[ncallaway]

The great thing about technology is you can always make your own space. You can have a niche website — or other technological forum — that is a bastion of iconoclastic freethinkers.

The problem that you're experiencing is that the mainstream public is now very much using technology. That means the average opinions expressed on the web on the internet have become much more mainstream. Which, pretty much by definition, means the average opinion has become much more hostile to iconoclastic thoughts.

[paxdickinson]

I'm not talking about the mainstream. I'm talking about hiring and funding within our industry. If you haven't noticed a chilling effect over the last few years, maybe you don't have any nonconforming opinions.

[ncallaway]

I run my own (self-funded) company, so I haven't been subject to hiring or funding in a few years.

I wouldn't be shocked if a future client held our espoused opinions against us. I tend to strongly stand by any opinions that I advocate for publicly, and I'm willing to handle the repercussions from those opinions.

If I felt the repercussions of those opinions were disproportionate I would advocate for those opinions anonymously. The ability to espouse unpopular opinions is the main reason why I strongly advocate for allowing anonymous speech.

[tomjen3]

And if you make your own space online, then what happens when you lose your job because you were a member/founder of offensive side X?

Heck, look at how much bullshit the Reddit founders have had to wade though?