5 ms·

> if “scholars” ran this world, nothing would be done. Inaction is far easier than action, and no one has all the answers before big leaps are taken Do you me

> if “scholars” ran this world, nothing would be done. Inaction is far easier than action, and no one has all the answers before big leaps are taken Do you mean to defend the OLPC folks as action-takers, or criticize them as scholars?

emmelaich 5y ago
Surely defend. > "I also say that as a fan of some of the reviewers."
azinman2 5y ago
I'm saying OLPC folks were action takers. They sought to do an ambitious project to bring computing to the developing world, close the digital divide, bring up a new class of digital natives into an economy they'd otherwise be left out of, enable a suite of educational materials that otherwise wouldn't be available, tackle problems of electricity and internet access in these contexts, and find generous donors & governments to help fund it all. Without economies of scale that eventually came from cell phones, this was a pretty amazing and ambitious project!
- hitekker 5y ago
  You're confusing "action" with "outcome". Yes, OLPC generated a lot of buzz, and created a cryptocurrency-like hype machine. Yes, OLPC was probably very friendly to you when you were working right alongside them in MIT Media Lab. But what did they actually achieve? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child#Criticism indicates not much at all. The project was a beautiful boondoggle; their users didn't enjoy the product but the rich folk who donated could pat themselves on the back for looking like they cared. Even Bill Gates had the sense to walk away 5 years before OLPC even started: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/nov/05/billgates.microsoft https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/nov/05/billgates... Let's also not forget that the founder of OLPC, and the chairman of MIT Media Lab, has gone on record praising a convicted, child sex trafficker: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Negroponte#Epstein_controversy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Negroponte#Epstein_... and tried to cover-up their dirty money trail soon after: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-an-elite-university-research-center-concealed-its-relationship-with-jeffrey-epstein https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-an-elite-univer... .
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    > [Wikipedia criticism page] indicates not much at all You shouldn't take criticism uncritically. > Even Bill Gates had the sense to walk away 5 years before OLPC even started Bill Gates didn't “walk away”, he used Microsoft to actively sabotage OLPC, by directly targeting their intended market to prevent it from getting hold, since it was seen as an existential threat to the Windows desktop monopoly.
    - robinsoh 5y ago
      > he used Microsoft to actively sabotage OLPC, by directly targeting their intended market to prevent it from getting hold, since it was seen as an existential threat to the Windows desktop monopoly. You use such strong words and make such enormous claims but I don't see you citing any evidence. Has that become the norm on HN?
  - ClumsyPilot 5y ago
    "Let's also not forget that the founder of OLPC, and the chairman of MIT Media Lab, has gone on record praising a convicted, child sex trafficker" In the world of ad-hominem this is like a drive-by shooting with a nuclear bomb.
    - robinsoh 5y ago
      "In the world of ad-hominem this is like a drive-by shooting with a nuclear bomb." But is it inaccurate? I wasn't sure. So I googled. Here's what I found: "Nicholas Negroponte, who co-founded MIT’s prestigious Media Lab in 1985, admitted to encouraging director Joi Ito to take Epstein’s money and even hanging out with the late pedophile back in the day" At first glance, it appears to have substance to me.

emmelaich 5y ago

Surely defend. > "I also say that as a fan of some of the reviewers."

azinman2 5y ago

I'm saying OLPC folks were action takers. They sought to do an ambitious project to bring computing to the developing world, close the digital divide, bring up a new class of digital natives into an economy they'd otherwise be left out of, enable a suite of educational materials that otherwise wouldn't be available, tackle problems of electricity and internet access in these contexts, and find generous donors & governments to help fund it all. Without economies of scale that eventually came from cell phones, this was a pretty amazing and ambitious project!

hitekker 5y ago
You're confusing "action" with "outcome". Yes, OLPC generated a lot of buzz, and created a cryptocurrency-like hype machine. Yes, OLPC was probably very friendly to you when you were working right alongside them in MIT Media Lab. But what did they actually achieve? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child#Criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child#Criticism indicates not much at all. The project was a beautiful boondoggle; their users didn't enjoy the product but the rich folk who donated could pat themselves on the back for looking like they cared. Even Bill Gates had the sense to walk away 5 years before OLPC even started: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/nov/05/billgates.microsoft https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/nov/05/billgates... Let's also not forget that the founder of OLPC, and the chairman of MIT Media Lab, has gone on record praising a convicted, child sex trafficker: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Negroponte#Epstein_controversy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Negroponte#Epstein_... and tried to cover-up their dirty money trail soon after: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-an-elite-university-research-center-concealed-its-relationship-with-jeffrey-epstein https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-an-elite-univer... .
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  > [Wikipedia criticism page] indicates not much at all You shouldn't take criticism uncritically. > Even Bill Gates had the sense to walk away 5 years before OLPC even started Bill Gates didn't “walk away”, he used Microsoft to actively sabotage OLPC, by directly targeting their intended market to prevent it from getting hold, since it was seen as an existential threat to the Windows desktop monopoly.
  - robinsoh 5y ago
    > he used Microsoft to actively sabotage OLPC, by directly targeting their intended market to prevent it from getting hold, since it was seen as an existential threat to the Windows desktop monopoly. You use such strong words and make such enormous claims but I don't see you citing any evidence. Has that become the norm on HN?
- ClumsyPilot 5y ago
  "Let's also not forget that the founder of OLPC, and the chairman of MIT Media Lab, has gone on record praising a convicted, child sex trafficker" In the world of ad-hominem this is like a drive-by shooting with a nuclear bomb.
  - robinsoh 5y ago
    "In the world of ad-hominem this is like a drive-by shooting with a nuclear bomb." But is it inaccurate? I wasn't sure. So I googled. Here's what I found: "Nicholas Negroponte, who co-founded MIT’s prestigious Media Lab in 1985, admitted to encouraging director Joi Ito to take Epstein’s money and even hanging out with the late pedophile back in the day" At first glance, it appears to have substance to me.