Can someone explain to me how can a system that penalise any opinion that differs from mainstream be considered something good? I get this sinister feeling and need some comfort.

You can take any amount of scientific evidence that there are population level differences and there will still be someone who will discard it like it does not matter at all.

Any reasons you would actually think that?

"Churchill wanted to [...] ensure fair and free government in Eastern Europe, especially Poland, for whom in 1939 Britain had gone to war." Poland was left largely without help during WW2. If Britain and France would agree for a preemptive strike against Hitler the whole ordeal could be avoided in the first place. If the help would come in the 3 first months of the war, most of the destruction could be averted. Lets not forget about Warsaw uprising in which 11 old kids were fighting waiting for some sort of help to come from "allies". Percentage of the destruction was bigger than in Nagasaki, yet no brit around.

It's funny that this is posted on HN since places on which you cannot speak any controversial opinions are the main way in which CC spreads. HN being one of those places by design.

Great idea, it's a shame that they had to add this 50/50 nonsense. I know a lot of guy that would kill for that opportunity.

They probably just put that on there for marketing. I highly doubt it will happen in practice. It's as ridiculous as stating that a nursing problem will be 50% male, it's just not going to happen. People are slowly starting to awake up (again) to the fact that men and women are biologically wired differently and will generally pursue different things in life, and that that is OK.

And I know a lot of women who have been successful graduates of the program, what's your point?

I dont understand these split of opportunity based on something(race/sex etc). Its more PR move than anything

If people truly want equality, it shouldnt even be a factor. No prejudice. Just treat all as of us one thing, human being.

If everyone starts from the same place it's fine to say "give everyone equal opportunity". If you really want to have equal opportunity given the historical and social background you have to acknowledge that everyone doesn't start from the same place.

And how exactly does it translate to gender? If anything, I would argue that most women have much better background. Not that it matters anyway. If an immigrant from 3rd world country can come to US at age 30 and be better than the competition, then you pretty much have no excuse if you were born here.

I suspect that they would not be if there would be an equal opportunity. Not giving people a chance just because of ideology is despicable. That's my point.

Lots of people don't have a chance. There's a fixed number of slots and many more qualified applicants.

That's true. World is not a fair place. No point in making it more unequal though. Let just the best and more dedicated win.