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I think you're being unnecessarily confrontational. The question is a valid one. If you're hoping to apply to a fund led by someone, and that someone says "we pay the most attention to how you can hack stuff", then it'd be pretty silly not to try to demonstrate that ability. Even in the real world where there is no Internet or computer monitors, knowing the goals of the people you're applying to is pretty fundamental.

1) The hit against English majors was entirely unnecessary.

2) I don't see how experiencing the real world would have gotten him any closer to the answer. HN seems to be a perfectly reasonable forum to ask. There might have been something interesting there.

The analogy I'd make is with theologians: carefully teasing apart the meaning of every. single. word. because the payoff is eternal bliss/admission to YC.

Look everyone... It's a STEM guy!

I agree that the pg worship is weird, but there's no need to be so hostile.