6 ms·

Peter Thiel is a political extremist, and I don't like a lot of his views at all. My point of view is that this is bad for YCombinator, and that this is a bit

Peter Thiel is a political extremist, and I don't like a lot of his views at all. My point of view is that this is bad for YCombinator, and that this is a bit of a shame.

agorabinary 12y ago
"Political extremist" is an empty ad-hominem --- please point out specifically what views of his are so distasteful.
- adamnemecek 12y ago
  Probably his libertarian views.
- danmaz74 12y ago
  “Most importantly, I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.” "Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women — two constituencies that are notoriously tough for libertarians — have rendered the notion of “capitalist democracy” into an oxymoron."
  - zajd 12y ago
    Those sound pretty damning to me. Especially coming from a billionaire.
    - hindsightbias 12y ago
      > Especially I've only been around a few billionaires, but most of the multi-millionaires I've known pretty much toe the same schtick w/o the veneer of Ideology.
    - baddox 12y ago
      Which part of his statement is inaccurate?
      - zajd 12y ago
        I think making the claim that democracy and "freedom" aren't compatible is comedic at best. "Freedom" is an incredibly nebulous concept and it's no secret that we have AND should have laws that restrict behaviors like say murder, or rape. What he really means to say is "democracy is a threat to the things I want to do", and when it's coming from someone who's a member of the ultraelite, well, then... maybe it should threaten what you do. Democracy was created so THAT the masses could overpower the special interests of the elites.
        baddox 12y ago
        The fact that freedom is a nebulous concept makes his claim nebulous, not comedic.
  - eropple 12y ago
    This was the first thing I thought of, and to be honest I'd be interested in seeing how this circle is supposedly squared. I'm working on something pretty awesome for which, for the first time, pitching it to YC seemed like it could be a good idea; to be honest, I wouldn't feel right doing that now with YC talking out both sides of its mouth.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
tikhonj 12y ago
Without additional qualification, "political extremist" just means he holds unpopular views. (What else defines "extreme" in any absolute sense except for what's currently popular?) Turning away potentially strong partners with well-understood and compatible investment philosophies and significant relevant achievements because they hold unpopular views in unrelated arenas is not good policy.
- TomGullen 12y ago
  Libertarianism is extremist politics in my view, and a lot of his views seem to align with anarcho capitalists. The only issue he appears to lean left on is conveniently the one that personally affects him.
  - mkal_tsr 12y ago
    Maybe YCombinator needs diversity in political beliefs on top of gender then? Get some anarcho-capitalists, anarcho-communists, a few facists/juche, sprinkle in some socialists, a hint of traditionalists, and a few neo-reactionaries. Hehe, that'd be fun to watch. Diversify all the attribute :-P
waterlesscloud 12y ago
Perhaps we should just declare him an unperson.
chatmasta 12y ago
Why would YC want an ideologically homogenous board of directors? Surely there exists great value in diversity of opinion?
- eropple 12y ago
  Depends. Is somebody who decries the extension of franchise to women because they don't adhere to libertarian views somebody that you'd willingly associate with? Personally, I wouldn't, because I like looking myself in the mirror, but your mileage may certainly vary.
  - oldmanjay 12y ago
    So you support marginalizing people who have views you don't like? That's not at all horrifying...
    - eropple 12y ago
      I am in favor of not working with people who say that giving women the right of self-determination is a negative. Do you really intend to act horrified over such a low standard of decency? (The anti-poor thing is disgusting, too, but I mean, at least there's an argument there.)
    - wavefunction 12y ago
      poor put upon libertarian billionaires!!! Not to say P Thiel is this way but come on bruh let's gain perspective
- ojbyrne 12y ago
  What makes you think the existing partners aren't libertarians?

Peter Thiel is a political extremist, and I don't like a lot of his views at all. My point of view is that this is bad for YCombinator, and that this is a bit of a shame.

agorabinary 12y ago

"Political extremist" is an empty ad-hominem --- please point out specifically what views of his are so distasteful.

adamnemecek 12y ago
Probably his libertarian views.
danmaz74 12y ago
“Most importantly, I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.” "Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women — two constituencies that are notoriously tough for libertarians — have rendered the notion of “capitalist democracy” into an oxymoron."
- zajd 12y ago
  Those sound pretty damning to me. Especially coming from a billionaire.
  - hindsightbias 12y ago
    > Especially I've only been around a few billionaires, but most of the multi-millionaires I've known pretty much toe the same schtick w/o the veneer of Ideology.
  - baddox 12y ago
    Which part of his statement is inaccurate?
    - zajd 12y ago
      I think making the claim that democracy and "freedom" aren't compatible is comedic at best. "Freedom" is an incredibly nebulous concept and it's no secret that we have AND should have laws that restrict behaviors like say murder, or rape. What he really means to say is "democracy is a threat to the things I want to do", and when it's coming from someone who's a member of the ultraelite, well, then... maybe it should threaten what you do. Democracy was created so THAT the masses could overpower the special interests of the elites.
      - baddox 12y ago
        The fact that freedom is a nebulous concept makes his claim nebulous, not comedic.
- eropple 12y ago
  This was the first thing I thought of, and to be honest I'd be interested in seeing how this circle is supposedly squared. I'm working on something pretty awesome for which, for the first time, pitching it to YC seemed like it could be a good idea; to be honest, I wouldn't feel right doing that now with YC talking out both sides of its mouth.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

tikhonj 12y ago

Without additional qualification, "political extremist" just means he holds unpopular views. (What else defines "extreme" in any absolute sense except for what's currently popular?) Turning away potentially strong partners with well-understood and compatible investment philosophies and significant relevant achievements because they hold unpopular views in unrelated arenas is not good policy.

TomGullen 12y ago
Libertarianism is extremist politics in my view, and a lot of his views seem to align with anarcho capitalists. The only issue he appears to lean left on is conveniently the one that personally affects him.
- mkal_tsr 12y ago
  Maybe YCombinator needs diversity in political beliefs on top of gender then? Get some anarcho-capitalists, anarcho-communists, a few facists/juche, sprinkle in some socialists, a hint of traditionalists, and a few neo-reactionaries. Hehe, that'd be fun to watch. Diversify all the attribute :-P

waterlesscloud 12y ago

Perhaps we should just declare him an unperson.

chatmasta 12y ago

Why would YC want an ideologically homogenous board of directors? Surely there exists great value in diversity of opinion?

eropple 12y ago
Depends. Is somebody who decries the extension of franchise to women because they don't adhere to libertarian views somebody that you'd willingly associate with? Personally, I wouldn't, because I like looking myself in the mirror, but your mileage may certainly vary.
- oldmanjay 12y ago
  So you support marginalizing people who have views you don't like? That's not at all horrifying...
  - eropple 12y ago
    I am in favor of not working with people who say that giving women the right of self-determination is a negative. Do you really intend to act horrified over such a low standard of decency? (The anti-poor thing is disgusting, too, but I mean, at least there's an argument there.)
  - wavefunction 12y ago
    poor put upon libertarian billionaires!!! Not to say P Thiel is this way but come on bruh let's gain perspective
ojbyrne 12y ago
What makes you think the existing partners aren't libertarians?