[h3h]

There seems to be a recurrent theme of social marginalization when reporting on software and especially open source. Specifically, opening this article with the fact that the guy "lives with his parents" immediately sets him up as an eccentric, dysfunctional person in the eyes of the typical Western reader.

Is this just a reflection of the culture and bias that NYTimes journalists have, or (more sinisterly) are there official guidelines for spin on these types of stories?

[bconway]

Probably neither. They're just painting a picture of a stark contrast between him and "the world’s most powerful consumer electronics and technology companies."

[jrockway]

I thought the same thing.

Then I realized that it's odd that Americans think it's distasteful to be loyal to your family.

[kiba]

Maybe you're just reading into too much what these people wrote.