4 ms·

> Of course, engineers, designers, marketers, sales people and founders, and everyone else working in a startup, we don't come to the Valley for a pay check. I

> Of course, engineers, designers, marketers, sales people and founders, and everyone else working in a startup, we don't come to the Valley for a pay check. I will never understand this attitude. Why on earth would you want to work yourself so incredibly hard for so little in return? The author makes it seem like people are there primarily for some kind of 'shared experience'. If I have learned anything in life, it is that people are primarily self-interested. If I was ever in a position like this, I would ask myself how much a shared experience is worth. Is it worth working >40 hours every week for nothing in return? Is it worth tolerating "hostel" conditions, as the author puts it?

mercer 12y ago
> If I have learned anything in life, it is that people are primarily self-interested. I don't think people are, but even if they are, they are still irrational. There are many people who sign up to join the army or a rebel force for reason that don't really make a lot of sense to many of us. Why would you volunteer to likely die? There are people who 'voluntarily' join churches or cults that heavily restrict their freedom. There are many young people who live in ghettos who are likely to die young if they stay, and have the opportunity to leave for a better situation (comparatively), and yet stay anyways. There are people who spend their lives working hard on their career at the expense of their family and friendships, something that few people would consider in the best interest of the self. If I have learned anything in life, it's that people usually don't really know what's in their best interest, and the best we can hope for is that whatever surroundings and values we grow up in and conform to to are ones that benefit us. And that's even assuming that our self-interest is our primary motivator, which is not very likely.

mercer 12y ago

> If I have learned anything in life, it is that people are primarily self-interested. I don't think people are, but even if they are, they are still irrational. There are many people who sign up to join the army or a rebel force for reason that don't really make a lot of sense to many of us. Why would you volunteer to likely die? There are people who 'voluntarily' join churches or cults that heavily restrict their freedom. There are many young people who live in ghettos who are likely to die young if they stay, and have the opportunity to leave for a better situation (comparatively), and yet stay anyways. There are people who spend their lives working hard on their career at the expense of their family and friendships, something that few people would consider in the best interest of the self. If I have learned anything in life, it's that people usually don't really know what's in their best interest, and the best we can hope for is that whatever surroundings and values we grow up in and conform to to are ones that benefit us. And that's even assuming that our self-interest is our primary motivator, which is not very likely.