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I used to be much angrier about the non-meritocracy of the Valley, but in 2014, we're near the end of the bubble cycle anyway. I've decided to be forward-thinki

I used to be much angrier about the non-meritocracy of the Valley, but in 2014, we're near the end of the bubble cycle anyway. I've decided to be forward-thinking and wait for the crash. After the crash hits and the carpetbaggers leave, it'll be up to people like me to rebuild the technology world. I hope that, when we do it, we create one in which engineers and scientists and makers matter again.

jacquesm 12y ago
> I hope that, when we do it, we create one in which engineers and scientists and makers matter again. There has never in the history of mankind been a time when engineers, scientists and makers mattered more than they do today.
- michaelochurch 12y ago
  There has never in the history of mankind been a time when engineers, scientists and makers mattered more than they do today. 8 (or 18, or 38) years ago, before the douchebags tracked the mainstream business culture into startups, reduced engineer equity slices dramatically, and generally made the sorts of people who built the original Silicon Valley into second-class citizens. There are many who argue that the 1970s was the Golden Age of Silicon Valley. People who actually wrote the software were treated like real people, and equity slices reflected it. None of this 90-hour-work-week-for-0.03% bullshit.
- thisrod 12y ago
  Our hosts are betting that Michael is right about part of this, the part that is far enough removed from their lives that they might be considering it objectively. http://www.ycombinator.com/rfs/#science http://www.ycombinator.com/rfs/#science
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
dropit_sphere 12y ago
seriouslypleasedropit here, I've commented on your blog. I've come to the conclusion that it's impossible to completely flatten things. There will always be an in-group. But new in-groups can be created. That's basically what YC has done in the last 20 years. Further, in-groups can actively help outgroups. Pell grants are a great example of this. YC wants startups with promise. Build one, join the in-group, and then shape the world according to your will.

jacquesm 12y ago

> I hope that, when we do it, we create one in which engineers and scientists and makers matter again. There has never in the history of mankind been a time when engineers, scientists and makers mattered more than they do today.

michaelochurch 12y ago
There has never in the history of mankind been a time when engineers, scientists and makers mattered more than they do today. 8 (or 18, or 38) years ago, before the douchebags tracked the mainstream business culture into startups, reduced engineer equity slices dramatically, and generally made the sorts of people who built the original Silicon Valley into second-class citizens. There are many who argue that the 1970s was the Golden Age of Silicon Valley. People who actually wrote the software were treated like real people, and equity slices reflected it. None of this 90-hour-work-week-for-0.03% bullshit.
thisrod 12y ago
Our hosts are betting that Michael is right about part of this, the part that is far enough removed from their lives that they might be considering it objectively. http://www.ycombinator.com/rfs/#science http://www.ycombinator.com/rfs/#science
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

dropit_sphere 12y ago

seriouslypleasedropit here, I've commented on your blog. I've come to the conclusion that it's impossible to completely flatten things. There will always be an in-group. But new in-groups can be created. That's basically what YC has done in the last 20 years. Further, in-groups can actively help outgroups. Pell grants are a great example of this. YC wants startups with promise. Build one, join the in-group, and then shape the world according to your will.