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> I am very aware of what idiots will pay for brand names, but that has nothing to do with any sort of inherent or quantifiable value a product has. I think we

by 1996 6y ago

> I am very aware of what idiots will pay for brand names, but that has nothing to do with any sort of inherent or quantifiable value a product has. I think we, as a society, need to get better at calling people out for being beyond irresponsible with their money. A Supreme block logo slapped on a $1.00 Gildan cotton shirt does not add $99 of value The ego of some people on HN never ceases to amaze me- especially when they still have a dayjob but feel ok to lecture entrepreneurs! If you are able to spin it for $150, yeah, the logo DID add value - and not just $99, but an extra $50 of profit for you. That's the base of business. > Things like the meteoric rise and fall of things like Beanie Babies help illuminate this fact. Ah, beanie babies and HN, a long love story :) > You can pay $700 for a North Face Supreme jacket that can be purchased for $120 without the branding... but you’re an idiot for doing so. Don't be so quick to dismiss the rationality of people purchasing these products. Many people start companies this way, by noticing and exploiting a trend, and eventually stop working. Your profile says "Attorney working in Child Welfare" - so you are working class. Those of us retired thanks to stuff HN loves to mock (crypto, collectibles, whatever) believe the not rational people are those who can't unchain themselves from a job. Many people won't take the time to explain you and will just downvote and move along. Personally, I think it's sad that most geeks are not business savy.

Judgmentality 6y ago
> The ego of some people on HN never ceases to amaze me The hypocrisy is strong with this one. Your comment is 10x more arrogant than the comment you're replying to, as far as I can tell. From your perspective, so long as you can sell it and make money, you're providing value to the world as an entrepreneur. Not only that, but you pride yourself on it. But to me you're just a parasite maximizing profit by exploiting people's ignorance for your own personal benefit. The fact that you pride yourself on this leads me to believe you are likely a psychopath. Also holy fucking shit, you're condescending to someone for being "working class." One thing is obvious. Money can't buy class.
- 1996 6y ago
  > so long as you can sell it and make money, you're providing value to the world as an entrepreneur Totally! The only reason someone willfully gives you their hard earned money in exchange of something is because whatever this something is, they value it more than the cash. > to me you're just a parasite maximizing profit by exploiting people's ignorance Funny, because to me, people living off my tax money are the parasites! Getting something in exchange of nothing, just because they have a pulse and they're still breathing. > Also holy fucking shit, you're condescending to someone for being "working class." Well, yeah!! I mean, if you haven't made it yet, don't try to give me life lessons. Because all I can see is someone who's failed (or not succeeded yet), trying to pretend their principles are better than the cash I made - but then how comes their principles can't keep them fed and warm, while my cash does? If it helps losers not feel too bad about their own failures, I can play along and pretend with them, but it shouldn't be taken too seriously, as that's giving very bad advice to the young and passionate people who browse HN. That's where I draw the line: not giving wrong advice, the kind of advice you know that is wrong and won't lead to success, but is socially valued (social signaling, being politically correct and all that) > Money can't buy class I won't pretend to have any, as "class" is often a shorthand for being good at pretending to be what society wants you to be. I'm my own man, and I don't play nice with those who don't, and I don't care about their excuses of being born poor or whatever. No one is entitled to anything except opinions- and in my opinion, by not accepting reality as it is, you are condemning yourself to the working class. But as long as you know it and it makes you happy, so be it! Who I am to suggest you live your life differently?
dingaling 6y ago
> Many people start companies this way, by noticing and exploiting a trend, and eventually stop working. But that also requires exploiting people. Someone is always left holding the bag when these trends fizzle out.
- 1996 6y ago
  Exploitation has no place in business. You offer a trade. The other party takes it or not. You can't tell them what to do or not do. > Someone is always left holding the bag when these trends fizzle out. Funny it's the same thing a lot of people told me when I decided to go all in crypto - that I'd be the fool left holding the bag. I proved them wrong, but they still don't get it. About 6 month ago, to someone here asking for genuine advice, I told them to put no more than they can lose, about 4 grands IIRC, in BTC to buy a car after the next bull market that was due soon due to the halving. They laughed, and said it was too uncertain. If they had done so, they'd have their new car by now. I find it sad that people can't notice and exploit trends, especially geeks who think so highly of their intellectual prowess.

by 1996 6y ago

Judgmentality 6y ago

> The ego of some people on HN never ceases to amaze me The hypocrisy is strong with this one. Your comment is 10x more arrogant than the comment you're replying to, as far as I can tell. From your perspective, so long as you can sell it and make money, you're providing value to the world as an entrepreneur. Not only that, but you pride yourself on it. But to me you're just a parasite maximizing profit by exploiting people's ignorance for your own personal benefit. The fact that you pride yourself on this leads me to believe you are likely a psychopath. Also holy fucking shit, you're condescending to someone for being "working class." One thing is obvious. Money can't buy class.

1996 6y ago
> so long as you can sell it and make money, you're providing value to the world as an entrepreneur Totally! The only reason someone willfully gives you their hard earned money in exchange of something is because whatever this something is, they value it more than the cash. > to me you're just a parasite maximizing profit by exploiting people's ignorance Funny, because to me, people living off my tax money are the parasites! Getting something in exchange of nothing, just because they have a pulse and they're still breathing. > Also holy fucking shit, you're condescending to someone for being "working class." Well, yeah!! I mean, if you haven't made it yet, don't try to give me life lessons. Because all I can see is someone who's failed (or not succeeded yet), trying to pretend their principles are better than the cash I made - but then how comes their principles can't keep them fed and warm, while my cash does? If it helps losers not feel too bad about their own failures, I can play along and pretend with them, but it shouldn't be taken too seriously, as that's giving very bad advice to the young and passionate people who browse HN. That's where I draw the line: not giving wrong advice, the kind of advice you know that is wrong and won't lead to success, but is socially valued (social signaling, being politically correct and all that) > Money can't buy class I won't pretend to have any, as "class" is often a shorthand for being good at pretending to be what society wants you to be. I'm my own man, and I don't play nice with those who don't, and I don't care about their excuses of being born poor or whatever. No one is entitled to anything except opinions- and in my opinion, by not accepting reality as it is, you are condemning yourself to the working class. But as long as you know it and it makes you happy, so be it! Who I am to suggest you live your life differently?

dingaling 6y ago

> Many people start companies this way, by noticing and exploiting a trend, and eventually stop working. But that also requires exploiting people. Someone is always left holding the bag when these trends fizzle out.

1996 6y ago
Exploitation has no place in business. You offer a trade. The other party takes it or not. You can't tell them what to do or not do. > Someone is always left holding the bag when these trends fizzle out. Funny it's the same thing a lot of people told me when I decided to go all in crypto - that I'd be the fool left holding the bag. I proved them wrong, but they still don't get it. About 6 month ago, to someone here asking for genuine advice, I told them to put no more than they can lose, about 4 grands IIRC, in BTC to buy a car after the next bull market that was due soon due to the halving. They laughed, and said it was too uncertain. If they had done so, they'd have their new car by now. I find it sad that people can't notice and exploit trends, especially geeks who think so highly of their intellectual prowess.