> Me- “Tell me about the last time you got involved in a
> debate on HackerNews.”
>
> Candidate- “Hmm, I don’t really talk to people online. I
> don’t see the value in talking to people I don’t know.’
>
> She didn’t get the job.
It seems that they were interviewing for a "Technical Community Manager", in which case I can see the logic behind not hiring them.
But if they weren't, I wouldn't suggest that was a "hard no". A lot of people don't get involved on social news sites, for a variety of reasons (maybe they have done in the past and don't like being attacked by a bunch of strangers for their opinions). If they had never heard of HN, I might have to think twice, but I certainly wouldn't rule someone out for not getting involved in "debates" (all too often flamewars) on social news sites.
It seems that they were interviewing for a "Technical Community Manager", in which case I can see the logic behind not hiring them.
But if they weren't, I wouldn't suggest that was a "hard no". A lot of people don't get involved on social news sites, for a variety of reasons (maybe they have done in the past and don't like being attacked by a bunch of strangers for their opinions). If they had never heard of HN, I might have to think twice, but I certainly wouldn't rule someone out for not getting involved in "debates" (all too often flamewars) on social news sites.