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There are certain aspects about Notch's rise to fame and fortune that make his story more inspiring to me than practically any other celebrity. He got wealthy d

by Udo 12y ago

There are certain aspects about Notch's rise to fame and fortune that make his story more inspiring to me than practically any other celebrity. He got wealthy doing what he loved, he never bullied anyone or got into any kind of real drama, he didn't need to build an oppressive empire, his product was something that enabled and inspired people in itself, and when it wasn't fun anymore he just quit and is (from the looks of it) currently enjoying life. It's immensely comforting to know that this is possible, unlikely and unconventional as it may be. I'd much like to see more Notches out there making it big, as compared to the flood of Steve Jobs-wannabe assholes who are on a perpetual mission of conquest and destruction.

boracay 12y ago
I would imagine the biggest opportunity of "unexpected wealth" is that you have the benefit of knowing better. As in that you don't have to value the same things as society at large and can go on and do things that really matter. Seems like he's wasting that opportunity.
- Udo 12y ago
  > As in that you don't have to value the same things as society at large He's not from a rich background, is not well-connected, is not a business person, is not stunningly young or good looking, is not being sponsored by a media conglomerate - he is just a nerdy nice guy. I'm having trouble seeing the conformity you ascribe to him. In fact, he started out by being different. > can go on and do things that really matter. Seems like he's wasting that opportunity. It's depressing but interesting that big-time CEOs who are unpleasant in every way imaginable are somehow beyond reproach as long as they make a big show of donating a bit to charity here and there, but when someone who's not "a captain of industry" or a line-manufactured superstar buys something extravagant, people's propriety alarm bells start going off. You also seem to imply that his wealth is somehow random and undeserved, and that he should retroactively work on deserving it - as if Minecraft didn't have an enormously positive impact on many people (including children) already.
  - boracay 12y ago
    I don't really follow your reasoning, we probably have quite different outlooks on the subject. No he doesn't come from a rich background. That's the point. A lot of people that end of rich come from a background where vanity is very important. They then have to spend a large part of their life trying to achieve that goal. That's why I don't care about "captains of industry". I don't expect any better, they've already "sold their soul". I don't necessarily dislike people like that, because it can be very hard to opt-out of that life. The classic case is where you father works to much and neglects your mother, which self medicates a bit to much and in turn neglects you. So the only thing you know is trying to be your father to rationalize your sense of abandonment. When people who doesn't have that background become rich and can do whatever they want, but instead opts-in to those values I think it's sad. Maybe he has personal problems of his own, or he just don't care anymore or whatever, I'm not going to be first in line to celebrate the guy. Because buying the most expensive house in the most vain place in the world is just not something I value. Minecraft is still pretty cool though.
- deleted 12y ago
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gonvaled 12y ago
It seems your definition of "it is possible" seems to be "he got immensely rich". Being rich is a comparison: you are only rich compared to poorer people. So, by definition, only very few people can "make it": you only value the mansion that he bought if nobody else has it. Or, seen from another perspective: 99.9% of human beings are incredibly rich (compared to 99% of the middle ages inhabitants), but who cares? We all feel poor. So, if we all "make it" and buy 70$ million dollars homes with bay view (an impossibility in itself), we will nevertheless all be poor. Sorry to be negative, but we can not make it.

by Udo 12y ago

boracay 12y ago

I would imagine the biggest opportunity of "unexpected wealth" is that you have the benefit of knowing better. As in that you don't have to value the same things as society at large and can go on and do things that really matter. Seems like he's wasting that opportunity.

Udo 12y ago
> As in that you don't have to value the same things as society at large He's not from a rich background, is not well-connected, is not a business person, is not stunningly young or good looking, is not being sponsored by a media conglomerate - he is just a nerdy nice guy. I'm having trouble seeing the conformity you ascribe to him. In fact, he started out by being different. > can go on and do things that really matter. Seems like he's wasting that opportunity. It's depressing but interesting that big-time CEOs who are unpleasant in every way imaginable are somehow beyond reproach as long as they make a big show of donating a bit to charity here and there, but when someone who's not "a captain of industry" or a line-manufactured superstar buys something extravagant, people's propriety alarm bells start going off. You also seem to imply that his wealth is somehow random and undeserved, and that he should retroactively work on deserving it - as if Minecraft didn't have an enormously positive impact on many people (including children) already.
- boracay 12y ago
  I don't really follow your reasoning, we probably have quite different outlooks on the subject. No he doesn't come from a rich background. That's the point. A lot of people that end of rich come from a background where vanity is very important. They then have to spend a large part of their life trying to achieve that goal. That's why I don't care about "captains of industry". I don't expect any better, they've already "sold their soul". I don't necessarily dislike people like that, because it can be very hard to opt-out of that life. The classic case is where you father works to much and neglects your mother, which self medicates a bit to much and in turn neglects you. So the only thing you know is trying to be your father to rationalize your sense of abandonment. When people who doesn't have that background become rich and can do whatever they want, but instead opts-in to those values I think it's sad. Maybe he has personal problems of his own, or he just don't care anymore or whatever, I'm not going to be first in line to celebrate the guy. Because buying the most expensive house in the most vain place in the world is just not something I value. Minecraft is still pretty cool though.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]

gonvaled 12y ago

It seems your definition of "it is possible" seems to be "he got immensely rich". Being rich is a comparison: you are only rich compared to poorer people. So, by definition, only very few people can "make it": you only value the mansion that he bought if nobody else has it. Or, seen from another perspective: 99.9% of human beings are incredibly rich (compared to 99% of the middle ages inhabitants), but who cares? We all feel poor. So, if we all "make it" and buy 70$ million dollars homes with bay view (an impossibility in itself), we will nevertheless all be poor. Sorry to be negative, but we can not make it.