I don't know why the rest of YC is downvoting and claiming this isn't the case. If you search previous Theranos threads, you will find questionable comments extrapolating a blanket view on women in tech.
So it happened? I mean geez, "welcome to the internet," but are any of them credible? It seems just as unfair to extrapolate a blanket view on commentary about Theranos if it's just random shitposters.
Well I just find it hypocritical that the mods would censor dubious and subjective criteria for what's considered unsubstantial a.k.a. whoever the HN elite circles dislike or feels like a threat to their narrative.
There are two mods on HN: 'dang and 'sctb. It's not clear to me if you're referring to the two of them in particular or using mod in a more general sense to refer to anyone who is voting or flagging. If the latter, I'd recommend not using the term mod this way on HN. If the former and you believe you have legitimate concerns about their activity (which they're quite open about), I recommend contacting them via the Contact link in the footer and raising the issues you see. In my experience they're very forthcoming.
In my experience, people often have a (completely understandable and human) selective view of downvoting and flagging activity. There's a wide variety of opinions and perspectives on HN and I've seen all of them downvoted or flagged at one time or another, just as I've seen commenters of all persuasions be civil, well-reasoned, and, unfortunately, egregiously trollish and ranty.
No problem. As someone who is a firm believer in social equality across gender, orientation, race, culture and religious identity., it irks to me see the subtle and cleverly veiled micro-aggressions that women face in this environment where logic regardless of it's merit dominates all else, even empathy.
It's also the result of being around highly technocentric where we've erroneously optimized for logic as the driver in all debates. Unfortunately, dialectics aren't very popular.
For example, I regularly see transphobic statements that simply go undownvoted/unflagged on HN. I was even downvoted for adding Chelsea Manning, a transgender whistleblower, had full rights to be the correct gender because it was a human right.
Ever since Trump got elected, I find HN picked up a bit of intolerance.