[konjin]

I'm a minority, and I feel really fucking stupid that I have to say that so I don't get banned, but how on earth can anyone get expelled for saying they support the policy of the US government?

That is insular to the point of caricature for out of touch democrat staffing aids, not people trying to make money.

[calciphus]

Private groups don't have to swear fealty to the government. Individuals are allowed and encouraged to dissent, form groups of dissention, and don't owe it to anyone to grant them access to that group.

Regardless of one's personal politics, insisting "if the government says it's ok, you shouldn't be allowed to reject someone who supports it" isn't really in line with the core ideals of the US, where YC is organized.

[konjin]

Alienating 50% of customers, and lets be honest these are the stupider customers you can more easily monetize, is not a good move for anyone trying to make money, which is the point of a startup.

A well thought out Gab that was politically neutral will be able to steal the most engaged facebook users and then then sell them gold, guns and bibles, or whatever else those folks enjoy in their spare time.

This isn't an issue of morals, it's an issue of money.

[gkoberger]

Sorry, that's my fault, I'm going to edit my comment. I downplayed what he said.

Here's the full comments: https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/12/pro-trump-ceo-gets-booted-...

[konjin]

Ok, I can see why you'd get expelled over that.

[skissane]

According to Techcrunch [0]:

> Torba had also tweeted a screenshot of another founder’s Facebook comment (the founder’s name was removed) that “being a black, Muslim or woman in the USA is going to be very scary” with his own comment: “Build the wall.” Then, in another thread, a YC alum alluded to Torba’s behavior without mentioning him by name, prompting him to jump in: “Say my name when you talk about me, coward. Build the wall.”

He wasn't just publicly supporting Trump's border wall policy, he was doing it in an assholeish way, and directing that towards other YC founders. If he'd cut out the assholeish manner and the direction towards fellow founders, and just kept the publicly supporting Trump's policies part, I doubt YC would have responded in the same manner. That's consistent with Kat Manalac's email quoted in the same article – he was banned for behaving in a hostile way, not purely for his political beliefs.

[0] https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/12/pro-trump-ceo-gets-booted-...

[s5300]

Getting into the realm of Reddit tier comments in replying to this...

But in a genuine attempt to clear you up -

The people who made Nazi Germany a thing were "just citizens of Germany supporting the policy of the German government."

Institutions, such as YC, typically tend to have a set of morals/guidelines that they follow (and usually clearly state)

If it so happens that a policy of the US government goes against said morals/guidelines and you're in support of them... as what most see as a pretty important part of being in the US, they're free to give you the boot from their institution.

If they who be booted perceive their bootening as something that is illegal, they're also free to sue. Whether or not that lawsuit is credible/goes anywhere is up to a judiciary.

[ben_w]

Replying to both your nearly invisible comments: On the one hand, yes, selling things to people is the point.

On the other hand, one does not need to be an ass to one group just to get trade from another. Tim Cook was part of the big tech group that used to meet with Trump, yet managed to maintain corporate policies that are (from my non American POV) stereotypical of the American left.

[8note]

Not everyone agrees with the policies of the US government, including private businessess

[akhilcacharya]

As someone that is also a minority, I'm both aware and heartbroken that it became a very popular form of bullying towards children after 2015 [0].

Racist bullying isn't new of course, but this particular phrase is fairly new.

[0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/local/school-bu...

[kyrra]

.

[konjin]

That isn't anger, it's genuine incredulity.