook et al.

> Or it could be the opposite of that: a place where people are mostly free of ideological assumptions and discrimination.

I'd do a spit-take if I could.

You should try 100 level philosophy and perhaps investigate epistemology.

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