[dang]

Thanks to the fair-minded users of Hacker News for downvoting this bullshit. When I encounter a comment like this, it's a relief to discover that the community immune system already rejected it.

When you see a comment that is truly toxic for HN, flag it by clicking "link" to go to the item page and then "flag" at the top.

Edit: Since I know some people have concerns about unpopular opinions being suppressed, perhaps I should add that it's not an unpopular opinion which is the problem here. It's the trollish content and vicious tone.

[rayiner]

He's not just trolling and vicious, but he's wrong too. The other day, I brought up the fact that Michael Bay had gotten the design of the ninja turtles totally wrong in the new movie. And she said: "I always kinda liked TMNT, but it was a 'boy' thing so I never really got into it a kid. I mean, I guess they had April."

So yes, gender matters. Kids want to be able to relate to their heroes, and gender is a deep part of identity. And admitting that gender matters isn't sexist.

[dang]

Being wrong is not a crime on Hacker News; trolling and viciousness are.

[ElComradio]

I wonder how many civil, patiently explained responses that live up to your expectations for HN standards would have appeared if the request was for a male-only engineer.

[dang]

It doesn't matter. Trying to measure these things for who's worse, etc., is a guaranteed way to fall straight back into raging. What we need are "civil, patiently explained responses" all around.

[larrys]

I think it might be a good idea when you make your mod comments to include the fact that you are the mod.

I wouldn't assume that people know that. In fact if I hadn't read that particular post on that day I wouldn't know that.

I wouldn't also assume that any particular user will even click on your profile (which is another way of saying "don't just put it there").

[dang]

I see your point, and have wondered about it myself. This seems like a case where laziness will show the way. If it's important, it will eventually be obvious that it needs implementing. There are a lot of other features to build.

I thought for a while about only making mod comments from this account, but that doesn't seem right. I was a community member and HN user long, long before I was a moderator.

We'll figure it all out as we go :)