This same story happened back during the peak of the civil rights movement, and I can guarantee you that someone just like you and I had this same exchange. History repeats.
FWIW, I'm pragmatic on Eich. I don't like his behavior, but people change. He's been scalded enough and put under such global scrutiny that I imagine he will not attempt the same prejudicial behavior. He's entirely well-equipped, outside of this issue.
Now, you may opine that it does not reflect the facts. It just seems to me that:
- a majority of commenters on the forum disagree with Eich's position
- as gays form a fairly small part of the population at large, and I'm not aware of any overrepresentation of gay people on HN, it follows that the majority of commenters are straight
Ergo, it's likely that most people protesting against Eich's appointment on HN are straight, and that it's not a gay conspiracy.
I'm not sure where you saw a "wrong side" to my argument either. For the record, I disagree with his position, but I also recognize that it is shared by the majority of the population of California, and that it is entirely possible that for a man like Eich, 1000$ represents pocket change. In any case, I'm of the mind of letting his actions as CEO speak for him.