[animus9]

"The term 'software engineer' conjures images of pasty-faced young men with poor posture and limited social skills."

...

"We have this idea of people in technology being and looking a certain way," she said. "That stereotype is destructive, and I think that's part of the reason why female and minority programmers are so few."

...

Her personal opinions and prejudices aside, the article is a tad hypocritical. It's hard to tell to whom the stereotype is most destructive. The media has created and maintains the "nerd stereotype", which I would argue is more destructive to those who are classified as such: since they have to overcome a far more general prejudice than lack of visibility in a particular field.

CNN has a lot of nerve to use a racial slur such as 'pasty-faced'. I believe the correct term is Caucasian.

I am all for dropping the obviously false stereotype about nerds. But let's not paint this particular oppressed group as villains.

Do you see what I am doing here? Look for the truth my friends, and come to your own conclusions. Do not be complacent with their lies.

[smtddr]

Every time...

Theory: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6441795

Potential examples:

  1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6885123 - Homeless coder starts app
  2. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6365495 - Africans genetically more corrupt?
  3. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6448409 - Rick Ross's history
  4. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6857739 - Nelson Mandela dies
  5. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6035263 - (Most obvious)Resume with black vs white name
  6. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6902563 - Cover up racist+sexist mindset in Harvard
  7. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6907915 - Homeless coder finishes app
  8. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6975732 - BlackGirlsCode event
  9. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7040437 - BlackGirlsCode event mentioned in list of female-focused events in tech.

I'm going to just keep on collecting these links and post the list on every instance I see. This will be added as the 10th. (Though I will make special note that this instance is probably made worse by the recent spotlight the tech-scene is under in regards to gender inequality).

[vacri]

But their arguments will become so spacious that you'll need 5 screen-lengths to debate with them

I think you mean 'specious', though I guess 'spacious' also fits that description.

[smtddr]

Oh wow, I didn't even know about that word! Now I wish I could edit that old comment.

[yetanotherphd]

You claim that what is happening is that every time a story than happens to involve a Black person or a woman is posted, people post comments about race/gender to derail the discussion.

What is actually happening is that every time a story promoting progressive views on race/gender (this story explicitly mentions gender), people post to disagree with the message of the story.

[alexjeffrey]

> CNN has a lot of nerve to use a racial slur such as 'pasty-faced'. I believe the correct term is Caucasian.

I really hope this is sarcasm - pasty-faced quite obviously implies Caucasian, but specifically those with a lack of exposure to natural light i.e. being cooped up inside all day long with a computer prevents one from developing a tan.

[ninjac0der]

So you agree, it's racial and derogatory in it's nature.

[jamesaguilar]

A racial slur is typically thought of as a slur that is about race. Pasty-faced is not about race. It's about not getting enough sunlight. Race is implied because darker colored people do not look anything like paste when they don't get enough sun. But that race is implied does not mean pasty-faced is any more a racial slur than the negative use of "pale."

[ninjac0der]

Lines in the sand you fool.

[yetanotherphd]

Yeah, it's hard to see how being looked down on as ugly people with bad social skills is a mark of privilege. I apologize for being such a loser, since its clearly oppressing normal attractive people who want to enter the field.

Perhaps their thinking is that if people who are born with the privilege of being White and male end up as losers, then those people must be objectively inferior and so there is nothing wrong with making fun of them. I have trouble following progressive thinking sometimes.

[LordHumungous]

>CNN has a lot of nerve to use a racial slur such as 'pasty-faced'. I believe the correct term is Caucasian.

Please spare us your faux outrage. "Pasty faced" is not a racial slur by any reasonable definition of the term.

[jpatokal]

Plenty of pasty-faced Asian geeks out there as well.

[codygman]

You almost had me with the "lot of never to use a racial slur..." part. Also, pasty-faced is the equivalent of ashy-faced (for black people) which is also not a racial slur.