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Just remember one thing: war is a totally different environment from your everyday company (Yes, even different from YC-backed startups ;-). There's a reason,

Just remember one thing: war is a totally different environment from your everyday company (Yes, even different from YC-backed startups ;-). There's a reason, why it is useful to have disciplined soldiers - it saves lives on the battlefield. That's not to say, that you want drones. It just helps the group (not each individual soldier) if - at times - everyone just does what he/she is told to do.

derefr 14y ago
> That's not to say, that you want drones. Sure we do--remote-operated variety, please. ;)
- CamperBob2 14y ago
  Absolutely. Increasingly, wars are won by geeks who think independently and subvert conventional authority. That was almost as true in WWII as it is today, arguably all the way back to ancient Greece. If you find yourself in a situation where (as run4yourlives put it) you're the guy who has to man a machine gun to cover your company's retreat, you are indeed a victim: not of the enemy's actions, but of your own leadership's incompetence -- or worse, treason. You have made a monstrous mistake, one that you will have had many opportunities to avoid. It's interesting to read this article back-to-back with this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21768668 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21768668 War is a racket. Avoid wars, if possible. If you can't avoid them, don't be cannon fodder, and resist anyone's attempt to treat you that way. This policy scales remarkably well.
hmottestad 14y ago
Yep. Just like when your primary school teacher tells you to not run with the scissors. That is the kind of advice you should take to heart very quickly....or alternatively create scissors that won't hurt you when you run/fall with them. Pity this article has such poor examples. Like the guys who hit each other with their helmets, or the one with the ice cream on his head.
- hiddenfeatures 14y ago
  Wholeheartedly agree. You can achieve much of the same outcome with less "drastic" behaviours.

derefr 14y ago

> That's not to say, that you want drones. Sure we do--remote-operated variety, please. ;)

CamperBob2 14y ago
Absolutely. Increasingly, wars are won by geeks who think independently and subvert conventional authority. That was almost as true in WWII as it is today, arguably all the way back to ancient Greece. If you find yourself in a situation where (as run4yourlives put it) you're the guy who has to man a machine gun to cover your company's retreat, you are indeed a victim: not of the enemy's actions, but of your own leadership's incompetence -- or worse, treason. You have made a monstrous mistake, one that you will have had many opportunities to avoid. It's interesting to read this article back-to-back with this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21768668 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21768668 War is a racket. Avoid wars, if possible. If you can't avoid them, don't be cannon fodder, and resist anyone's attempt to treat you that way. This policy scales remarkably well.

hmottestad 14y ago

Yep. Just like when your primary school teacher tells you to not run with the scissors. That is the kind of advice you should take to heart very quickly....or alternatively create scissors that won't hurt you when you run/fall with them. Pity this article has such poor examples. Like the guys who hit each other with their helmets, or the one with the ice cream on his head.

hiddenfeatures 14y ago
Wholeheartedly agree. You can achieve much of the same outcome with less "drastic" behaviours.