The problem is that even we are prone to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Tech people tend to fall prey to shady actors just as much as anyone else. We're blind to su

The problem is that even we are prone to the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Tech people tend to fall prey to shady actors just as much as anyone else. We're blind to superficial charm when it's directed at our prejudices in the right way. Based on what I've said about VCs, one might think that I despise them. Far from it, actually. The ones I've met, I like. However, I think they are bad judges of character and fund some awful people. The difference between me and 99% of business people is that I know that I'm not a great judge of character. I'm probably average at it, but that's not saying much. It's like saying, "I'm average at national security"; if you don't have a rare stopping power, you're exposed. I wouldn't bet my career on someone (beyond typical management) without having that person meet some people who I think are better judges than I am. Unfortunately, most people are highly confident in their judgment of character despite a lack of talent for it, and that's dangerous. Especially when they hand our power over, like when we're at a company and our decent-human-being-but-overextended founder/bosses install evil middle managers.