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Everyone is hating on "X" right now because of the bloviated way tech companies talk about "changing the world". I'm always pessimistic about things like this

Everyone is hating on "X" right now because of the bloviated way tech companies talk about "changing the world". I'm always pessimistic about things like this too, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for this stuff. Why?, because it allows some engineers to work on cool stuff. Will it pan out, probably not, but I'm not going to cry if Google blows through a few million bucks. They won't even notice it. Better that a few engineers get to have some fun working on stuff other than optimal ad placement. Who know's maybe they'll stumble across something actually helpful to humanity (not holding my breath).

owlbynight 3y ago
These engineers won't be having fun, because these engineers will be working for Elon Musk. Also, it's a rebrand. He fired the vast majority of the engineers he had. Everyone is hating on "X" because the people who possess the ability to think critically, i.e. engineers, are rightfully perplexed by every single move that this moron makes. It taps into the uncanny valley response for smart people, and it is amplified because Elon Musk has branded himself a genius. This is a shitty rebrand from Twitter to something that is impossible to search for on Google, and nothing more. It is the X-shaped shadow of a fiery ball of mediocrity that is hurtling towards San Francisco pavement as we speak.
- Marrand 3y ago
  Wrong X
  - valval 3y ago
    It’s like a hater bot just spewing out mindless hate. Funny how that works.
sf_rob 3y ago
My cynical view is that Google's X projects had great value to the company but not in the long-shot asymmetric return sense. X convinced engineers working on optimal ad placement that they were part of something grand and beneficial. Google becoming a financial mature company may be inevitable, but risks alienating engineers who want more meaning in their work, whether that meaning is real or superficial.

owlbynight 3y ago

These engineers won't be having fun, because these engineers will be working for Elon Musk. Also, it's a rebrand. He fired the vast majority of the engineers he had. Everyone is hating on "X" because the people who possess the ability to think critically, i.e. engineers, are rightfully perplexed by every single move that this moron makes. It taps into the uncanny valley response for smart people, and it is amplified because Elon Musk has branded himself a genius. This is a shitty rebrand from Twitter to something that is impossible to search for on Google, and nothing more. It is the X-shaped shadow of a fiery ball of mediocrity that is hurtling towards San Francisco pavement as we speak.

Marrand 3y ago
Wrong X
- valval 3y ago
  It’s like a hater bot just spewing out mindless hate. Funny how that works.

sf_rob 3y ago

My cynical view is that Google's X projects had great value to the company but not in the long-shot asymmetric return sense. X convinced engineers working on optimal ad placement that they were part of something grand and beneficial. Google becoming a financial mature company may be inevitable, but risks alienating engineers who want more meaning in their work, whether that meaning is real or superficial.