You are absolutely right, almost all of the tech communities are, pardon the expression, but a technical dick waving contest. What makes HN totally different and the reason I gave up hope on the rest of them is the positive vibe among it's members. You see it almost instantly when a new member comes on and thinks it is just another tech forum. Not in a rude way but in a way that brings about a profound realization in those new members, some stick others don't and that is what makes HN great.

As for the author, he should take comfort in the fact that he has experienced something that 99% of people never will, he has insight that is very valuable, it sucks while you are going through it but it will help form a better you, guaranteed. Failure builds character, that is one of life's few constants. He seems to be hung up on the fact that he has no formal training and is young, but neither of those are a serious disadvantage in this field.

If it where me personally I would be using the opportunity wisely, there is no better time in life to rebuild it the way you want it to be, than right after you have burnt you old life to the ground. I wish my family would have been more entrepreneurial oriented. I was never given the wisdom that the best path to Independence is to create your own future and that there is no better time to do that than when you are at home with you parents and do not have a life to maintain. Wisdom in his current situation could lead to a profound change in his life. There is not better time for opportunity than in his current situation.