4 ms·

Is this guy fucking serious? No longer will we hear stories like we heard from Airbnb’s founders of surviving off of cereal or "ramen." That bums me out, beca

Is this guy fucking serious? No longer will we hear stories like we heard from Airbnb’s founders of surviving off of cereal or "ramen." That bums me out, because struggle and sacrifice makes for great stories. I'm sorry that you're bummed out at less human suffering. These are people with friends and families and hopes and dreams and feelings, and you're treating them like characters in a movie. These are people working their asses off to make the world a little bit better and hopefully make money doing it. Mr. Consumer here is upset that their lives are a little better? And his only reason is that the stories he hears aren't as nice? This is disgusting. Fuck you, get some perspective.

biot 16y ago
Speaking of perspective, I wouldn't call living off of cereal or ramen human suffering. These are people who could probably do one hour of consulting and, with the money they make, buy more food than someone in the third world sees in a month. It's human suffering much in the same way that choosing to flagellate yourself with a cat o' nine tails is.
- BrandonM 16y ago
  Eating a healthy diet is unquestionably better than eating a cereal-and-ramen diet. Being able to afford a better diet does lessen human suffering, even if that person isn't a starving child in Sudan. Being bummed out that someone's life is better, simply because it doesn't make for a good story, is shitty. If Mr. Scoble wants a story of struggle and sacrifice, he can kindly live it himself.
  - biot 16y ago
    I understand the point you're making. I was addressing your use of "human suffering". Staying at the Hilton is unquestionably better than staying at a Motel 6, but calling a night at the Motel 6 "human suffering" would be ridiculous and such use cheapens the term.
    - BrandonM 16y ago
      I understand what you're saying. The human condition is relative. But I've lived where I had no spending power, no paycheck for another week, and only a pack of ramen in the house. I might not have been dying, but I was certainly suffering. It's just awful to wish that on anyone, especially when he would never in a million years wish it on himself. He's putting himself above the people who keep him in work. It's disrespectful to say the least.
- prodigal_erik 16y ago
  Because of food banks, I take "living on ramen" as a euphemism not going out or getting laid. And does a founder who's never had a big exit or a high-paying job really have the credibility to sell consulting hours?
jaredsohn 16y ago
I think it is also important to point out that this funding change doesn't prevent these kinds of situations (and related stories) from happening anyway; people will continue forming startups without funding. Also in Airbnb's case, their famous living off of extra Cap'n McCain's cereal started prior to YC funding.
- BrandonM 16y ago
  Good point. In addition to being self-centered and somewhat mean-spirited, Scoble's post was inaccurate.

biot 16y ago

Speaking of perspective, I wouldn't call living off of cereal or ramen human suffering. These are people who could probably do one hour of consulting and, with the money they make, buy more food than someone in the third world sees in a month. It's human suffering much in the same way that choosing to flagellate yourself with a cat o' nine tails is.

BrandonM 16y ago
Eating a healthy diet is unquestionably better than eating a cereal-and-ramen diet. Being able to afford a better diet does lessen human suffering, even if that person isn't a starving child in Sudan. Being bummed out that someone's life is better, simply because it doesn't make for a good story, is shitty. If Mr. Scoble wants a story of struggle and sacrifice, he can kindly live it himself.
- biot 16y ago
  I understand the point you're making. I was addressing your use of "human suffering". Staying at the Hilton is unquestionably better than staying at a Motel 6, but calling a night at the Motel 6 "human suffering" would be ridiculous and such use cheapens the term.
  - BrandonM 16y ago
    I understand what you're saying. The human condition is relative. But I've lived where I had no spending power, no paycheck for another week, and only a pack of ramen in the house. I might not have been dying, but I was certainly suffering. It's just awful to wish that on anyone, especially when he would never in a million years wish it on himself. He's putting himself above the people who keep him in work. It's disrespectful to say the least.
prodigal_erik 16y ago
Because of food banks, I take "living on ramen" as a euphemism not going out or getting laid. And does a founder who's never had a big exit or a high-paying job really have the credibility to sell consulting hours?

jaredsohn 16y ago

I think it is also important to point out that this funding change doesn't prevent these kinds of situations (and related stories) from happening anyway; people will continue forming startups without funding. Also in Airbnb's case, their famous living off of extra Cap'n McCain's cereal started prior to YC funding.

BrandonM 16y ago
Good point. In addition to being self-centered and somewhat mean-spirited, Scoble's post was inaccurate.