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> Knowing how to invest in webshit or getting lucky picking stocks can make you rich much easier than R&D can make you rich. It seems like you missed my point,

> Knowing how to invest in webshit or getting lucky picking stocks can make you rich much easier than R&D can make you rich. It seems like you missed my point, because I make all my money investing nowadays too after failing forever trying to turn R&D into viable products. It's easy to raise money on bullshit and almost impossible to actually make it work. In fact, it likely is actually impossible, we just don't know yet. > Sam isn't investing because this is the best risk-adjusted return for his portfolio. He's investing because, if it does pay out, it also very literally changes the course of humanity in the process. I've met Sam and I don't think he cares about making the world a better place. I think he just likes money and attention. You seem awfully idealistic. I'm terribly cynical. We're not going to agree and that's fine.

throwawaygh 5y ago
Maybe. I don't really care. My point wasn't about him per se. I'm willing to concede you're right about Sam. Sure. Investing in fusion is a terrible way to make money. If rich folks' egos get more money thrown at the right problems, so be it.
DennisP 5y ago
Some day some billionaire is going to save the Earth from a giant asteroid impact and there will be a bunch of people saying "meh, he only did it as an ego trip."
- OnlineGladiator 5y ago
  I'm happy to thank people when they give me a reason to thank them. Having personally met Sam I feel confident in my assessment he does not merit your gratitude. If the founders of Helion pull it off and actually usher in a new era of plentiful cheap energy I will be ecstatic to congratulate them on their success.
  - DennisP 5y ago
    If someone does a good thing, I don't much care why they did it. And if this works out, between (a) Sam funded the project that cracked cheap fusion and saved the planet, and (b) HN's OnlineGladiator met him and disliked him, I think the balance will tilt toward feeling some gratitude towards Sam.
    - OnlineGladiator 5y ago
      I hardly think my opinion is going to sway the majority's view of a public figure. If the world wants to love him I'm not going to change that. But it still doesn't change my opinion about him since it's not based on what I read about him online but based on actually interacting with him in person. Also if Helion turns out to be successful I'll have no problem admitting I was wrong. I hope they succeed, or rather I hope someone succeeds in creating cheap and plentiful energy. What does it matter what I think, anyway? Think for yourself and come to your own conclusions. I don't care if you disagree.
dntrkv 5y ago
What is the point of your comments here? First you point out that this seems like bullshit and a waste of money. Then you point out that Sam doesn't care about making the world a better place and just likes money. You're contradicting yourself, and on top of that, publicly insulting a core figure in this community. I've never met Sam, I don't care about him or if he wants to make the world a better place or not, but your comments are completely uncalled for. You're a cynic, cool, that's fine. Comment on why you think the technology is bogus and don't publicly insult others.
- OnlineGladiator 5y ago
  My point is I think it's a shitty investment. You're welcome to celebrate it and I'm welcome to criticize it. I don't take back what I said about Sam and think he deserves more criticism, not less.
  - dntrkv 5y ago
    What you said is not criticism, it's just an insult. It adds nothing to the conversation and lowers the level of discourse. I'm not celebrating anything. I'm a skeptic at heart and don't believe in any hype until I see meaningful progress. I just don't see the need to shit all over something because my gut tells me it's hype.
    - OnlineGladiator 5y ago
      Well when the person I was responding to said: > Sam isn't investing because this is the best risk-adjusted return for his portfolio. He's investing because, if it does pay out, it also very literally changes the course of humanity in the process. I thought I'd reply with my personal experience why I disagree. And again, I stand by what I said about Sam. I really think he deserves much more criticism than he gets. If criticizing someone's character is an insult then I think we need more insults. I don't want a nicer world, I want a world with less bullshit.
      - dntrkv 5y ago

throwawaygh 5y ago

Maybe. I don't really care. My point wasn't about him per se. I'm willing to concede you're right about Sam. Sure. Investing in fusion is a terrible way to make money. If rich folks' egos get more money thrown at the right problems, so be it.

DennisP 5y ago

Some day some billionaire is going to save the Earth from a giant asteroid impact and there will be a bunch of people saying "meh, he only did it as an ego trip."

OnlineGladiator 5y ago
I'm happy to thank people when they give me a reason to thank them. Having personally met Sam I feel confident in my assessment he does not merit your gratitude. If the founders of Helion pull it off and actually usher in a new era of plentiful cheap energy I will be ecstatic to congratulate them on their success.
- DennisP 5y ago
  If someone does a good thing, I don't much care why they did it. And if this works out, between (a) Sam funded the project that cracked cheap fusion and saved the planet, and (b) HN's OnlineGladiator met him and disliked him, I think the balance will tilt toward feeling some gratitude towards Sam.
  - OnlineGladiator 5y ago
    I hardly think my opinion is going to sway the majority's view of a public figure. If the world wants to love him I'm not going to change that. But it still doesn't change my opinion about him since it's not based on what I read about him online but based on actually interacting with him in person. Also if Helion turns out to be successful I'll have no problem admitting I was wrong. I hope they succeed, or rather I hope someone succeeds in creating cheap and plentiful energy. What does it matter what I think, anyway? Think for yourself and come to your own conclusions. I don't care if you disagree.

dntrkv 5y ago

What is the point of your comments here? First you point out that this seems like bullshit and a waste of money. Then you point out that Sam doesn't care about making the world a better place and just likes money. You're contradicting yourself, and on top of that, publicly insulting a core figure in this community. I've never met Sam, I don't care about him or if he wants to make the world a better place or not, but your comments are completely uncalled for. You're a cynic, cool, that's fine. Comment on why you think the technology is bogus and don't publicly insult others.

OnlineGladiator 5y ago
My point is I think it's a shitty investment. You're welcome to celebrate it and I'm welcome to criticize it. I don't take back what I said about Sam and think he deserves more criticism, not less.
- dntrkv 5y ago
  What you said is not criticism, it's just an insult. It adds nothing to the conversation and lowers the level of discourse. I'm not celebrating anything. I'm a skeptic at heart and don't believe in any hype until I see meaningful progress. I just don't see the need to shit all over something because my gut tells me it's hype.
  - OnlineGladiator 5y ago
    Well when the person I was responding to said: > Sam isn't investing because this is the best risk-adjusted return for his portfolio. He's investing because, if it does pay out, it also very literally changes the course of humanity in the process. I thought I'd reply with my personal experience why I disagree. And again, I stand by what I said about Sam. I really think he deserves much more criticism than he gets. If criticizing someone's character is an insult then I think we need more insults. I don't want a nicer world, I want a world with less bullshit.
    - dntrkv 5y ago