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Couldn't help but smile at this. This is kind of the quant finance equivalent of pointing out that the Navy SEALs are taking applications.

coldtea 12y ago
Well, the Navy SEALs are taking applications. And it's not that difficult to get in, if you're determined enough and in a healthy condition. People on HN work in ever more prestigious and/or difficult to get in companies that this.
- jburwell 12y ago
  You clearly do not understand physical and mental capacity required to complete BUD/S and SQT nor have you ever meet a current or former Tier 1 operator. Navy SEALs are not only some of the most physically talent people on Earth, but also some of the smartest. 100-110 of the most physically fit, determined folks you'll ever meet start BUD/S every quarter, and only 10-20 graduate -- easily more difficult to land a position as an operator than almost any job you can imagine.
  - spacefight 12y ago
    One could argue, that some of the smartest people can hardly be smart if they voluntarily join a military force.
    - spain 12y ago
      Doesn't seem like that great of an argument to me.
      - mahyarm 12y ago
        It's not very good for one's life expectancy or mental health, and if you are that good, you could make far more money doing other things.
        scrapcode 12y ago
        That's quite the generalization.
        cpwright 12y ago
        If you're doing it, you're probably not in it for the money. Just as most people who work for a non-profit are also not in it for the money. Do you assume that everyone who works for a non-profit because they believe in the cause can't actually be very bright? You might not agree with their motivations, but that doesn't mean they can't be every bit as smart as someone who decides to go off and make as much money as possible.
        coldtea 12y ago
        >If you're doing it, you're probably not in it for the money. Sure. But any other motive for doing such a thing is probably less smart too.
        scrapcode 12y ago
        "Such a thing," in this case being the military, encapsulates multiple industries including computer science and information technology. In the United States it could also mean the benefit of a full ride education along with highly technical military training. Complete health care, job security, global travel opportunities... Since you seem to be fixated on the notion that if there isn't and tangible reward than it is less smart than the choice you'd make. Not to mention that such a choice most likely satisfies passion and honor within a person.
        josu 12y ago
        >Not to mention that such a choice most likely satisfies passion and honor within a person. If you are saying that any person that satisfies his passions and honor is considered smart, or that a person that works in something that gives him satisfaction is considered smart, then you are just twisting the definition of smart.
    - waterlesscloud 12y ago
      One could argue that if one didn't know very many military people, I suppose.
  - _nedR 12y ago
    That asshat who hosts 'Future Weapons' on the Discovery channel claims to be a former Navy SEAL. I am not sure whether he would fit the bill of 'some of the smartest' on Earth though..
  - savorypiano 12y ago
    The requirements look steep but also are attainable for high level athletes in most sports. I think the difficulty is in a young candidate not having the idea of what he's getting into, let alone having a proper training program. If one barely passes the basic test, the initial bootcamp phase will only break him further and not give him enough recovery for Hell Week. On the other hand, if the person has already built to that level beforehand it should be attainable. The catch is that most young candidates have not. The hardest part of training is building up your level, but once you're there you keep it. I'm a sedentary 31 year old now, but I bet I could still pass the basic test at optimum levels, with a couple months training. I certainly won't be motivated to do the next stages though. http://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seals-buds-training-stages-overview.html#.U7ztPI1dW9s http://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seals-buds-training-stages-over...
- scrapcode 12y ago
  Where do you get your information that it's "not that difficult to get in" to the SEALs? In my personal experience it was fairly difficult to get into the US Navy in an advanced technical field, period. I worked with many great men that were very intelligent, extremely fit, and had been aspiring to join the SEALs their whole lives. About 12 guys I was deployed with attempted BUDs multiple times (throughout a span of multiple years) and I can recall 1 that made it, on his second attempt nonetheless. I think you really underestimate the barrier to entry into the SEALs, and how that correlates to what the OC was trying to portray with his comparison.
maaku 12y ago
An attitude like that and you'll never work there.

coldtea 12y ago

Well, the Navy SEALs are taking applications. And it's not that difficult to get in, if you're determined enough and in a healthy condition. People on HN work in ever more prestigious and/or difficult to get in companies that this.

jburwell 12y ago
You clearly do not understand physical and mental capacity required to complete BUD/S and SQT nor have you ever meet a current or former Tier 1 operator. Navy SEALs are not only some of the most physically talent people on Earth, but also some of the smartest. 100-110 of the most physically fit, determined folks you'll ever meet start BUD/S every quarter, and only 10-20 graduate -- easily more difficult to land a position as an operator than almost any job you can imagine.
- spacefight 12y ago
  One could argue, that some of the smartest people can hardly be smart if they voluntarily join a military force.
  - spain 12y ago
    Doesn't seem like that great of an argument to me.
    - mahyarm 12y ago
      It's not very good for one's life expectancy or mental health, and if you are that good, you could make far more money doing other things.
      - scrapcode 12y ago
        That's quite the generalization.
      - cpwright 12y ago
        If you're doing it, you're probably not in it for the money. Just as most people who work for a non-profit are also not in it for the money. Do you assume that everyone who works for a non-profit because they believe in the cause can't actually be very bright? You might not agree with their motivations, but that doesn't mean they can't be every bit as smart as someone who decides to go off and make as much money as possible.
        coldtea 12y ago
        >If you're doing it, you're probably not in it for the money. Sure. But any other motive for doing such a thing is probably less smart too.
        scrapcode 12y ago
        "Such a thing," in this case being the military, encapsulates multiple industries including computer science and information technology. In the United States it could also mean the benefit of a full ride education along with highly technical military training. Complete health care, job security, global travel opportunities... Since you seem to be fixated on the notion that if there isn't and tangible reward than it is less smart than the choice you'd make. Not to mention that such a choice most likely satisfies passion and honor within a person.
        josu 12y ago
        >Not to mention that such a choice most likely satisfies passion and honor within a person. If you are saying that any person that satisfies his passions and honor is considered smart, or that a person that works in something that gives him satisfaction is considered smart, then you are just twisting the definition of smart.
  - waterlesscloud 12y ago
    One could argue that if one didn't know very many military people, I suppose.
- _nedR 12y ago
  That asshat who hosts 'Future Weapons' on the Discovery channel claims to be a former Navy SEAL. I am not sure whether he would fit the bill of 'some of the smartest' on Earth though..
- savorypiano 12y ago
  The requirements look steep but also are attainable for high level athletes in most sports. I think the difficulty is in a young candidate not having the idea of what he's getting into, let alone having a proper training program. If one barely passes the basic test, the initial bootcamp phase will only break him further and not give him enough recovery for Hell Week. On the other hand, if the person has already built to that level beforehand it should be attainable. The catch is that most young candidates have not. The hardest part of training is building up your level, but once you're there you keep it. I'm a sedentary 31 year old now, but I bet I could still pass the basic test at optimum levels, with a couple months training. I certainly won't be motivated to do the next stages though. http://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seals-buds-training-stages-overview.html#.U7ztPI1dW9s http://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seals-buds-training-stages-over...
scrapcode 12y ago
Where do you get your information that it's "not that difficult to get in" to the SEALs? In my personal experience it was fairly difficult to get into the US Navy in an advanced technical field, period. I worked with many great men that were very intelligent, extremely fit, and had been aspiring to join the SEALs their whole lives. About 12 guys I was deployed with attempted BUDs multiple times (throughout a span of multiple years) and I can recall 1 that made it, on his second attempt nonetheless. I think you really underestimate the barrier to entry into the SEALs, and how that correlates to what the OC was trying to portray with his comparison.

maaku 12y ago

An attitude like that and you'll never work there.