4 ms·

I think it's generational. SV in the Gen X era was highly libertarian. The Millenials in SV seem to be mostly left wing or even socialist. Broadly speaking that

I think it's generational. SV in the Gen X era was highly libertarian. The Millenials in SV seem to be mostly left wing or even socialist. Broadly speaking that is, exceptions abound.

nmll 7y ago
They are branding it as socialism, however the way the operate reminds me of seasoned 70 year old bureaucrats in East Germany. Also, the politics are all over the place, it's left wing if it suits them. [Obviously not everyone is like that, but it's the 30% that are visible on the Internet. There are many totally normal millennials.]
rmrfrmrf 7y ago
A lot of social democrats start out as libertarians and then move left once they see the bigger picture of power dynamics beyond the individual.
- methodover 7y ago
  This was my experience as well. Started off as a libertarian. But then I started working, first in the lobbying industry, then in Silicon Valley. Meritocracy is not as good an idea as it seems to be in practice.
  - perl4ever 7y ago
    "Meritocracy is not as good an idea as it seems to be in practice" Why not just consider that it is a label which may not apply to the reality you observe? Have we gotten to the point where considering that any X is not Y is considered a "no true Scotsman" fallacy?
  - mcv 7y ago
    The only problem with meritocracy is that it's unattainable in a society with inherited power differences. Other than that it would be a great idea. Just one that hasn't truly been tried outside limited organisations yet.
rehasu 7y ago
Are we ignoring Gen Y?
- malvosenior 7y ago
  Gen Y and Millenials are the same thing (at least that's how I've always understood it): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials
  - rehasu 7y ago
    I don't know who came up with that definition. Gen-Y is born late 80s and 90s. Millenials are born in the new MILLENIUM.
    - Izkata 7y ago
      That definition was used for a very short time in the 90s. It's long since settled into "was a teenager in the new millennium", which means born early 80s to late 90s. Gen Z, also known as iGen, was born in the new millennium.
      - rehasu 7y ago
        > short time in the 90s The first time I heard the word millenial was 2017. This world is weird. But in a world were people can choose their gender freely I think I can have the choice to use that word as I see fit. Feel free to do the same. ;)

I think it's generational. SV in the Gen X era was highly libertarian. The Millenials in SV seem to be mostly left wing or even socialist. Broadly speaking that is, exceptions abound.

nmll 7y ago

They are branding it as socialism, however the way the operate reminds me of seasoned 70 year old bureaucrats in East Germany. Also, the politics are all over the place, it's left wing if it suits them. [Obviously not everyone is like that, but it's the 30% that are visible on the Internet. There are many totally normal millennials.]

rmrfrmrf 7y ago

A lot of social democrats start out as libertarians and then move left once they see the bigger picture of power dynamics beyond the individual.

methodover 7y ago
This was my experience as well. Started off as a libertarian. But then I started working, first in the lobbying industry, then in Silicon Valley. Meritocracy is not as good an idea as it seems to be in practice.
- perl4ever 7y ago
  "Meritocracy is not as good an idea as it seems to be in practice" Why not just consider that it is a label which may not apply to the reality you observe? Have we gotten to the point where considering that any X is not Y is considered a "no true Scotsman" fallacy?
- mcv 7y ago
  The only problem with meritocracy is that it's unattainable in a society with inherited power differences. Other than that it would be a great idea. Just one that hasn't truly been tried outside limited organisations yet.

rehasu 7y ago

Are we ignoring Gen Y?

malvosenior 7y ago
Gen Y and Millenials are the same thing (at least that's how I've always understood it): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennials
- rehasu 7y ago
  I don't know who came up with that definition. Gen-Y is born late 80s and 90s. Millenials are born in the new MILLENIUM.
  - Izkata 7y ago
    That definition was used for a very short time in the 90s. It's long since settled into "was a teenager in the new millennium", which means born early 80s to late 90s. Gen Z, also known as iGen, was born in the new millennium.
    - rehasu 7y ago
      > short time in the 90s The first time I heard the word millenial was 2017. This world is weird. But in a world were people can choose their gender freely I think I can have the choice to use that word as I see fit. Feel free to do the same. ;)