4 ms·

it's online! don't be jealous; watch the talks.

by sama 12y ago

guybrushT 12y ago
And just because of that (i.e. making it available online) I cannot even begin to describe just how much good this might do in the world. I could expand this sentiment to every teacher or lecturer who has chosen to put their video online, especially the great ones. They have done a great service to the world (probably beyond what they may themselves realize). I recently met an undergrad student in India who considered Steve Huffman to be his guru (he was a fan of his Udacity course, and so am I, btw) and swears by everything Steve taught him. And, Steve probably does not even know that he has a fan following in a small town in India :)
crazypyro 12y ago
Oh I definitely will! Its hard to argue that its a true substitute for face-to-face encounters, especially with some of the guest instructors. I don't mean to diminish the value of the online class at all.
samstave 12y ago
When do we hear if our application to attend Startup School coming up is accepted/rejected?
- katm 12y ago
  You'll hear by Friday night.
reduce 12y ago
Unfortunately, there's a huge difference in the psychological impact of seeing role models in-person, versus only on a screen. I've experienced this many times while living outside of the US, in recent years. All of the people you'll read about in blogs, or see in videos -- they're perceived like movie stars or legends that must have been greatly distorted on their journey to the opposite end of the world. Keep in mind that many small countries have never seen a single big tech-startup success happen within their borders. Even suggesting a remote possibility of successes, will be met with the argument that every successful person they've ever known hasn't followed what they call the "American" startup way. In-person role models -- can't underestimate the psychological impact.
- kijin 12y ago
  > many small countries have never seen a single big tech-startup success happen within their borders That sounds more like a difference caused by economic and cultural circumstances than whether you've met a rockstar in person. If Country X is unable to produce viable startups, it's probably because it doesn't have the economic and cultural infrastructure to support startups yet, not because Peter Thiel has never graced that country with a royal visit. > every successful person they've ever known hasn't followed what they call the "American" startup way. Of course they haven't. The "American startup way" is optimized for the specific economic and cultural circumstances that are only found in certain parts of the United States. Some aspects of it may be generalizable, but most of it isn't. Following it to the letter in any other country will probably earn you nothing but ridicule and bankruptcy.
  - reduce 12y ago
    The countries I'm talking about have produced many startup founders. They move to the US and never move back. The successful role models don't exist in that country, because as soon as people start becoming successful they move out and never return.
- yen223 12y ago
  There's a quote from Lost which seems apropos - "It's one thing to believe it, it's another to see it". That's the effect I get from reading about all these stuff online.
- buro9 12y ago
  The effect is real and pronounced. One of the perceived privileges of the elite is their very access to opportunity, and being there is to provide that access. Not being there is to observe the access, which is the addition of transparency that never existed before, but fundamentally the access hasn't been granted. If you're already in a tough place without access to these kinds of opportunity, this is just going to underline and bold that some more.
  - anseljh 12y ago

it's online! don't be jealous; watch the talks.

by sama 12y ago

it's online! don't be jealous; watch the talks.

And just because of that (i.e. making it available online) I cannot even begin to describe just how much good this might do in the world. I could expand this sentiment to every teacher or lecturer who has chosen to put their video online, especially the great ones. They have done a great service to the world (probably beyond what they may themselves realize). I recently met an undergrad student in India who considered Steve Huffman to be his guru (he was a fan of his Udacity course, and so am I, btw) and swears by everything Steve taught him. And, Steve probably does not even know that he has a fan following in a small town in India :)

crazypyro 12y ago

Oh I definitely will! Its hard to argue that its a true substitute for face-to-face encounters, especially with some of the guest instructors. I don't mean to diminish the value of the online class at all.

samstave 12y ago

When do we hear if our application to attend Startup School coming up is accepted/rejected?

katm 12y ago
You'll hear by Friday night.

reduce 12y ago

Unfortunately, there's a huge difference in the psychological impact of seeing role models in-person, versus only on a screen. I've experienced this many times while living outside of the US, in recent years. All of the people you'll read about in blogs, or see in videos -- they're perceived like movie stars or legends that must have been greatly distorted on their journey to the opposite end of the world. Keep in mind that many small countries have never seen a single big tech-startup success happen within their borders. Even suggesting a remote possibility of successes, will be met with the argument that every successful person they've ever known hasn't followed what they call the "American" startup way. In-person role models -- can't underestimate the psychological impact.

kijin 12y ago
> many small countries have never seen a single big tech-startup success happen within their borders That sounds more like a difference caused by economic and cultural circumstances than whether you've met a rockstar in person. If Country X is unable to produce viable startups, it's probably because it doesn't have the economic and cultural infrastructure to support startups yet, not because Peter Thiel has never graced that country with a royal visit. > every successful person they've ever known hasn't followed what they call the "American" startup way. Of course they haven't. The "American startup way" is optimized for the specific economic and cultural circumstances that are only found in certain parts of the United States. Some aspects of it may be generalizable, but most of it isn't. Following it to the letter in any other country will probably earn you nothing but ridicule and bankruptcy.
- reduce 12y ago
  The countries I'm talking about have produced many startup founders. They move to the US and never move back. The successful role models don't exist in that country, because as soon as people start becoming successful they move out and never return.
yen223 12y ago
There's a quote from Lost which seems apropos - "It's one thing to believe it, it's another to see it". That's the effect I get from reading about all these stuff online.
buro9 12y ago
The effect is real and pronounced. One of the perceived privileges of the elite is their very access to opportunity, and being there is to provide that access. Not being there is to observe the access, which is the addition of transparency that never existed before, but fundamentally the access hasn't been granted. If you're already in a tough place without access to these kinds of opportunity, this is just going to underline and bold that some more.
- anseljh 12y ago