4 ms·

I disagree with the premise. In my eyes, it was always hated. The narrative from my perspective (admittedly supported only by anecdata) is that people in the i

I disagree with the premise. In my eyes, it was always hated. The narrative from my perspective (admittedly supported only by anecdata) is that people in the industry felt like it was loved because they loved themselves and only listened to themselves and others like them. Much in the way a CEO in a room full of yes-men might think the whole world loves them. Maybe what's happening now is the yes-men are gone and the hate is finally coming from inside the house?

fdr 4y ago
I don't think that was true. Back when the iPhone and Google or even Google Docs were recent artifacts, there was a lot of positive press and interest from traditionally east coast enterprises, like politicos, about it. Popularity as polled was high too. A lot of stuff has happened since then. Among them, the increasing optimization and understanding of surveillance business models, and a long-term ultra-low interest rate phenomena moving the allowing some...very odd marginal uses of capital. The culture changed a lot too: from 1999 to 2011, if you look at the number of college applicants to computer science and/or computer engineering was cruising along. At 2011 it really started to take off (here I use UC Berkeley as a proxy, because I happen to know that number). I don't mean to suggest things would be better if they were put back the way they were -- for one, people in the field made way, way less money back then -- but it was...different. And the way it was embedded in the culture was different, this sudden change in applicants is more effect than cause. To relate a story: As a young man, I was visiting family in New York. I speak briefly with another young person, who asks what I do. I say "I'm a software engineer" and she asks "what do they do?" (My description: it's a bit like being an accountant, for computer programs) Technology's place in the consciousness was so much smaller, a fun little producer of shiny baubles from time to time, already through its silly season in 1999. Well.

fdr 4y ago

I don't think that was true. Back when the iPhone and Google or even Google Docs were recent artifacts, there was a lot of positive press and interest from traditionally east coast enterprises, like politicos, about it. Popularity as polled was high too. A lot of stuff has happened since then. Among them, the increasing optimization and understanding of surveillance business models, and a long-term ultra-low interest rate phenomena moving the allowing some...very odd marginal uses of capital. The culture changed a lot too: from 1999 to 2011, if you look at the number of college applicants to computer science and/or computer engineering was cruising along. At 2011 it really started to take off (here I use UC Berkeley as a proxy, because I happen to know that number). I don't mean to suggest things would be better if they were put back the way they were -- for one, people in the field made way, way less money back then -- but it was...different. And the way it was embedded in the culture was different, this sudden change in applicants is more effect than cause. To relate a story: As a young man, I was visiting family in New York. I speak briefly with another young person, who asks what I do. I say "I'm a software engineer" and she asks "what do they do?" (My description: it's a bit like being an accountant, for computer programs) Technology's place in the consciousness was so much smaller, a fun little producer of shiny baubles from time to time, already through its silly season in 1999. Well.