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We're not dying of cancer yet, that's you guys. I'm 30. I'm one of the young guys. I also realize that (a) my odds of winning the VC-funded lottery are low an

We're not dying of cancer yet, that's you guys. I'm 30. I'm one of the young guys. I also realize that (a) my odds of winning the VC-funded lottery are low and (b) all of us are going to be old one day. No age is too young to die of cancer. One of my friends died last year at 31. You guys are the ones running those companies and generally we don't like how you guys run companies. I don't like how stodgy, checked-out, appearance-obsessed execs run companies. I also don't like how VC-funded egotistical frat boys run companies. It has nothing to do with age. Most people of any age are not equipped to run companies. We want very flexible hours, self direction, relaxing lighting, productive work time and a near absence of meetings. I agree 100% and that won't change when I'm 50. I'll probably be even grumpier about the corporate nonsense (if God decides to be a dick and I'm still working corporate jobs by then). The people I know that are in their twenties and trying to fix cancer are being met with the horrible baby boomer mentality about everything. Sure. I don't think you're wrong, and your observations are valid. Is it generational? I'm not sure. I don't like the Gen X, VC chickenhawk mentality or the Millennial-generation "move fast and never fix things" mindset either. People who gain power become short-sighted, flippant, emotionally insensitive and, over the long term, creatively and intellectually weak. This is true regardless of age. I rail on "the Boomers" all the time because the political impact of that generation has been terrible, and their economic mismanagement has fucked us up big time, but I don't actually think it's a problem with the individuals.

3pt14159 13y ago
Sorry about that Michael, I had you confused with someone else on HN. Apologies. Look, if the money were there and the environment was there we'd be there. It really is that simple. I think the odds of winning the startup lottery are actually pretty high, at least for all reasonable definitions of "winning". Although that might be survivorship bias speaking on my end. If more people were like Elon Musk we'd be working on these harder problems. I totally agree with you about your observations about people that gain power, at least in aggregate.
- waterlesscloud 13y ago
  So it's all someone else's fault?
  - rosser 13y ago
    Of course it is. I'm reminded of a scene in The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, with Kieran Culkin and Emile Hirsch. (Great movie, btw.) Minor spoilers: The boys are riding their bicycles along a country road, and happen upon a dog that's been struck by a passing vehicle, and is dying. Hirsch's character, Francis, says (paraphrased), "Someone needs to come for it. They need to do something." Tim, played by Culkin, responds, "There is no 'they'. We are they." I trust the scene's relevance isn't too obscure.
    - gruseom 13y ago
      Reminds me of Heidegger's concept of the "they self" as an inauthentic way of being.
    - judk 13y ago
      Great movie. But the tiger part was a bit ridiculous.
    - scott_s 13y ago
      The scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ut7L-X1NQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ut7L-X1NQ What always stuck with me was the end: "No one was coming for this dog, I hope you realize that. Nobody around here, no one who passed it, not even the guy who hit it. I hope you realize that. Don't you ever tell me to get real. I know what fucking real is, okay?"

3pt14159 13y ago

Sorry about that Michael, I had you confused with someone else on HN. Apologies. Look, if the money were there and the environment was there we'd be there. It really is that simple. I think the odds of winning the startup lottery are actually pretty high, at least for all reasonable definitions of "winning". Although that might be survivorship bias speaking on my end. If more people were like Elon Musk we'd be working on these harder problems. I totally agree with you about your observations about people that gain power, at least in aggregate.

waterlesscloud 13y ago
So it's all someone else's fault?
- rosser 13y ago
  Of course it is. I'm reminded of a scene in The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, with Kieran Culkin and Emile Hirsch. (Great movie, btw.) Minor spoilers: The boys are riding their bicycles along a country road, and happen upon a dog that's been struck by a passing vehicle, and is dying. Hirsch's character, Francis, says (paraphrased), "Someone needs to come for it. They need to do something." Tim, played by Culkin, responds, "There is no 'they'. We are they." I trust the scene's relevance isn't too obscure.
  - gruseom 13y ago
    Reminds me of Heidegger's concept of the "they self" as an inauthentic way of being.
  - judk 13y ago
    Great movie. But the tiger part was a bit ridiculous.
  - scott_s 13y ago
    The scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ut7L-X1NQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ut7L-X1NQ What always stuck with me was the end: "No one was coming for this dog, I hope you realize that. Nobody around here, no one who passed it, not even the guy who hit it. I hope you realize that. Don't you ever tell me to get real. I know what fucking real is, okay?"