Hell, many years ago, before some of our HN readers were born, I co-founded a start-up that had trouble recruiting people because we only created 200,000 shares

Hell, many years ago, before some of our HN readers were born, I co-founded a start-up that had trouble recruiting people because we only created 200,000 shares at founding, and other companies were giving away millions of options. How could we compete only offering hundreds of options? I don't know if the candidates were playing stupid, or really that dumb, or trying to angle for something better, or just didn't like the company and were trying to back out politely, but it got damn frustrating. Lots of people just want to be lied to. You know why employers spew bullshit to candidates? Because candidates eat it up.