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There is no point, because he doesn't pretend to be anything than other than a parent, not an expert on parenting. It's like posting to a mommy blog. The call f

There is no point, because he doesn't pretend to be anything than other than a parent, not an expert on parenting. It's like posting to a mommy blog. The call for industry professionals to "stay in their lane" when they want to talk about whatever they want to talk about is ridiculous.

nogabebop23 7y ago
...except you are only listening to his parenting advice compared to, say mine or the GP, because of his relative narrow expertise in a completely unrelated area. I'm not calling for famous people to STFU, but to be extra vigilant about passing on advice outside of their recognized area of epertise. For example: should Jenny McCarthy "stay in her lane" or are you cool with a c-grade actress using her fame to promote dangerous pseudo science?
- danenania 7y ago
  Perhaps people like his parenting advice because it's insightful on its own merits? I wouldn't expect an expert on startups to be particularly wise when it comes to parenting. If anything, I'd expect the opposite. But the proof is in the pudding.
- slothtrop 7y ago
  > compared to Who says we don't listen to others for parenting advice? > extra vigilant about passing on advice outside of their recognized area of epertise. It's life advice. Anyone can dispense it. > For example: should Jenny McCarthy "stay in her lane" or are you cool with a c-grade actress using her fame to promote dangerous pseudo science? I'm not cool with any pseudo science no matter who's dispensing it. People have the right to babble about what they want.
jader201 7y ago
Except PG doesn’t write blogs. He writes essays. While that is admittedly a bit snarky, the fact is the context of nearly all PG’s essays are things he is an expert in, and has rightly earned a bit of authority in influencing others in these areas he is an expert in. So I think it’s fair for others to make it clear he may not have much more authority in this area vs. other “mommy bloggers”, who probably have as much, and in many cases much more experience.
- lonelappde 7y ago
  Why would making a startup make you an expert in startups, but making a kid not make you an expert in kids?
  - jader201 7y ago
    Anybody can make a startup, but it’s incredibly tough to make a successful one, and YC and what PG has built has arguably earned him authority to influence others in this space. And it’s usually pretty objective what constitutes a successful startup. On the other hand, almost anyone can be a parent, there are many more parents on the planet, and what constitutes an “expert in this space” is incredibly more subjective.
    - slothtrop 7y ago
      > what constitutes an “expert in this space” is incredibly more subjective. There are none.
- slothtrop 7y ago
  Begs the question, who has the authority in that area? No one, except experienced parents. When it comes to life advice, it's redundant to point out "lack of authority" when there is no authority body. No disclaimer is needed for life advice.
- dang 7y ago
  There's no claim to expertise in writing an essay. If anything, the contrary. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21859353 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21859353

nogabebop23 7y ago

...except you are only listening to his parenting advice compared to, say mine or the GP, because of his relative narrow expertise in a completely unrelated area. I'm not calling for famous people to STFU, but to be extra vigilant about passing on advice outside of their recognized area of epertise. For example: should Jenny McCarthy "stay in her lane" or are you cool with a c-grade actress using her fame to promote dangerous pseudo science?

danenania 7y ago
Perhaps people like his parenting advice because it's insightful on its own merits? I wouldn't expect an expert on startups to be particularly wise when it comes to parenting. If anything, I'd expect the opposite. But the proof is in the pudding.
slothtrop 7y ago
> compared to Who says we don't listen to others for parenting advice? > extra vigilant about passing on advice outside of their recognized area of epertise. It's life advice. Anyone can dispense it. > For example: should Jenny McCarthy "stay in her lane" or are you cool with a c-grade actress using her fame to promote dangerous pseudo science? I'm not cool with any pseudo science no matter who's dispensing it. People have the right to babble about what they want.

jader201 7y ago

Except PG doesn’t write blogs. He writes essays. While that is admittedly a bit snarky, the fact is the context of nearly all PG’s essays are things he is an expert in, and has rightly earned a bit of authority in influencing others in these areas he is an expert in. So I think it’s fair for others to make it clear he may not have much more authority in this area vs. other “mommy bloggers”, who probably have as much, and in many cases much more experience.

lonelappde 7y ago
Why would making a startup make you an expert in startups, but making a kid not make you an expert in kids?
- jader201 7y ago
  Anybody can make a startup, but it’s incredibly tough to make a successful one, and YC and what PG has built has arguably earned him authority to influence others in this space. And it’s usually pretty objective what constitutes a successful startup. On the other hand, almost anyone can be a parent, there are many more parents on the planet, and what constitutes an “expert in this space” is incredibly more subjective.
  - slothtrop 7y ago
    > what constitutes an “expert in this space” is incredibly more subjective. There are none.
slothtrop 7y ago
Begs the question, who has the authority in that area? No one, except experienced parents. When it comes to life advice, it's redundant to point out "lack of authority" when there is no authority body. No disclaimer is needed for life advice.
dang 7y ago
There's no claim to expertise in writing an essay. If anything, the contrary. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21859353 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21859353