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F*** Hackers [For Idea Guys Only]

17 points by neon 16y ago

thmzlt 16y ago
This is my favorite blog regarding the idea guy: http://sivers.org/multiply http://sivers.org/multiply
- macco 16y ago
  Don't agree with this article. Ideas are part of execution. Good ideas are hard work and can be worth millions. A really great idea can even work with bad execution.
sliverstorm 16y ago
why is there so much hate out there for idea guys? Because it's easy to imagine things. When you're on the other end, you'll understand. You grow to resent the 'idea guys' because you feel like you're doing all the heavy lifting for them. They say, gee wouldn't it be cool to have an underwater car? And you sigh, because you know you're the one who's actually going to have to make the damn thing. Doesn't help that 'idea guys' often want something impossible or ridiculously difficult & complicated.
- jeromec 16y ago
  Doesn't help that 'idea guys' often want something impossible or ridiculously difficult & complicated. LMFAO So true.
- neon 16y ago
  yes, it is easy to imagine things, but i disagree that idea guys should be shunned as TK did. if they provide the creative spark that gets a company to an eventually successful idea, that has value. yes, hackers can go from idea to concept alone - but that's only if you have a creative brain to get you that idea. not everyone has a creative side, so those guys need idea guys, no?
  - rbanffy 16y ago
    > provide the creative spark that gets a company to an eventually successful idea It's not the idea that has value - it's its execution. Every morning I come up with two or three crazy ones. Ideas are cheap.
    - neon 16y ago
      You have a very active creative brain, then.
      - rbanffy 16y ago
        Still, unless executed, they are worthless. Without at least a bit of execution, it's impossible to determine which ones are good and which ones are terrible.
        neon 16y ago
        did i just get downvoted for speaking about this? lol hey, guys i'm one of you now, im just playing devil's advocate! ultimately, i agree. that's why i'm learning. however, i'd like to know how many hackers out there are thinking to themselves, "Gee, all I need is an idea..."
        spooneybarger 16y ago
        and most of them won't execute even if they have the idea. just because you are a 'hacker' doesn't mean you can execute. execute means a lot more than just hacking on an idea.
        neon 16y ago
        @spooneybarger - sure, it means knowing how to monetize, how to hire, how to market your product(s), etc. almost none of these skills are exclusive to hackers. there aren't any deeply technical barriers precluding idea guys (and im generalizing) from doing these things well, or better, than anyone else.
  - deleted 16y ago
- rbanffy 16y ago
  > often want something (...) ridiculously difficult & complicated ... and that most likely adds no value to the product. More often than not they don't even come up with an original one. They just jumble together a bunch of buzzwords and or ideas they lifted from some already entrenched competitor.
- bradleyland 16y ago
  Steve Jobs calls a meeting with his engineers. He walks in to the room with an iPad, presses the sleep button and the iPad is ready to use instantly. He throws a MacBook on to the table and says, "Why can't this do that." Not an easy problem to solve. Or so the story goes. My point is, I've come to appreciate good idea guys. The guy who wants the underwear car is not a good idea guy. The guy who asks you to do something hard, but ultimately attainable and useful is the one who will push you to new heights. I sit somewhere in-between I can (and have) built software. I'm not a rockstar(tm) or a ninja(tm), but I can think laterally. It's this same quality that allows me to wear the "idea guy" hat, so I can empathize. Nothing irks me more than to sit down with someone who thinks they're a hacker because they can implement their own ideas with code. That's great, but how do you react to a challenge? Can you pull together disparate pieces of technology to form a cohesive product? Maybe you can, and that's great, but sometimes "idea guys" can help you make the connection you can't see yourself. You just have to spend a little time understanding them and coaching them on the tools that are available. You'd be amazed what comes out the other side.
  - iamgoat 16y ago
    +1 for "underwear" car.
- Dylanlacey 16y ago
  I've noticed that a substantial proportion of "Ideas Guy"s are also really quite ignorant of how hard building is, often to the point where they decide (and tell everyone) that they are the heros of the day... After all, they thought of a multi-user real time GUI driven DNA editor and donut maker, you just built, tested, programmed, mixed and maintained the thing.
pinchyfingers 16y ago
So, you're becoming a hacker...
- al05 16y ago
  I'm having a feeling in a few years, if his persistent why the blog post was a bit silly.
brudgers 16y ago
When they have money to pay others to execute, idea guys are great.
benkant 16y ago
Off-topic but why do you have a donate link on your site that goes to PayPal? What are you offering?
fezzl 16y ago
What is this, a case of the blind leading the blind?

17 points by neon 16y ago

thmzlt 16y ago

This is my favorite blog regarding the idea guy: http://sivers.org/multiply http://sivers.org/multiply

macco 16y ago
Don't agree with this article. Ideas are part of execution. Good ideas are hard work and can be worth millions. A really great idea can even work with bad execution.

sliverstorm 16y ago

why is there so much hate out there for idea guys? Because it's easy to imagine things. When you're on the other end, you'll understand. You grow to resent the 'idea guys' because you feel like you're doing all the heavy lifting for them. They say, gee wouldn't it be cool to have an underwater car? And you sigh, because you know you're the one who's actually going to have to make the damn thing. Doesn't help that 'idea guys' often want something impossible or ridiculously difficult & complicated.

jeromec 16y ago
Doesn't help that 'idea guys' often want something impossible or ridiculously difficult & complicated. LMFAO So true.
neon 16y ago
yes, it is easy to imagine things, but i disagree that idea guys should be shunned as TK did. if they provide the creative spark that gets a company to an eventually successful idea, that has value. yes, hackers can go from idea to concept alone - but that's only if you have a creative brain to get you that idea. not everyone has a creative side, so those guys need idea guys, no?
- rbanffy 16y ago
  > provide the creative spark that gets a company to an eventually successful idea It's not the idea that has value - it's its execution. Every morning I come up with two or three crazy ones. Ideas are cheap.
  - neon 16y ago
    You have a very active creative brain, then.
    - rbanffy 16y ago
      Still, unless executed, they are worthless. Without at least a bit of execution, it's impossible to determine which ones are good and which ones are terrible.
      - neon 16y ago
        did i just get downvoted for speaking about this? lol hey, guys i'm one of you now, im just playing devil's advocate! ultimately, i agree. that's why i'm learning. however, i'd like to know how many hackers out there are thinking to themselves, "Gee, all I need is an idea..."
        spooneybarger 16y ago
        and most of them won't execute even if they have the idea. just because you are a 'hacker' doesn't mean you can execute. execute means a lot more than just hacking on an idea.
        neon 16y ago
        @spooneybarger - sure, it means knowing how to monetize, how to hire, how to market your product(s), etc. almost none of these skills are exclusive to hackers. there aren't any deeply technical barriers precluding idea guys (and im generalizing) from doing these things well, or better, than anyone else.
- deleted 16y ago
rbanffy 16y ago
> often want something (...) ridiculously difficult & complicated ... and that most likely adds no value to the product. More often than not they don't even come up with an original one. They just jumble together a bunch of buzzwords and or ideas they lifted from some already entrenched competitor.
bradleyland 16y ago
Steve Jobs calls a meeting with his engineers. He walks in to the room with an iPad, presses the sleep button and the iPad is ready to use instantly. He throws a MacBook on to the table and says, "Why can't this do that." Not an easy problem to solve. Or so the story goes. My point is, I've come to appreciate good idea guys. The guy who wants the underwear car is not a good idea guy. The guy who asks you to do something hard, but ultimately attainable and useful is the one who will push you to new heights. I sit somewhere in-between I can (and have) built software. I'm not a rockstar(tm) or a ninja(tm), but I can think laterally. It's this same quality that allows me to wear the "idea guy" hat, so I can empathize. Nothing irks me more than to sit down with someone who thinks they're a hacker because they can implement their own ideas with code. That's great, but how do you react to a challenge? Can you pull together disparate pieces of technology to form a cohesive product? Maybe you can, and that's great, but sometimes "idea guys" can help you make the connection you can't see yourself. You just have to spend a little time understanding them and coaching them on the tools that are available. You'd be amazed what comes out the other side.
- iamgoat 16y ago
  +1 for "underwear" car.
Dylanlacey 16y ago
I've noticed that a substantial proportion of "Ideas Guy"s are also really quite ignorant of how hard building is, often to the point where they decide (and tell everyone) that they are the heros of the day... After all, they thought of a multi-user real time GUI driven DNA editor and donut maker, you just built, tested, programmed, mixed and maintained the thing.

pinchyfingers 16y ago

So, you're becoming a hacker...

al05 16y ago
I'm having a feeling in a few years, if his persistent why the blog post was a bit silly.

brudgers 16y ago

When they have money to pay others to execute, idea guys are great.

benkant 16y ago

Off-topic but why do you have a donate link on your site that goes to PayPal? What are you offering?

fezzl 16y ago

What is this, a case of the blind leading the blind?