[EliRivers]

This is a throwaway account created by someone who, as the name implies, thinks this sort of thing is acceptable but is afraid that people will disagree. Almost certainly male, he's an insecure coward, bizarrely valuing his approval by strangers here (his karma score) so much that he creates new accounts when he wants to say something he knows people will disagree with, so that he can continue to feel good about how much people like the false persona he routinely presents.

If I made this up, you wouldn't believe me.

[jiggy2011]

Either that or somebody who doesn't have a HN account and is going around reposting this anywhere that this article is discussed.

Every "gender issues" thread on HN seems to attract new accounts that are here only for gender issues.

[EliRivers]

Every "gender issues" thread on HN seems to attract new accounts that are here only for gender issues.

Or we have a great many people placing an enormous value on their HN karma score.

[jiggy2011]

Perhaps, although they are not always troll accounts. There are certainly groups who co-ordinate internet message board activity to enhance various agendas.