We think it's true for the same reason many people talk about Hacker News as though it's the only place that attracts talent, and as though talent universally flocks there.
It's $INGROUP bias, and sectionalism. On the one hand it's self-affirming ("I go to conferences, I keep current on Hacker News, these are things good developers do, I'm a good developer"), and on the other hand it's trendy and convenient ("I'm going to post my job ad on Hacker News because that's the trendy place to be for good developers").
I think it's ultimately an echo chamber effect. I'm guilty of associating Hacker News with talented developers, but I'm aware of this bias and it's because I pay attention and follow the posts of people who have more or less proven themselves.
I think it would be very difficult to validate these assumptions.
It's $INGROUP bias, and sectionalism. On the one hand it's self-affirming ("I go to conferences, I keep current on Hacker News, these are things good developers do, I'm a good developer"), and on the other hand it's trendy and convenient ("I'm going to post my job ad on Hacker News because that's the trendy place to be for good developers").
I think it's ultimately an echo chamber effect. I'm guilty of associating Hacker News with talented developers, but I'm aware of this bias and it's because I pay attention and follow the posts of people who have more or less proven themselves.
I think it would be very difficult to validate these assumptions.