4 ms·

I find that a lot of people who make this argument don't really care about other peoples quality of life/time/money/etc They just don't want that other person

by jmkni 9y ago

I find that a lot of people who make this argument don't really care about other peoples quality of life/time/money/etc They just don't want that other person to try, as if somebody else gets VC funding or launches a successful product, then it's less likely that you will be able to successfully do so, especially if you are in a similar space. Talking somebody out of trying by convincing them that there is no chance of success is a lot easier than actually competing with them.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
smt88 9y ago
> I find that a lot of people who make this argument don't really care about other peoples quality of life/time/money/etc My own anecdata disagrees -- the people I know who give this advice are older people who have built a few companies and, likely, failed a few times. That's also where I'm coming from. I lost $50k before I ever succeeded at anything, and it was punishing on my family, personal life, and long-term finances. It's alarming to me when I meet people who idolize entrepreneurship and have no idea how risky and expensive it is. I meet people like this all the time, and I see them on HN from time to time, although I think HN is dominated more by people like me, who know that starting a company is gambling. If you don't believe it's gambling, read about how good VCs are at picking winners (hint: not good). If even VCs can't pick a winner, how do you think an individual can objectively assess her own likelihood of success? Venture capital is one of the highest-risk, highest-reward classes of mainstream investment. If you're starting a company, you are your own venture capitalist, at least at the beginning. Nothing I've said is controversial or difficult to back up with facts, but it seems there are lots of rich/privileged people who think it's no big deal to lose tens of thousands of dollars and advise everyone to do the same, even though it's not feasible for most people.

by jmkni 9y ago

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

smt88 9y ago

> I find that a lot of people who make this argument don't really care about other peoples quality of life/time/money/etc My own anecdata disagrees -- the people I know who give this advice are older people who have built a few companies and, likely, failed a few times. That's also where I'm coming from. I lost $50k before I ever succeeded at anything, and it was punishing on my family, personal life, and long-term finances. It's alarming to me when I meet people who idolize entrepreneurship and have no idea how risky and expensive it is. I meet people like this all the time, and I see them on HN from time to time, although I think HN is dominated more by people like me, who know that starting a company is gambling. If you don't believe it's gambling, read about how good VCs are at picking winners (hint: not good). If even VCs can't pick a winner, how do you think an individual can objectively assess her own likelihood of success? Venture capital is one of the highest-risk, highest-reward classes of mainstream investment. If you're starting a company, you are your own venture capitalist, at least at the beginning. Nothing I've said is controversial or difficult to back up with facts, but it seems there are lots of rich/privileged people who think it's no big deal to lose tens of thousands of dollars and advise everyone to do the same, even though it's not feasible for most people.