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My point was that this is just another story about a guy from a wealthy family who goes on to become very wealthy himself. Reminds me of the cliche where someon

My point was that this is just another story about a guy from a wealthy family who goes on to become very wealthy himself. Reminds me of the cliche where someone who is definitely not poor goes to a prestigious university, has an idea, creates a startup, drops out, becomes rich.

kafkaesq 10y ago
Reminds me of the cliche where someone who is definitely not poor goes to a prestigious university, has an idea, creates a startup, drops out, becomes rich. Yup, it definitely is kind of a cliche. And unfortunately it's more often the way things actually work. (Thinking of certain "founders" I've known who definitely would not have been, had it not been for family connections).
chatmasta 10y ago
This path will always exist due to confirmation bias resulting from rational decision making. Someone grows up wealthy, gets opportunities to go to a prestigious university, and accepts it. Should they have said no to the university? Of course not... so their rational decision making advances them one step further on the self-perpetuating path. Next, they're at university and they meet some people who introduce them to venture capitalists. Should they refuse the introduction, since not everyone gets to talk to venture capitalists? Of course not... so they make a rational decision and take the venture capital. I agree with your sentiment that this is a common trope. I'm merely suggesting that it is inevitable and self-perpetuating. As long as people make rational decisions to accept the best opportunities offered to them, they will funnel themselves into the "path of privilege," maybe without even realizing it. Of course, it's questionable whether the best opportunities are the ones that only come to you because of your status.... usually that means there is excess supply of those opportunities and you are on the verge of entering a culling machine. (See: recent increase in CS majors)

kafkaesq 10y ago

Reminds me of the cliche where someone who is definitely not poor goes to a prestigious university, has an idea, creates a startup, drops out, becomes rich. Yup, it definitely is kind of a cliche. And unfortunately it's more often the way things actually work. (Thinking of certain "founders" I've known who definitely would not have been, had it not been for family connections).

chatmasta 10y ago

This path will always exist due to confirmation bias resulting from rational decision making. Someone grows up wealthy, gets opportunities to go to a prestigious university, and accepts it. Should they have said no to the university? Of course not... so their rational decision making advances them one step further on the self-perpetuating path. Next, they're at university and they meet some people who introduce them to venture capitalists. Should they refuse the introduction, since not everyone gets to talk to venture capitalists? Of course not... so they make a rational decision and take the venture capital. I agree with your sentiment that this is a common trope. I'm merely suggesting that it is inevitable and self-perpetuating. As long as people make rational decisions to accept the best opportunities offered to them, they will funnel themselves into the "path of privilege," maybe without even realizing it. Of course, it's questionable whether the best opportunities are the ones that only come to you because of your status.... usually that means there is excess supply of those opportunities and you are on the verge of entering a culling machine. (See: recent increase in CS majors)