4 ms·

It seems obvious to me that younger people are more predisposed towards building their reputation (and taking some serious risk to do so) and older people are m

It seems obvious to me that younger people are more predisposed towards building their reputation (and taking some serious risk to do so) and older people are more predisposed towards maintaining what they've built. This feels like a pretty standard evolutionary psychology approach. It's not as if no one can disrupt in their older years, but in general people get more cautious as they get older. They're less interested in offending and upsetting, and less prone to intentionally diving into the most divisive topics.

consumer451 5mo ago
I am not disagreeing, but is a possible additional factor that younger, more naive, people just don't have what is and isn't "possible" so deeply ingrained in their minds? The disruptive part of the startup ecosystem kinda runs on that, right?
- casey2 5mo ago
  Young people understand that it isn't possible to win gambling, they due it anyways because of thrill seeking, which decays for multiple reasons as you get older, but has a lot to do with reputation/how established you are and your relative comfort level. This is probably why old people in highly competative fields take HRT, Dopamine Agonists, Stimulants or Psychedelics
  - consumer451 5mo ago
    A bunch of truly naive people trying "impossible" things sounds a bit like the Infinite Monkey Theorem. However, what if they are grad students, or the best of the best product people/devs, which is what YC tries to harvest? That improves the chances of the naive finding some actual disruption, does it not?
  - netrap 5mo ago
    Interesting analogy but there are many old people in Casinos...
- at-fates-hands 5mo ago
  >> but is a possible additional factor that younger, more naive, people just don't have what is and isn't "possible" so deeply ingrained in their minds? I would agree with this. Every high school valedictorian and college president always say the same thing in their commencement speeches: "Go out and change the world! The future is now, YOU ARE THE FUTURE!!" And then you go dropped into the real world all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Within a few years, you either find your path, or realize corporate America is a total meat grinder and you become a soulless, scarred, hardened person. Or you somehow are able to navigate a lane for a career and realize where you can be happy without rocking the boat. Now in my late 40's, I'm of the same mind. Stick to your lane, take your paycheck and find happiness and fulfillment outside of my 9-5.

consumer451 5mo ago

I am not disagreeing, but is a possible additional factor that younger, more naive, people just don't have what is and isn't "possible" so deeply ingrained in their minds? The disruptive part of the startup ecosystem kinda runs on that, right?

casey2 5mo ago
Young people understand that it isn't possible to win gambling, they due it anyways because of thrill seeking, which decays for multiple reasons as you get older, but has a lot to do with reputation/how established you are and your relative comfort level. This is probably why old people in highly competative fields take HRT, Dopamine Agonists, Stimulants or Psychedelics
- consumer451 5mo ago
  A bunch of truly naive people trying "impossible" things sounds a bit like the Infinite Monkey Theorem. However, what if they are grad students, or the best of the best product people/devs, which is what YC tries to harvest? That improves the chances of the naive finding some actual disruption, does it not?
- netrap 5mo ago
  Interesting analogy but there are many old people in Casinos...
at-fates-hands 5mo ago
>> but is a possible additional factor that younger, more naive, people just don't have what is and isn't "possible" so deeply ingrained in their minds? I would agree with this. Every high school valedictorian and college president always say the same thing in their commencement speeches: "Go out and change the world! The future is now, YOU ARE THE FUTURE!!" And then you go dropped into the real world all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Within a few years, you either find your path, or realize corporate America is a total meat grinder and you become a soulless, scarred, hardened person. Or you somehow are able to navigate a lane for a career and realize where you can be happy without rocking the boat. Now in my late 40's, I'm of the same mind. Stick to your lane, take your paycheck and find happiness and fulfillment outside of my 9-5.