Hacker News Reader

Comment by ChrisMarshallNY | Hacker News Reader

Not because of YC. I think that what people say here, is only a fairly small data point, for them.

But I would encourage folks to consider their approach, in general, whenever we are in a professional context (and, despite the casual nature of HN, this is very much a “professional context”).

I think that some few people here, are able to post in a truly anonymous fashion, but most folks could be doxxed fairly easily, if they piss off the wrong people (not always movers and shakers; we have some truly amazing talent, hereabouts).

In my case, I just make it clear who I am, and post carefully (I know it may not seem so, but look closer). I learned, long ago, that I’m not actually able to maintain true anonymity, so I don’t even try.

View on HN

I think it's important to distinguish between two directions here: 1) can someone figure out who I am based on my profile and 2) can someone find my profile if they know who I am. I care much more about the second, because the odds of someone attempting the second are much higher.

Well, back when I was looking for work, a couple of companies asked for my HN handle (actually, it's one of the reasons that I got an account, here).

It was fairly obvious, that I would not be considered, if I didn't have one.

> a couple of companies asked for my HN handle

That's kind of shitty. I'm writing this down as in the last 2-3 years I've started to care less and less about any perceived veil (or hypocrisy, to be more honest) on websites like this one but it's still interesting to see that companies filter out potential employees based on that manifested hypocrisy. That explains a lot of how come SV is in the slump that it is right now (ignoring the AI bubble), but that's matter for a different discussion.

We all have to be well-behaved hackers and painters, or else. That's not how it worked in the past, and it will never work like that.

Well, behaving well (even "fake nice") isn't necessarily "hypocrisy."

All of us, and I mean ALL OF US have dark fantasy lives. Freud called it our "Id."

It's not meant to be worn outside our heads.

One of the common refrains that you'll hear from fans of "hatemongers," like Alex Jones and Rush Limbaugh, is "They're just saying what everyone is thinking!".

There's a reason that we don't say everything that we think.

That's not hypocrisy. That's being a good member of society.

I have good friends -like, actually really good friends, who hold beliefs that I disagree with -sometimes, quite strongly.

We don't talk about that stuff, when we're together.

That's not hypocrisy, either. That's being friends. We find that there are a lot more values that we hold in common, than in opposition.

Modern social media has made it fashionable to use society as a public toilet for our Ids. I don't think that it has improved things.

It is my belief that when it comes to politics, i.e. the life of the polis, it is in the best interest of said polis for its citizens to speak up their mind as closer to (their inner) truth as possible, otherwise it won’t be said citizens conducting the life of their polis.

The Freud/id stuff I can understand (and I agree with), but that’s related to a person’s inner “psychological” life, not to the polis as a whole.

I think when it comes to workplaces, it isn't really the same thing as the political arena (office "politics" aside). Personal restraint is fairly important. I have worked very closely, with people I desperately wanted to strangle, and we did good work.

Also, even in the political arena, there's often a need for personal restraint. My family has been in international diplomacy for decades (I'm the redneck engineer).

My father[0] used to constantly pop my "Simple wrong answer" balloons, on a regular, by explaining that nothing that involves humans, is ever actually simple, and that there are always dozens of competing forces at work; much of it sloppy emotions, pride, poverty, insecurity, tribalism, ignorance, religion, greed, and whatnot.

I have other family that has worked for decades, trying to get different faiths to work together, to address issues like poverty, lack of education, etc.

Talk about "herding cats."

Someone (I think Will Rogers) used to say "Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie,' while reaching for a rock."

[0] https://cmarshall.com/miscellaneous/MikeMarshall.htm

That explains a lot.

Eh. We all have our origin stories.

Turned out that I didn't really feel like working with companies that require HN handles, and they didn't feel like working with past-their-prime engineers, so it's all good.

I stuck around, and folks generally seem to feel I'm a decent member, here. A few curmudgeons don't like me, but, when you're "on the spectrum," you get pretty used to folks not liking you, for no discernible reason. I've found that being true to myself, means that it doesn't really matter, all that much. I've had really dangerous people not like me, IRL, so this joint is Amateur Hour.

I try to be a decent member here, and not bring darkness (I'm quite capable of it). Some folks think that makes me "stuffy," or "snobby."

Whatever creams your Twinkie. I'm actually a pretty decent person, and it's probably worth it, to get to know me. I won't make you rich, but I'm also no threat to anyone (and have no desire to be). I believe in helping folks, and trying to keep humanity first and foremost. HN handles are people, not NPCs (for the most part -Ed.), and I try to keep that in mind, when I post, here.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com