Yes, it's transphobic.
That you cannot smell this out -- or do, but pretend you don't -- says a heartbreaking amount about HN culture.
We're here, right beside you, in your workplaces, in your forums, hearing what you say.
And then we have to do our damn jobs.
Do you know what that's like?
Anyway, just be aware you have allies. I've just given up participating on HN when these topics come up since it's gotten so utterly polarized and hyperbolic. I typically just flag the article and move on. I assume there's a pretty large silent audience of folks like myself who are simply exhausted by the whole thing and are done being exposed to the negativity and borderline conspiracy theories floating around here. I come to HN for cool tech stories, not to be exposed to even more American political food fights.
Of course, despite that, here I am... but, hey, I never said I had self-control...
May I ask why you do this? Do you not think that others would want to discuss/debate/argue about the topic?
> borderline conspiracy theories floating around here
Do you have an example of one of these? (Genuinely interested in what you mean by this)
Because unoriginal political flamebait is off-topic for this site. From the site guidelines:
> Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon.
Certainly this story is neither interesting nor new. It's just Sticks and Stones redux.
Given the quality of discussion associated with these topics they actively diminish my experience of HN and make me want to avoid the site.
> Do you have an example of one of these? (Genuinely interested in what you mean by this)
A very common sentiment I see around here and elsewhere is imagining some secret, organized sjw cabal that's out to get people:
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28883427
"The context is there is a playground game being played at scale. In order to be accepted in certain circles, one needs to discern who the thought leaders are, display the proper deference to them, and above all adhere to approved talking points. "
I could probably find half a dozen comments in this thread alone expressing similar sentiments.
> Because unoriginal political flamebait is off-topic for this site. From the site guidelines:
Whilst I agree with you here, when the topic occurs within a tech company I think it is relevant. Basically it's very difficult to separate the tech from the politics in the current climate.
> A very common sentiment I see around here and elsewhere is imagining some secret, organized sjw cabal
When employees and students are being asked to complete "check your thinking" training, it's hard not to think there's a organised cabal pulling all the strings :)
I watched his latest special and perhaps I didn't catch it but could you give examples about the specific language he used? I'd like go back and watch again.