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DHH needs to get off his high horse. He's hacked his way into providing a tiny service for artsy folks but he's not exactly hacking on immortality tech or AI li

DHH needs to get off his high horse. He's hacked his way into providing a tiny service for artsy folks but he's not exactly hacking on immortality tech or AI like some of us. The government needs to consider redistributing some of his wealth. This essay is him gloating about sitting on piles of cash, where's the concern for starving african children or terminal cancer patients. He should sell his company and work on immortality tech. He can start with extracorporeal devices like described here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuBDhT7Y5GU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuBDhT7Y5GU

koide 14y ago
marshallp needs to get off his pony. DHH's is not gloating about the piles of cash he surely has on this essay. He's talking about the unprecedented and amazing opportunities unregulated internet gives businesses. And about your career counseling, I'd rather have DHH building niche web software with nice UI than have him build life supporting medical equipment.
- marshallp 14y ago
  Why should he keep building nice UI's. He's proven himself as a can-do hacker and has millions in the bank. He could spend his resources saving lives instead of polishing what's a tiny hill in the global landscape of ideas.
  - koide 14y ago
    He should keep doing whatever he wants to do. You could propose him a venture on life supporting devices and see what he tells you. There's a (tiny) chance he hasn't gotten into life supporting devices because the opportunity hasn't shown itself. On the other hand it might just be that this area is too far out of his domain of expertise or he's just not interested in it. Maybe he doesn't feel like immortality is a worthy goal to pursue. Maybe he donates thousands monthly to whatever charity he feels truly help people. Maybe he drinks all that money with friends after race driving.
    - marshallp 14y ago
      That's why I said government maybe needs to redistribute wealth if these rich folk genuinely don't give a shit about poor people. They can keep their money if they invest in society improving stuff. That's why I said immortality tech. He could get involved in miniaturizing extra-corporeal devices (artificial organs) that keep people alive even if their hearts or lungs get too damaged. He can start by watching that video and contacting those people and putting together a team of engineers to get it done. If you're not doing an Elon Musk, then maybe the government needs to raise your taxes.
      - koide 14y ago
        Ignoring all the problems like: who gets to decide; how are the decisions made; how often is success measured; what corrective measures are allowed; what is the best way to help the poor; what is the best way to redistribute the wealth; how to prevent lobbies from destroying the plan; how to avoid money escaping the countries implementing this into tax heavens. Ignoring all that (and many more questions of the sort) I'm left with only one question: how exactly is Musk helping "the poor"?
        marshallp 14y ago
        He's helping the poor by making energy cheaper indirectly through kickstarting an electric car industry. The tax issue can be resolved by luxury taxes. If people decide they'd like $100 million yacht, tax them $200 million for it. Countries like Singapore already have punitive taxes like that on cars.
        scott_meade 14y ago
        How many Teslas would Musk sell when his $100,000 car becomes $250,000 after tax?
      - Jayschwa 14y ago
        How the guy decides to spend his own money that he earned is none of your business. Mind your own, please. If you think it's such a travesty that the guy has money and enjoys it, then maybe you should go to all the people who consensually traded with him and tell them what bad people they are for buying his products and services.

koide 14y ago

marshallp needs to get off his pony. DHH's is not gloating about the piles of cash he surely has on this essay. He's talking about the unprecedented and amazing opportunities unregulated internet gives businesses. And about your career counseling, I'd rather have DHH building niche web software with nice UI than have him build life supporting medical equipment.

marshallp 14y ago
Why should he keep building nice UI's. He's proven himself as a can-do hacker and has millions in the bank. He could spend his resources saving lives instead of polishing what's a tiny hill in the global landscape of ideas.
- koide 14y ago
  He should keep doing whatever he wants to do. You could propose him a venture on life supporting devices and see what he tells you. There's a (tiny) chance he hasn't gotten into life supporting devices because the opportunity hasn't shown itself. On the other hand it might just be that this area is too far out of his domain of expertise or he's just not interested in it. Maybe he doesn't feel like immortality is a worthy goal to pursue. Maybe he donates thousands monthly to whatever charity he feels truly help people. Maybe he drinks all that money with friends after race driving.
  - marshallp 14y ago
    That's why I said government maybe needs to redistribute wealth if these rich folk genuinely don't give a shit about poor people. They can keep their money if they invest in society improving stuff. That's why I said immortality tech. He could get involved in miniaturizing extra-corporeal devices (artificial organs) that keep people alive even if their hearts or lungs get too damaged. He can start by watching that video and contacting those people and putting together a team of engineers to get it done. If you're not doing an Elon Musk, then maybe the government needs to raise your taxes.
    - koide 14y ago
      Ignoring all the problems like: who gets to decide; how are the decisions made; how often is success measured; what corrective measures are allowed; what is the best way to help the poor; what is the best way to redistribute the wealth; how to prevent lobbies from destroying the plan; how to avoid money escaping the countries implementing this into tax heavens. Ignoring all that (and many more questions of the sort) I'm left with only one question: how exactly is Musk helping "the poor"?
      - marshallp 14y ago
        He's helping the poor by making energy cheaper indirectly through kickstarting an electric car industry. The tax issue can be resolved by luxury taxes. If people decide they'd like $100 million yacht, tax them $200 million for it. Countries like Singapore already have punitive taxes like that on cars.
        scott_meade 14y ago
        How many Teslas would Musk sell when his $100,000 car becomes $250,000 after tax?
    - Jayschwa 14y ago
      How the guy decides to spend his own money that he earned is none of your business. Mind your own, please. If you think it's such a travesty that the guy has money and enjoys it, then maybe you should go to all the people who consensually traded with him and tell them what bad people they are for buying his products and services.