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Things I Think I Learned At TechCrunch Disrupt

13 points by tomh 15y ago

jcr 15y ago
Tom, you might want to fix the title of your post: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Typhon 15y ago
« Entrepreneurs love using the word “broken” when describing an industry they are about to “disrupt.” » I wonder where this meme comes from. Perhaps from the saying "If it ain't broken, don't fix it". Conversely, if your company solves a problem, you have to believe what it fixes is "broken". Otherwise, I wonder how many readers of this site, other than me, want to start a company someday, but are not sure they have it in them. And I wonder how many among us will indeed start a company.
- waterlesscloud 15y ago
  It feels like "broken" has been in the hacker lexicon a long, long time. Certainly much longer than "disrupt". When I use the word "disrupt", I'm usually self-aware of using a zeitgeisty word. But "broken" is just how I talk, and have for as long as I recall...
silverbax88 15y ago
"If you are 30 or older and thinking of starting a tech company, don’t do it." Ahahahhhahahah...sorry but I love hearing this. It's something so many 20-somethings tell each other and is a complete myth. I love taking on kids in business, it's the guys my own age I need to watch out for.
- esmevane 15y ago
  Thanks for this. I had the exact same thought when I read it. After a brief moment of offense. I think I could write an essay or several on the ridiculous misconceptions I hear going around in some circles, and this is one of my favorites. When you hit 30, have a kid, etc., the popular ideology in some circles seems to be that somehow your ability to spend time working on your passion is gone. It's been my experience that this bracket is, on the other hand, more efficient, selective in their projects, determined, and shows a remarkable intolerance for wasted time. It's extra amusing to me, also, that the major culprits of these stereotypes are older men who routinely tell this to the young as they break into the industry. I wonder if it's a deliberate attempt to light a fire under these young folks?

13 points by tomh 15y ago

jcr 15y ago

Tom, you might want to fix the title of your post: http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Typhon 15y ago

« Entrepreneurs love using the word “broken” when describing an industry they are about to “disrupt.” » I wonder where this meme comes from. Perhaps from the saying "If it ain't broken, don't fix it". Conversely, if your company solves a problem, you have to believe what it fixes is "broken". Otherwise, I wonder how many readers of this site, other than me, want to start a company someday, but are not sure they have it in them. And I wonder how many among us will indeed start a company.

waterlesscloud 15y ago
It feels like "broken" has been in the hacker lexicon a long, long time. Certainly much longer than "disrupt". When I use the word "disrupt", I'm usually self-aware of using a zeitgeisty word. But "broken" is just how I talk, and have for as long as I recall...

silverbax88 15y ago

"If you are 30 or older and thinking of starting a tech company, don’t do it." Ahahahhhahahah...sorry but I love hearing this. It's something so many 20-somethings tell each other and is a complete myth. I love taking on kids in business, it's the guys my own age I need to watch out for.

esmevane 15y ago
Thanks for this. I had the exact same thought when I read it. After a brief moment of offense. I think I could write an essay or several on the ridiculous misconceptions I hear going around in some circles, and this is one of my favorites. When you hit 30, have a kid, etc., the popular ideology in some circles seems to be that somehow your ability to spend time working on your passion is gone. It's been my experience that this bracket is, on the other hand, more efficient, selective in their projects, determined, and shows a remarkable intolerance for wasted time. It's extra amusing to me, also, that the major culprits of these stereotypes are older men who routinely tell this to the young as they break into the industry. I wonder if it's a deliberate attempt to light a fire under these young folks?