5 ms·

Right, because US dollars are so clean.

unmole 4y ago
Saudi Rials are essentially US Dollars in a different packaging. Three and three quarter Rials on top of each other in a trench coat would probably pass as a Dollar and no one would mind.
jabradoodle 4y ago
The issue isn't the currency the exchange takes place in, the problem is doing business with dictators after pretending to altruistic.
- jossclimb 4y ago
  Everyone pretends to be altruistic until it suits them not to be. Do people buying iPhones really care about the child labour that mined the silicon or the Chinese workers throwing themselves off the roof of Foxconn. Of course not, we just tell ourselves we are abstracted away far enough to be guilt free. Don't get me wrong, I am sure a16z are being hypocritical, but he who is without sin can throw the first stone.
  - jabradoodle 4y ago
    [flagged]
- andsoitis 4y ago
  > after pretending to altruistic I have a hard time believing a VC pretended to be altruistic. When did they pretend to have a selfless concern for others (altruism)?
  - jabradoodle 4y ago
    "We are delighted to announce that the six General Partners of Andreessen Horowitz, with our families, are all committing to donate at least half of all income from our venture capital careers to philanthropic causes during our lifetimes." https://a16z.com/2012/04/25/our-philanthropic-commitment/ https://a16z.com/2012/04/25/our-philanthropic-commitment/
    - andsoitis 4y ago
      That's not altruism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism
      - jabradoodle 4y ago
        Whether or not philanthropy (or any action) is genuinely a form of altruism is up for debate. Your own link points to many definitions and debates around the term. In either case you can replace the word altruistic with ethical, moral etc in my original comment.
        andsoitis 4y ago
        I can understand your and other's people's view that any form of business-doing with Saudi Arabia means that you are immoral (I think this is what you're insinuating). In other words, a very binary world view. But I think that in practice it is much more nuanced and complex than that and jumping on one's high horse will likely get you thrown off that horse in due course.
        jabradoodle 4y ago
        I never commented on doing business with Saudi businesses, or in Saudi currency. I was pointing out the false equivalence in the comment that started this thread. If you think doing business with dictators that violate human rights is a nuanced issue, then I will happily ride my "high horse". As you said, they are VCs, there is no nuance, it is proffit and nothing else in the equation.
        andsoitis 4y ago
        Do you feel as categorically opposed then to all the VCs and each and every one of their portfolio companies because the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund invests in them? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35434510 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35434510

Saudi Rials are essentially US Dollars in a different packaging. Three and three quarter Rials on top of each other in a trench coat would probably pass as a Dollar and no one would mind.

jabradoodle 4y ago

The issue isn't the currency the exchange takes place in, the problem is doing business with dictators after pretending to altruistic.

jossclimb 4y ago
Everyone pretends to be altruistic until it suits them not to be. Do people buying iPhones really care about the child labour that mined the silicon or the Chinese workers throwing themselves off the roof of Foxconn. Of course not, we just tell ourselves we are abstracted away far enough to be guilt free. Don't get me wrong, I am sure a16z are being hypocritical, but he who is without sin can throw the first stone.
- jabradoodle 4y ago
  [flagged]
andsoitis 4y ago
> after pretending to altruistic I have a hard time believing a VC pretended to be altruistic. When did they pretend to have a selfless concern for others (altruism)?
- jabradoodle 4y ago
  "We are delighted to announce that the six General Partners of Andreessen Horowitz, with our families, are all committing to donate at least half of all income from our venture capital careers to philanthropic causes during our lifetimes." https://a16z.com/2012/04/25/our-philanthropic-commitment/ https://a16z.com/2012/04/25/our-philanthropic-commitment/
  - andsoitis 4y ago
    That's not altruism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism
    - jabradoodle 4y ago
      Whether or not philanthropy (or any action) is genuinely a form of altruism is up for debate. Your own link points to many definitions and debates around the term. In either case you can replace the word altruistic with ethical, moral etc in my original comment.
      - andsoitis 4y ago
        I can understand your and other's people's view that any form of business-doing with Saudi Arabia means that you are immoral (I think this is what you're insinuating). In other words, a very binary world view. But I think that in practice it is much more nuanced and complex than that and jumping on one's high horse will likely get you thrown off that horse in due course.
        jabradoodle 4y ago
        I never commented on doing business with Saudi businesses, or in Saudi currency. I was pointing out the false equivalence in the comment that started this thread. If you think doing business with dictators that violate human rights is a nuanced issue, then I will happily ride my "high horse". As you said, they are VCs, there is no nuance, it is proffit and nothing else in the equation.
        andsoitis 4y ago
        Do you feel as categorically opposed then to all the VCs and each and every one of their portfolio companies because the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund invests in them? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35434510 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35434510