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Are you referring to "A blog network and designing websites"? Dustin had his rep before Svbtle. In the quest for determining the source of his design rep, I'm

Are you referring to "A blog network and designing websites"? Dustin had his rep before Svbtle. In the quest for determining the source of his design rep, I'm not sure Svbtle counts. As far as 'designing websites' goes, all I know of is his old blog (the AA redesign mockup). I can't find a portfolio or tweet or dribbble or github or... anything really showcasing even one thing he's designed for someone other than himself. Can you?

tptacek 14y ago
It's the notion that things "count" or "don't count" that is eliciting the snippy responses from me. We are not here to sit in judgement of Dustin Curtis. No, I don't think I'll build a case against your obviously implied argument that he's done nothing of note. I find the idea that Curtis is accorded a lot of respect on HN amusing, because most of what he's accorded are comments like yours.
- Domenic_S 14y ago
  You're not getting it. This was my general train of thought: -Dustin said he just got back from a few months in Asia. What'd he do for money? Maybe he's a startup geek and lives lean. -Hmm, further down he says he bought flatware at $50/5pc, and everything he's purchased is of like quality. Kind of contradicts the 'living lean' thought, so scratch that. And that got me to thinking of all the bits and pieces I've picked up about DC that I can't reconcile: -He claims to live in SF and NYC. OK, maybe he's got some big projects? If so, I can't find any evidence. -He claims to be "a designer", and also claims to "advise early-stage startups on design". Where did he learn these skills, and what startups has he advised? There are no forthcoming answers. -He seems to have no trouble onboarding writers for Svbtle. He could be paying them, but with what funding? Further, his reputation pre-Svbtle is what enabled Svbtle in the first place; where did that come from? In sum, the guy is an enigma to me. His stuff gets frontpaged all the time here, and so I (pretty naturally) assumed someone knew something about him... but it seems like nobody does. It's an odd thing because technology circles are so notoriously meritocratic. You think I'm being flip about Dustin, but I'm really not. I actually agree with most things he writes, and found the AA articles to be very fascinating (and pertinent -- at the time I was going through my own version of the same thing). If all he's done (imagine finger quotes around 'all') is a markdown logo and a kudos button and Svbtle, that's fine. I'm not judging. But he illicits such strong reactions -- your replies are a great example -- that I feel like I'm missing something, that there's some great Secret of Dustin Curtis and I'm missing it.
  - tptacek 14y ago
    I stand corrected.
    - jaggederest 14y ago
      Mensch of you.
- freshhawk 14y ago
  > We are not here to sit in judgement of Dustin Curtis Says the guy commenting on a website with buttons to up and down vote comments.
  - tptacek 14y ago
    Yes.

tptacek 14y ago

It's the notion that things "count" or "don't count" that is eliciting the snippy responses from me. We are not here to sit in judgement of Dustin Curtis. No, I don't think I'll build a case against your obviously implied argument that he's done nothing of note. I find the idea that Curtis is accorded a lot of respect on HN amusing, because most of what he's accorded are comments like yours.

Domenic_S 14y ago
You're not getting it. This was my general train of thought: -Dustin said he just got back from a few months in Asia. What'd he do for money? Maybe he's a startup geek and lives lean. -Hmm, further down he says he bought flatware at $50/5pc, and everything he's purchased is of like quality. Kind of contradicts the 'living lean' thought, so scratch that. And that got me to thinking of all the bits and pieces I've picked up about DC that I can't reconcile: -He claims to live in SF and NYC. OK, maybe he's got some big projects? If so, I can't find any evidence. -He claims to be "a designer", and also claims to "advise early-stage startups on design". Where did he learn these skills, and what startups has he advised? There are no forthcoming answers. -He seems to have no trouble onboarding writers for Svbtle. He could be paying them, but with what funding? Further, his reputation pre-Svbtle is what enabled Svbtle in the first place; where did that come from? In sum, the guy is an enigma to me. His stuff gets frontpaged all the time here, and so I (pretty naturally) assumed someone knew something about him... but it seems like nobody does. It's an odd thing because technology circles are so notoriously meritocratic. You think I'm being flip about Dustin, but I'm really not. I actually agree with most things he writes, and found the AA articles to be very fascinating (and pertinent -- at the time I was going through my own version of the same thing). If all he's done (imagine finger quotes around 'all') is a markdown logo and a kudos button and Svbtle, that's fine. I'm not judging. But he illicits such strong reactions -- your replies are a great example -- that I feel like I'm missing something, that there's some great Secret of Dustin Curtis and I'm missing it.
- tptacek 14y ago
  I stand corrected.
  - jaggederest 14y ago
    Mensch of you.
freshhawk 14y ago
> We are not here to sit in judgement of Dustin Curtis Says the guy commenting on a website with buttons to up and down vote comments.
- tptacek 14y ago
  Yes.