[krapp]

If they're on Hacker News, there's a good chance they've never made less than a six figure salary in their entire life, which would certainly place them in the upper 5% of wealth globally. So while it isn't a certain bet it is a safe bet.

And if it doesn't apply to you, it doesn't apply to you. There are plenty of people here it does apply to.

[sublinear]

Yeah... that's 1 in 20? The smart kid in the back of the class grew up? I'm not sure who you were expecting that person to become.

If the barrier to becoming an "elite" is that low and you still consider 6-figures a meaningful benchmark in a world that sells big macs for 10 bucks, are you also calling anyone running even a modestly successful small business "elite"?

I'm not even sure I'm engaging with a meaningful political statement here. The barriers to this level of "success" are more reliably psychological, not systemic. You're basically upset at anyone with a career. There are definitely things we need to do to help those struggling, but yelling here is slacktivism.

[krapp]

Yes. Having more wealth than the vast majority of people makes you an elite.

I don't know why you think making a 100k or higher salary is just "Big Mac money," but you're either larping or exactly the kind of out of touch I'm talking about.

[appreciatorBus]

Exactly. Median income in the US like 50k. For the HN folk (including me) who make more than that, I'm very happy for you, but please stop pretending you are part of the downtrodden, oppressed proletariat. Be happy for your lot in life, but for the love of god find a way to be humble. Consider yourself lucky, enjoy your time in the sun, but no one is oppressing you by asking you to come to the office.