4 ms·
When did some of these of prominent tech people begin thinking that acting like psychopaths was the way to achieve business success?
by internetman55 9y ago
When did some of these of prominent tech people begin thinking that acting like psychopaths was the way to achieve business success?
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- tlarkworthy 9y agoThat's the reward structure of Big Capatalism. I don't think it's a tech thing. It's the enormous pyramid structure of large corps. Psychopaths are good at promotion.
- WC3w6pXxgGd 9y ago"Big Capatalism" That's a new one.
- watwut 9y agoThey became prominent, because such behavior is rewarded and praised.
- potatolicious 9y agoWhen they successfully popularized the narrative of Founder-as-Ubermensch, as modern-day titans tirelessly hauling human progress forward. And conversely, the narrative that those with grievance against startups or their actions are anti-progress, that opposition to a tech startup means you're either stupid or corrupt. When you're operating under the notion that what you're doing will literally move the human race forward, it becomes very easy to rationalize things that don't pass a simple smell test. Surely a bit of minor illegality is acceptable when you're going to Change The World(tm)? I for one am glad to see this lie finally being challenged en masse. It's unclear to me still how much of Startup/Founder Mythology was intended for PR purposes, and how much did startup execs end up believing for themselves.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- __jal 9y ago> It's unclear to me still how much of Startup/Founder Mythology was intended for PR purposes, and how much did startup execs end up believing for themselves. Why choose? For a while, everyone who counted won - execs, investors, ibankers, even some of the workers, some of the time - when the rubes bought the line. But eventually it starts causing problems - like when the rubes start actually expecting accountability. If you're the, ahem, ubermench, then you are also at fault when you screw up, as much as the Kalanicks of the world try to weasel, bully or deflect. The sooner this bullshit dies, the sooner we can behave like a somewhat sane industry.
- anigbrowl 9y agoAs teenagers when they developed a crush on Ayn Rand, I'd guess.
- tryingagainbro 9y agoWell it worked for them, they're worth at least $50B (Softbank wants to buy shares at that price.) They might have to pay a few billion in fines or damages but that's all. New CEO will apologize and we'll forget it. And that is because they got caught... Not defending them, just saying in many cases these tactics work.
- draw_down 9y agoMaybe when we handed over hundreds of billions to the banks. I dunno, just a guess
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- icebraining 9y agoUber is just trying to fit in the taxi industry: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/nyregion/taxi-king-is-charged-with-stealing-5-million-in-state-fees.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/nyregion/taxi-king-is-cha... http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/taxi-king-nyc-sexually-harassed-assistant-months-suit-article-1.2961765 http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/taxi-king-nyc-sexually-h...
- majani 9y ago"Apologize rather than ask for permission" has always been a common mantra in tech. It's just that with Uber it's a freelancer marketplace so they're dealing with actual people instead of just data, which magnifies their actions. If you could take the time to make a wider observation, you'll find that online freelance marketplaces are generally lightning rods for hate
- wpietri 9y agoHas it been? I was around for Bubble 1.0 and I don't recall the level of brazen lawlessness we're seeing with Uber.