3 ms·

My eyes kind of open wide reading this, as if I’m reading a caricature of tech’s 1%. Back in Oakland, I had neighbors who had a sprinter van that they’d used be

My eyes kind of open wide reading this, as if I’m reading a caricature of tech’s 1%. Back in Oakland, I had neighbors who had a sprinter van that they’d used before COVID, and they simply went on a very-extended road trip. In a nutshell, I think maybe these people are trying to make it a bit too magical. Back when hackers and entrepreneurs were poorer and we had to work out of coffee shops, and not coworking spaces, it was obvious to everyone that reliable wifi was a must. I broke away from the Bay myself, but I tried places out before settling in, because there are too many unknowns that you don’t know until you have stayed in a place. The lack of pragmatism in these stories is very not-engineering-like.

mikestew 6y ago
The lack of pragmatism in these stories is very not-engineering-like. I didn’t get the impression that any of them were engineers. The way I read between the lines, most sounded like there was money coming from somewhere, but it wasn’t the business they were play-acting while on vacation. That, or it just wasn’t going as well as they thought. Setting up camp chairs outside a McDonald’s? I’d rather stay home. Turning a Tesla into a camper? You’ve done this before, right? No? Good luck with all of the new problems you discover. From my POV, it read as folks with money and privilege discovering that money and privilege can’t smooth over every problem. It’s not unusual for the NYT, and if you think it is, read the weekend section where a couple “just starting out” has a budget of $2MM, and which 900 sq. ft. condo should they buy with that pittance?
- Bjorkbat 6y ago
  My takeaway was that these people were more like "hustler types" I mean, who decides to create a startup incubator focused on "sports technology" (whatever that is) after their "conference business" (again, whatever that is) becomes nonviable? Not that it matters, hustler types and people with money and privilege often overlap.
  - mikestew 6y ago
    Ya know, I didn’t really want to go there with “you know the type”, but I think you’re spot on. And your example was at the top of my mind when I was thinking of that “type”. Good luck ever figuring out if it is truly working out for them, or if they’re just burning money that might not even be their’s.

mikestew 6y ago

The lack of pragmatism in these stories is very not-engineering-like. I didn’t get the impression that any of them were engineers. The way I read between the lines, most sounded like there was money coming from somewhere, but it wasn’t the business they were play-acting while on vacation. That, or it just wasn’t going as well as they thought. Setting up camp chairs outside a McDonald’s? I’d rather stay home. Turning a Tesla into a camper? You’ve done this before, right? No? Good luck with all of the new problems you discover. From my POV, it read as folks with money and privilege discovering that money and privilege can’t smooth over every problem. It’s not unusual for the NYT, and if you think it is, read the weekend section where a couple “just starting out” has a budget of $2MM, and which 900 sq. ft. condo should they buy with that pittance?

Bjorkbat 6y ago
My takeaway was that these people were more like "hustler types" I mean, who decides to create a startup incubator focused on "sports technology" (whatever that is) after their "conference business" (again, whatever that is) becomes nonviable? Not that it matters, hustler types and people with money and privilege often overlap.
- mikestew 6y ago
  Ya know, I didn’t really want to go there with “you know the type”, but I think you’re spot on. And your example was at the top of my mind when I was thinking of that “type”. Good luck ever figuring out if it is truly working out for them, or if they’re just burning money that might not even be their’s.