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The NY Times noted that audience reaction to The Social Network has been split very firmly by age: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/business/media/04carr.html
by seldo 16y ago
The NY Times noted that audience reaction to The Social Network has been split very firmly by age:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/business/media/04carr.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/business/media/04carr.html
Basically, older folk think the thing is a hatchet job on Mark Zuckerberg, and that he comes across as a tragic figure. Younger folk seem to think of Zuck as a hero, who pulled off world-changing accomplishments despite rich idiots trying to bring him down.
I think the difference is not actually "old" and "young", but "technical" and "nontechnical". People who like technology and understand it (this does not include Aaron Sorkin) are awed by Zuck's accomplishments, while those who do not understand how hard it was instead focus on his personal failures. Adams, who is in his 50s but firmly understands technology, reinforces this view.
- ghshephard 16y agoAbsolutely - I came out of the movie thinking it was one big puff-piece to Zuck and Parker's accomplishments, and wondered what the rationale was for slamming Eduardo so badly. My actual thinking was "No way was Eduardo that lame in reality". I was amazed to find out that some viewers came out of the movie believing that Zuck had been portrayed in a negative light - I was almost wondering if we had seen the same movie. I think it's not actually so much technical vs non-technical, as it is awareness of what it takes to build a company from scratch. I've been in the valley for 14 years, and I can share _dozens_ of stories where world-class engineering teams put their sweat, blood, and tears in 80 Hour work weeks for 5 solid years and came out with absolutely nothing (monetarily) to show for their effort beyond a salary. Watching Sean and Mark pivot on _precisely_ the correct elements, while Eduardo fumbled, or otherwise disengaged, just emphasized how important constant flawless tactical AND strategic execution are.
- okaramian 16y agoZuckerberg's family wasn't exactly poor, and he went to Harvard. Framing this as like a "rich vs. poor" movie is pretty inaccurate. I think that there is a lot of moral ambiguity in the movie, which is why I dug it.
- slantyyz 16y agoNot sure that I buy into the "technical" and "nontechnical" argument. I'm middle aged and technical and while I -respect- Zuck's accomplishments, I can definitely say there's no hero worship involved. The focus on his personal failures is to be expected, and it has little to do with age or technical awareness. Zuck is at the top of his field, so everyone loves a bit of schadenfreude when it presents itself. I remember that people used to get their hate on for Marc Andreesen once upon a time.
- gruseom 16y agopeople used to get their hate on for Marc Andreesen Now that you mention it I remember that too. How perceptive of you to note the similarity. In both cases, garden-variety schadenfreude was multiplied by their massive success. Incidentally, not one of the successful people I've known thinks this way.