4 ms·

I have yet to see a working definition for "change the world." And if there is one, who creates this definition? VC? Journalists? Once I see a workable defin

by whatwha 11y ago

I have yet to see a working definition for "change the world." And if there is one, who creates this definition? VC? Journalists? Once I see a workable definition, my next question is why "change the world" is a metric, a goal, or whatever it is. Given your answer, what does that imply? Maybe the phrase should be more truthful... something like "make a meaningful contribution". Maybe this is just an American buzz phrase and I am not getting it? To be honest, I am getting a little tired of it. There's that Woodstock generation song from the 60's with the chorus: "I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do..." I guess software VC and tech journalists have now solved that issue? Funny, but "changing the world" (in the idelistic sense of the song) today seems a much more daunting task than it did back then, even with the addition of cable TV and now another communication medium being offered by the telcos and cable companies. The world is better entertained and possibly better informed. The "change" it led to is some ridiculously strong monopolies that like to maintain status quo.

effie 11y ago
In Czech/Slovak Republic, it would sound quite preposterous and pathetic if someone claimed "and this will change the world" or "this will make the world a better place", so thankfully we do not usually get this nonsense, although generally the pathetic PR-speak continues to creep in into public communications. I recall there is a nice Czech song by the old group Nedvědi+Brontosauři with a verse going "...I wished to rebuild the world, yeah that happens, so many of us did and still nothing...".
- prodmerc 11y ago
  And that's why you never will (change the world). Or the people who can will move elsewhere. If someone in CZ would invent a new battery and claim it will change the world, they'd be ridiculed even if they can prove it works. But not in major tech hubs, most of which are still in the US. They'd get money. In a world where exaggeration is the norm, it's hard to break through with understatements and even normal statements (like stating pure facts and refraining from saying preposterous things like "world changing"). "Aim for the stars and you'll land on the Moon" holds true for most businesses imo...
ams6110 11y ago
And the standard rejoinder to "we're going to change the world" is that Hitler changed the world. Stalin changed the world. etc.
deleted 11y ago
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by whatwha 11y ago

effie 11y ago

In Czech/Slovak Republic, it would sound quite preposterous and pathetic if someone claimed "and this will change the world" or "this will make the world a better place", so thankfully we do not usually get this nonsense, although generally the pathetic PR-speak continues to creep in into public communications. I recall there is a nice Czech song by the old group Nedvědi+Brontosauři with a verse going "...I wished to rebuild the world, yeah that happens, so many of us did and still nothing...".

prodmerc 11y ago
And that's why you never will (change the world). Or the people who can will move elsewhere. If someone in CZ would invent a new battery and claim it will change the world, they'd be ridiculed even if they can prove it works. But not in major tech hubs, most of which are still in the US. They'd get money. In a world where exaggeration is the norm, it's hard to break through with understatements and even normal statements (like stating pure facts and refraining from saying preposterous things like "world changing"). "Aim for the stars and you'll land on the Moon" holds true for most businesses imo...

ams6110 11y ago

And the standard rejoinder to "we're going to change the world" is that Hitler changed the world. Stalin changed the world. etc.

deleted 11y ago

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