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What a waste of talent to have the smartest people work on crypto. Waste of everything for everyone involved.

by bouk 6y ago

vmception 6y ago
Eh different people say the same thing about quants and fund managers in centralized finance And the solution? Another adtech startup in an industry that is incapable of identifying the smart/most flexible candidates
- blueline 6y ago
  > people say the same thing about quants and fund managers in centralized finance both are true
  - vmception 6y ago
    right but the distinction - made specifically for crypto - just leads to an arbitrary pointless discussion about what things have value at all. The people working on a Google product that will be allowed to live for 9 months? The people at the adtech startup? The defense contractors? Its tiresome and unnecessary. Instead of talking about stacks, say crypto once and everyone loses their minds. The only distinction is something you respect verses something you dont. There isnt any underlying specific or accurate distinction from other industries to support it. The question is about employment or, by proxy, making money.
wes-k 6y ago
"The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks." - Jeff Hammerbacher
- pratik661 6y ago
  "The best minds of my generation are thinking about ways to get spices from the East for cheaper. That sucks" - Some pundit from the 1500s. There is nothing inherently wrong with talented, ambitious people chasing opportunities where there is the greatest profit. A lot of discoveries can be made in that pursuit that benefit other domains. This is a similar parallel to how space exploration led to discoveries that were used in other domains. Look at all the knowledge we as a society have acquired about making secure, reliable digital products due to engineers trying to make Google ads get more eyeballs (not to mention products like Google Translate, Google Maps, etc).
teej 6y ago
Making some shitcoin or Pokémon-on-the-blockchain? Yes. ETH smart contracts? No. I’m bearish on crypto but ETH smart contracts seem really interesting.
- vmception 6y ago
  > I’m bearish on crypto but ETH smart contracts seem really interesting. and people really have a hard time understanding that it doesn't matter what the exchange rate is if your exposure to the exchange rate is brief or none at all
0df8dkdf 6y ago
couldn't agree more!!! Crypto is a waste, got build something that has value for real human beings.
- vmception 6y ago
  I primarily compare it to the silly social media apps I was making for $50-$90 an hour for other people And then for $120 an hour And then being rejected from every job for 6 months straight while I got incrementally better at leetcode, and saying the right thing in behavioral interviews That was a much more quantifiable waste that had no value for any real human being Its really hard for me to make the distinction you feel so passionately about
- russdpale 6y ago
  because SV doesn't do exactly that? Elizabeth Holmes anyone? Give me a break, 99% of stuff made anywhere on the internet is a waste for "real" human beings.
  - asdff 6y ago
    Then work for the 1% stuff that is good.
    - pseudosudoer 6y ago
      Not everyone has that option/luxury. "Good" is subjective anyway, just find something that you enjoy and doesn't increase the collective suffering of the human race. Tell any naysayers to pound sand.
    - vmception 6y ago
      "having trouble getting a job? cast a smaller net" sage advice folks you heard it here first

What a waste of talent to have the smartest people work on crypto. Waste of everything for everyone involved.

by bouk 6y ago

What a waste of talent to have the smartest people work on crypto. Waste of everything for everyone involved.

Eh different people say the same thing about quants and fund managers in centralized finance And the solution? Another adtech startup in an industry that is incapable of identifying the smart/most flexible candidates

blueline 6y ago
> people say the same thing about quants and fund managers in centralized finance both are true
- vmception 6y ago
  right but the distinction - made specifically for crypto - just leads to an arbitrary pointless discussion about what things have value at all. The people working on a Google product that will be allowed to live for 9 months? The people at the adtech startup? The defense contractors? Its tiresome and unnecessary. Instead of talking about stacks, say crypto once and everyone loses their minds. The only distinction is something you respect verses something you dont. There isnt any underlying specific or accurate distinction from other industries to support it. The question is about employment or, by proxy, making money.

wes-k 6y ago

"The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads. That sucks." - Jeff Hammerbacher

pratik661 6y ago
"The best minds of my generation are thinking about ways to get spices from the East for cheaper. That sucks" - Some pundit from the 1500s. There is nothing inherently wrong with talented, ambitious people chasing opportunities where there is the greatest profit. A lot of discoveries can be made in that pursuit that benefit other domains. This is a similar parallel to how space exploration led to discoveries that were used in other domains. Look at all the knowledge we as a society have acquired about making secure, reliable digital products due to engineers trying to make Google ads get more eyeballs (not to mention products like Google Translate, Google Maps, etc).

teej 6y ago

Making some shitcoin or Pokémon-on-the-blockchain? Yes. ETH smart contracts? No. I’m bearish on crypto but ETH smart contracts seem really interesting.

vmception 6y ago
> I’m bearish on crypto but ETH smart contracts seem really interesting. and people really have a hard time understanding that it doesn't matter what the exchange rate is if your exposure to the exchange rate is brief or none at all

0df8dkdf 6y ago

couldn't agree more!!! Crypto is a waste, got build something that has value for real human beings.

vmception 6y ago
I primarily compare it to the silly social media apps I was making for $50-$90 an hour for other people And then for $120 an hour And then being rejected from every job for 6 months straight while I got incrementally better at leetcode, and saying the right thing in behavioral interviews That was a much more quantifiable waste that had no value for any real human being Its really hard for me to make the distinction you feel so passionately about
russdpale 6y ago
because SV doesn't do exactly that? Elizabeth Holmes anyone? Give me a break, 99% of stuff made anywhere on the internet is a waste for "real" human beings.
- asdff 6y ago
  Then work for the 1% stuff that is good.
  - pseudosudoer 6y ago
    Not everyone has that option/luxury. "Good" is subjective anyway, just find something that you enjoy and doesn't increase the collective suffering of the human race. Tell any naysayers to pound sand.
  - vmception 6y ago
    "having trouble getting a job? cast a smaller net" sage advice folks you heard it here first