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I only skimmed the manifesto, but I didn't see much about paranoia, infallibility, "worthless peons," nothing like that. It basically just said markets and prog

I only skimmed the manifesto, but I didn't see much about paranoia, infallibility, "worthless peons," nothing like that. It basically just said markets and progress are good, collectivism and stagnation are bad. That, along with his hypocritical NIMBYism, seems pretty standard for bay area techies who are lost in the sauce. I don't agree with a lot of his manifesto. But I wish more people would write manifestos and try to fully explain their worldview instead of spending a lifetime reacting to other people's opinions. It's sad that we think they're inherently pretentious.

kaycebasques 3y ago
I like the idea of making it more acceptable / encouraged for people to write manifestos. Do you have one?
hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
Here is the very beginning of his manifesto: > Lies > We are being lied to. > We are told that technology takes our jobs, reduces our wages, increases inequality, threatens our health, ruins the environment, degrades our society, corrupts our children, impairs our humanity, threatens our future, and is ever on the verge of ruining everything. > We are told to be angry, bitter, and resentful about technology. > We are told to be pessimistic. In other words, the very first subtitle is "Lies", like it's some evil shadowy cabal that is keeping us from the Truth of techno-utopia (and this isn't just my interpretation - he goes on to specifically name his enemies hit list later). His article felt like it would be way more at home on some rando's "IllumiNaTI!!!" YouTube channel, where the cliche of starting out with an "enemies list" is central to any juicy conspiracy theory. But most importantly, my reaction comes from my experience. I most definitely was a techno-optimist for all my life until about 2012-2015 or so. I believed the initial promises about how the Internet would bring us all closer, and how social media would let me better connect with friends and strangers, about how smart phones would make our lives so much better. So I am just totally baffled that anyone could have lived through that time and not be at least somewhat reflective about "hey, maybe there are some downsides to tech, and maybe this tech disillusionment that so many techies (to say nothing of non-techies) feel is based in something real" unless they are just a completely selfish asshole or totally oblivious to the real, documented harms of tech.
- kortilla 3y ago
  > In other words, the very first subtitle is "Lies", like it's some evil shadowy cabal that is keeping us from the Truth This is the state of any discourse today though. Leftists are just as convinced that corporations and billionaires are lying to them as well.
  - hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
    That's just whataboutism, and it's false to state that two intellectually bankrupt approaches are the only options. I've seen plenty of articles in response to Andreessen's manifesto that are still relatively "pro tech", but which honestly assess that not all is roses and there are real harms to consider.

kaycebasques 3y ago

I like the idea of making it more acceptable / encouraged for people to write manifestos. Do you have one?

hn_throwaway_99 3y ago

Here is the very beginning of his manifesto: > Lies > We are being lied to. > We are told that technology takes our jobs, reduces our wages, increases inequality, threatens our health, ruins the environment, degrades our society, corrupts our children, impairs our humanity, threatens our future, and is ever on the verge of ruining everything. > We are told to be angry, bitter, and resentful about technology. > We are told to be pessimistic. In other words, the very first subtitle is "Lies", like it's some evil shadowy cabal that is keeping us from the Truth of techno-utopia (and this isn't just my interpretation - he goes on to specifically name his enemies hit list later). His article felt like it would be way more at home on some rando's "IllumiNaTI!!!" YouTube channel, where the cliche of starting out with an "enemies list" is central to any juicy conspiracy theory. But most importantly, my reaction comes from my experience. I most definitely was a techno-optimist for all my life until about 2012-2015 or so. I believed the initial promises about how the Internet would bring us all closer, and how social media would let me better connect with friends and strangers, about how smart phones would make our lives so much better. So I am just totally baffled that anyone could have lived through that time and not be at least somewhat reflective about "hey, maybe there are some downsides to tech, and maybe this tech disillusionment that so many techies (to say nothing of non-techies) feel is based in something real" unless they are just a completely selfish asshole or totally oblivious to the real, documented harms of tech.

kortilla 3y ago
> In other words, the very first subtitle is "Lies", like it's some evil shadowy cabal that is keeping us from the Truth This is the state of any discourse today though. Leftists are just as convinced that corporations and billionaires are lying to them as well.
- hn_throwaway_99 3y ago
  That's just whataboutism, and it's false to state that two intellectually bankrupt approaches are the only options. I've seen plenty of articles in response to Andreessen's manifesto that are still relatively "pro tech", but which honestly assess that not all is roses and there are real harms to consider.