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The credit limit was about fronting money to grow the business. Overall I think HN is being too harsh. This is a person taking a rather honest look at himself

by logn 12y ago

The credit limit was about fronting money to grow the business. Overall I think HN is being too harsh. This is a person taking a rather honest look at himself and giving us a glimpse into his life that also happens to capture an interesting history of the Internet.

kposehn 12y ago
I agree about the harshness here. I'm surprised and a bit disappointed. Affiliates are often very secretive because the barrier to entry is extremely low, and as such they don't want to reveal what they do or how. That he took that step, even in retrospect, to post it publicly is to be commended. Why not reveal the workings and the lessons he has learned? Let's value it for what it is.
- kposehn 12y ago
  And after posting this, the harshness has decreased markedly. This is why HN rules.
- marincounty 12y ago
  Yea, he was honest! He wasn't hiding in denial. It was one of the better HN links I have read. I welcome posts like this. What I have read too much of is success/fail stories that leave out the most important details; number one is daddy gave me the money to start my risky business(that business could be anything). Number two is ripping off someone's idea--blatantly(without any remorse, and continue to justify their slimy behavior until they die). It amazes me just how selfish/sadistic some people, even family and friends can be when it comes to money. I have a successful sister who constantly wonders why her mother and brothers never call--it's beyond pathetic, and she doesn't have a clue to why there's no one left. Actually, she knows, but the denial is thick. We grew up poor, so I know that feeling of desperation, but screwing over people repeatedly--adds up. I don't know this guy, but at least he was honest. To guy's who don't have a rich family, or a license to steal; if you make money--it seems like late 20's through your thirties, hang on to it. Don't throw it away on living like Rapper. It will eventually dry up for so many of us. I know it's hard. You have hormones that literally shape your view of reality. Those hormones will go down. That woman you are so trying to impress will change. If you have a fear of death, that fear goes down as you age. I'm not giving advise. I just releate to this guy's financial journey.
  - sebkomianos 12y ago
    I wish I could vote up more than once, that was a solid comment, on par with the post!
pjonesdotca 12y ago
That this captures a little spoken about history of the Internet is my main reason for appreciating the article.
Retra 12y ago
My only concern here is that anyone would be surprised that a thought process of "I want to make money -> Let's do whatever is popular" doesn't result in success or production of lasting value. (A) Everybody and their mothers will think the same thing and (B) that equation doesn't have any value production in it, and (C) what happens when the fad dies? It is a wholly selfish act, and I think it's worth the harshness. Not every mistake is redeemed by a sob story. Some are just not worth making in the first place. (Especially when they are very old and common mistakes.)
- logn 12y ago
  It's not coming across as a sob story to me, just more of a reflection and insight on experiences. > very old and common mistakes That's human nature and storytelling.
  - Retra 12y ago
    This isn't a sob story. I'm just saying that, in general, "having experiences" is not the same as doing something worthwhile. So if the best one can do to capitalize on a mistake is to say "I learned not to make a mistake after I've already made it," then you've done the very least you could do.
siegecraft 12y ago
Being too harsh? He publicly admitted to using xrumer, I think he deserves whatever criticism he gets.

by logn 12y ago

kposehn 12y ago

I agree about the harshness here. I'm surprised and a bit disappointed. Affiliates are often very secretive because the barrier to entry is extremely low, and as such they don't want to reveal what they do or how. That he took that step, even in retrospect, to post it publicly is to be commended. Why not reveal the workings and the lessons he has learned? Let's value it for what it is.

kposehn 12y ago
And after posting this, the harshness has decreased markedly. This is why HN rules.
marincounty 12y ago
Yea, he was honest! He wasn't hiding in denial. It was one of the better HN links I have read. I welcome posts like this. What I have read too much of is success/fail stories that leave out the most important details; number one is daddy gave me the money to start my risky business(that business could be anything). Number two is ripping off someone's idea--blatantly(without any remorse, and continue to justify their slimy behavior until they die). It amazes me just how selfish/sadistic some people, even family and friends can be when it comes to money. I have a successful sister who constantly wonders why her mother and brothers never call--it's beyond pathetic, and she doesn't have a clue to why there's no one left. Actually, she knows, but the denial is thick. We grew up poor, so I know that feeling of desperation, but screwing over people repeatedly--adds up. I don't know this guy, but at least he was honest. To guy's who don't have a rich family, or a license to steal; if you make money--it seems like late 20's through your thirties, hang on to it. Don't throw it away on living like Rapper. It will eventually dry up for so many of us. I know it's hard. You have hormones that literally shape your view of reality. Those hormones will go down. That woman you are so trying to impress will change. If you have a fear of death, that fear goes down as you age. I'm not giving advise. I just releate to this guy's financial journey.
- sebkomianos 12y ago
  I wish I could vote up more than once, that was a solid comment, on par with the post!

pjonesdotca 12y ago

That this captures a little spoken about history of the Internet is my main reason for appreciating the article.

Retra 12y ago

My only concern here is that anyone would be surprised that a thought process of "I want to make money -> Let's do whatever is popular" doesn't result in success or production of lasting value. (A) Everybody and their mothers will think the same thing and (B) that equation doesn't have any value production in it, and (C) what happens when the fad dies? It is a wholly selfish act, and I think it's worth the harshness. Not every mistake is redeemed by a sob story. Some are just not worth making in the first place. (Especially when they are very old and common mistakes.)

logn 12y ago
It's not coming across as a sob story to me, just more of a reflection and insight on experiences. > very old and common mistakes That's human nature and storytelling.
- Retra 12y ago
  This isn't a sob story. I'm just saying that, in general, "having experiences" is not the same as doing something worthwhile. So if the best one can do to capitalize on a mistake is to say "I learned not to make a mistake after I've already made it," then you've done the very least you could do.

siegecraft 12y ago

Being too harsh? He publicly admitted to using xrumer, I think he deserves whatever criticism he gets.