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Welcome to 2014, where people gladly and boldly proclaim their love of greed and selfishness. Some people work for the government to make the world a better pla

Welcome to 2014, where people gladly and boldly proclaim their love of greed and selfishness. Some people work for the government to make the world a better place instead of finding ways to make people more addicted to Facebook or clicking on Ads to buy things they don't really want or need. I understand that you don't care about anyone but yourself, but is it really necessary to shout it from the rooftops?

untog 12y ago
I think the point they were making is that there is no need for the government to rely on such instincts. They're very good to have, but many people have to balance that instinct to help the world with, say, a mortgage. And kids. It's very difficult to be idealistic. Government could pay market rate for people like developers. Though there would be a higher initial cost, I would bet a lot of money that the systems they produce would save money in the end. Alas, if it's government, it's broken. And we won't see a change soon.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
angersock 12y ago
The whole goddamned system is rotten through and through, and one of the main things that perpetuates its existence is when otherwise bright people selflessly sacrifice their time and skill for a cause long since lost, feeding parasites and sociopaths. I'll selflessly give my time to help .gov when they selflessly decide to switch to socialized medicine and do away with the current crumbling status quo. In the meantime, they can pay me an honest day's pay for an honest day's work--especially if I have to fix things that shouldn't have happened in the first place.
webXL 12y ago
> but is it really necessary to shout it from the rooftops? Pot calling the kettle black? And I'm not so sure commenting on HN is the rooftops. What you identify as greed and selfishness, I identify as prudence. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring and acting like it would not only improve my life, but those around me as well. I can make life for family and friends better by preparing for the worst. > Some people work for the government to make the world a better place... Some believe they are making the world a better place even at Facebook, but "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Group-think that occurs in any large organization is dangerous, and that's why we shouldn't assign hard problems and our security to groups susceptible to group-think. Look out for yourself or your group, because ultimately everyone else is.
- fred_durst 12y ago
  > I can make life for family and friends better You realize that that is also selfish, right? Why are your family and friends more important than anyone else's? I understand that many people these days don't feel any need to care about the larger world around them, but I do not understand why they need to be so brash and proud of it.
  - webXL 12y ago
    Tell me why are random strangers just as important as my family and friends? Yours, too? The onus shouldn't be on me to prove to you why I want to favor my network or ensure their security with my own hard-earned resources. It's on you.
    - fred_durst 12y ago
      > Tell me why are random strangers just as important as my family and friends? Yours, too? Because if you think you are more an important that the greater world around you, you become a liability to the rest of the world. The rest of us now need to protect ourselves from you because you have no regard for our well being. You are a burden. I realize you were not raised properly and much of that is not your fault, so I do not blame you. I only feel sorry for the world that now has to deal with you.
      - webXL 12y ago
        I never said I think I'm more important, but even if I did, how does that make me have no regard for your well being? If I'm taller than my dog, does that mean my dog has no height? Look, I'm not saying society should value me more than someone else. I'm saying I value myself and my loved ones more than some random person. Your ideals may tell you that you value all living things equally and that "greater world" follows suit, but you don't have to read too much to know that you're fooling yourself. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” – Animal Farm
        12y ago
watwut 12y ago
There is greed and selfishness and there is being taken advantage of. When project leadership appeals too much on heroism, unchecked ego, patriotism or loyalty, all kinds of red flags are going up.
- Rapzid 12y ago
  Particularly when our government's leadership, our politicians, don't really embody the "show up and try" attitude.

untog 12y ago

I think the point they were making is that there is no need for the government to rely on such instincts. They're very good to have, but many people have to balance that instinct to help the world with, say, a mortgage. And kids. It's very difficult to be idealistic. Government could pay market rate for people like developers. Though there would be a higher initial cost, I would bet a lot of money that the systems they produce would save money in the end. Alas, if it's government, it's broken. And we won't see a change soon.

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]

angersock 12y ago

The whole goddamned system is rotten through and through, and one of the main things that perpetuates its existence is when otherwise bright people selflessly sacrifice their time and skill for a cause long since lost, feeding parasites and sociopaths. I'll selflessly give my time to help .gov when they selflessly decide to switch to socialized medicine and do away with the current crumbling status quo. In the meantime, they can pay me an honest day's pay for an honest day's work--especially if I have to fix things that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

webXL 12y ago

> but is it really necessary to shout it from the rooftops? Pot calling the kettle black? And I'm not so sure commenting on HN is the rooftops. What you identify as greed and selfishness, I identify as prudence. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring and acting like it would not only improve my life, but those around me as well. I can make life for family and friends better by preparing for the worst. > Some people work for the government to make the world a better place... Some believe they are making the world a better place even at Facebook, but "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". Group-think that occurs in any large organization is dangerous, and that's why we shouldn't assign hard problems and our security to groups susceptible to group-think. Look out for yourself or your group, because ultimately everyone else is.

fred_durst 12y ago
> I can make life for family and friends better You realize that that is also selfish, right? Why are your family and friends more important than anyone else's? I understand that many people these days don't feel any need to care about the larger world around them, but I do not understand why they need to be so brash and proud of it.
- webXL 12y ago
  Tell me why are random strangers just as important as my family and friends? Yours, too? The onus shouldn't be on me to prove to you why I want to favor my network or ensure their security with my own hard-earned resources. It's on you.
  - fred_durst 12y ago
    > Tell me why are random strangers just as important as my family and friends? Yours, too? Because if you think you are more an important that the greater world around you, you become a liability to the rest of the world. The rest of us now need to protect ourselves from you because you have no regard for our well being. You are a burden. I realize you were not raised properly and much of that is not your fault, so I do not blame you. I only feel sorry for the world that now has to deal with you.
    - webXL 12y ago
      I never said I think I'm more important, but even if I did, how does that make me have no regard for your well being? If I'm taller than my dog, does that mean my dog has no height? Look, I'm not saying society should value me more than someone else. I'm saying I value myself and my loved ones more than some random person. Your ideals may tell you that you value all living things equally and that "greater world" follows suit, but you don't have to read too much to know that you're fooling yourself. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” – Animal Farm
      - 12y ago

watwut 12y ago

There is greed and selfishness and there is being taken advantage of. When project leadership appeals too much on heroism, unchecked ego, patriotism or loyalty, all kinds of red flags are going up.

Rapzid 12y ago
Particularly when our government's leadership, our politicians, don't really embody the "show up and try" attitude.