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Comment by knaq | Hacker News Reader

I see that nobody here (currently: czep, froasty, throwaway0b1, chaganated, core-questions) has any contact info in their Hacker News profile. Usually for political stuff that means a conservative working in the Bay Area, hiding in fear, though czep claims to be liberal.

Plain old phone numbers might be best for this.

It could be too scary with all the hostility. Given how the tech industry is, not many conservatives will be willing to reveal themselves. Performance reviews could suddenly turn sour for no apparent reason, and lots of conservatives have family to support.

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I created this account on the idea that it would probably be more productive to have political discussion separate from (unrelated) technical discussion, and probably be beneficial on the privacy front as well.

Phone numbers might work, but I personally would prefer something text-based, as I like to think through things before I say them. Again, though, I could see why some people would prefer the opposite.

I'd also like that thank czep for the idea, though - I find myself in a conservative echo chamber in my personal bubble and generally liberal echo chambers online, neither of which are especially receptive to good discussion.

I'm my own boss in a red state, so more concerned about getting pounded by spammers and weirdos than professional repercussions. Just don't see much point to the pen pal project.

Lift regularly, free yourself from the HR fatties, start a business, spend half the day filling out forms for every nickel-and-dime tax/license under the sun, and you will also want to get a helicopter license (to celebrate Pinochet's birthday in style!)

I say this as a former Bernie supporter.

I don't think I have any intention of giving away any actual contact information to participate in this. We need some more anonymous forum for it. Nothing I have to say is beyond the pale, but there are people out there who would see my family destitute for daring to have counter-cultural opinions about things.

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