5 ms·

Silicon Valley’s 'Startup Castle' is looking for roommates

23 points by zorpner 11y ago

mxhold 11y ago
John, a resident of the Startup Castle (who declined to give his last name), told me in an interview that he didn’t consider these rules discriminatory, and that the housemates were just “trying to get away from people who were obsessed with themselves.” I'm astounded anyone could look at that list of requirements and say this with a straight face.
- ljk 11y ago
  it's like reverse greek system in U.S. universities...
- kelnos 11y ago
  I actually thing he's serious. I truly believe he actually is that ignorant that he believes that the attributes in that list make sense with his "mission". Completely ridiculous, and really sad.
  - bradleynurse 11y ago
    I know John, and yes, he is actually that serious, as is his on/off again gf Katie, who also is part of this startup process. As a previous tenant (from when they had a place in Mountain View), I can attest to some of the outlandish practices...interestingly enough, some of the rules, while applicable to others, they (aka Katie and John) don't even meet the requisites themselves that they necessitate.
paulhauggis 11y ago
"language in the post, such as discouraging frequent make-up wearers and people with diagnosed mental health conditions from applying" yes, they have lots of strict rules, but I don't see a problem with either of these. It seems these days that everybody not only wants to be able to do anything they want, but no matter how outlandish, annoying, or potentially dangerous, it needs to be socially accepted.
- lolhackernews 11y ago
  > It seems these days that everybody not only wants to be able to do anything they want, but no matter how outlandish, annoying, or potentially dangerous, it needs to be socially accepted. Like being a woman or having treated mental illnesses. I now remember why I keep coming to this website, it's just hilarious.
  - davidgerard 11y ago
    These people are building our world. Comforting, isn't it?
awalton 11y ago
I look forward to seeing the parody of this on Silicon Valley next season.
- ljk 11y ago
  Doesn't look like any of the main characters are that arrogant though(unless Hanneman turns out to be an evil guy?)
dragonwriter 11y ago
Seems to violate several provisions of California fair housing law [0], particularly as regards discrimination based on: 1. medical condition and/or physical or mental disability, (this also seems to violate federal fair housing laws) 2. source of income, 3. personal characteristics, such as a person's physical appearance [...] that are not related to the responsibilities of a tenant, [0] http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/discrimination.shtml http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/discriminati...
- cerrelio 11y ago
  Yes. They do violate tenant laws. However, they violate common decency much more egregiously.
- slickwilli 11y ago
  I don't know how it works in Cali but in most other places if the landlord shares the property (like they themselves are also a tenant) they can be as discriminating as they want.
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    > I don't know how it works in Cali but in most other places if the landlord shares the property (like they themselves are also a tenant) they can be as discriminating as they want. That's not how it works in California (whether or not it is how it works in some other places); there are limited exceptions for taking on a single boarder and roommate situations, which are described in the page linked from the post you responded to, under the heading "Limited exceptions for single rooms and roommates".
svstartupcastle 11y ago
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and the people have been incredibly accomplished. Just sayin'
- davidgerard 11y ago
  It's hard to think of a more appropriate fate for anyone who would live there than each other.
tommorris 11y ago
The language on the website sounds like its selling membership in a new religious movement ("Save the world", "Our purpose is bigger than ourselves", "Our spirit is cleansed by doing right by ourselves, our community, and our world"). Startup culture has finally spawned a monastic cult.
waterlesscloud 11y ago
At the same time, on a personal level I feel like people should be able to share their living space with whoever they want. I wouldn't like living with this group, and I'm certain they wouldn't like living with me, but I've got nothing against them deciding that's how they want to live. It sounds like the 21st century silicon valley obsessive version of a commune, a long California tradition. Best of luck to 'em, is what I say.
bruceb 11y ago
The house manager Nathon Gunn is not having a good day... https://twitter.com/search?q=startupcastle&src=tyah https://twitter.com/search?q=startupcastle&src=tyah
- bmmayer1 11y ago
  On the contrary, his ad is getting flooded with responses. Any publicity is good publicity. I should know [1] [1] http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/03/everyone-seems-mad-at-reservation-hop-founder-admits-he-was-taken-aback-by-the-criticism/ http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/03/everyone-seems-mad-at-reser...

23 points by zorpner 11y ago

John, a resident of the Startup Castle (who declined to give his last name), told me in an interview that he didn’t consider these rules discriminatory, and that the housemates were just “trying to get away from people who were obsessed with themselves.” I'm astounded anyone could look at that list of requirements and say this with a straight face.

ljk 11y ago
it's like reverse greek system in U.S. universities...
kelnos 11y ago
I actually thing he's serious. I truly believe he actually is that ignorant that he believes that the attributes in that list make sense with his "mission". Completely ridiculous, and really sad.
- bradleynurse 11y ago
  I know John, and yes, he is actually that serious, as is his on/off again gf Katie, who also is part of this startup process. As a previous tenant (from when they had a place in Mountain View), I can attest to some of the outlandish practices...interestingly enough, some of the rules, while applicable to others, they (aka Katie and John) don't even meet the requisites themselves that they necessitate.

paulhauggis 11y ago

"language in the post, such as discouraging frequent make-up wearers and people with diagnosed mental health conditions from applying" yes, they have lots of strict rules, but I don't see a problem with either of these. It seems these days that everybody not only wants to be able to do anything they want, but no matter how outlandish, annoying, or potentially dangerous, it needs to be socially accepted.

lolhackernews 11y ago
> It seems these days that everybody not only wants to be able to do anything they want, but no matter how outlandish, annoying, or potentially dangerous, it needs to be socially accepted. Like being a woman or having treated mental illnesses. I now remember why I keep coming to this website, it's just hilarious.
- davidgerard 11y ago
  These people are building our world. Comforting, isn't it?

awalton 11y ago

I look forward to seeing the parody of this on Silicon Valley next season.

ljk 11y ago
Doesn't look like any of the main characters are that arrogant though(unless Hanneman turns out to be an evil guy?)

dragonwriter 11y ago

Seems to violate several provisions of California fair housing law [0], particularly as regards discrimination based on: 1. medical condition and/or physical or mental disability, (this also seems to violate federal fair housing laws) 2. source of income, 3. personal characteristics, such as a person's physical appearance [...] that are not related to the responsibilities of a tenant, [0] http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/discrimination.shtml http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/discriminati...

cerrelio 11y ago
Yes. They do violate tenant laws. However, they violate common decency much more egregiously.
slickwilli 11y ago
I don't know how it works in Cali but in most other places if the landlord shares the property (like they themselves are also a tenant) they can be as discriminating as they want.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > I don't know how it works in Cali but in most other places if the landlord shares the property (like they themselves are also a tenant) they can be as discriminating as they want. That's not how it works in California (whether or not it is how it works in some other places); there are limited exceptions for taking on a single boarder and roommate situations, which are described in the page linked from the post you responded to, under the heading "Limited exceptions for single rooms and roommates".

svstartupcastle 11y ago

The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and the people have been incredibly accomplished. Just sayin'

davidgerard 11y ago
It's hard to think of a more appropriate fate for anyone who would live there than each other.

tommorris 11y ago

The language on the website sounds like its selling membership in a new religious movement ("Save the world", "Our purpose is bigger than ourselves", "Our spirit is cleansed by doing right by ourselves, our community, and our world"). Startup culture has finally spawned a monastic cult.

waterlesscloud 11y ago

At the same time, on a personal level I feel like people should be able to share their living space with whoever they want. I wouldn't like living with this group, and I'm certain they wouldn't like living with me, but I've got nothing against them deciding that's how they want to live. It sounds like the 21st century silicon valley obsessive version of a commune, a long California tradition. Best of luck to 'em, is what I say.

bruceb 11y ago

The house manager Nathon Gunn is not having a good day... https://twitter.com/search?q=startupcastle&src=tyah https://twitter.com/search?q=startupcastle&src=tyah

bmmayer1 11y ago
On the contrary, his ad is getting flooded with responses. Any publicity is good publicity. I should know [1] [1] http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/03/everyone-seems-mad-at-reservation-hop-founder-admits-he-was-taken-aback-by-the-criticism/ http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/03/everyone-seems-mad-at-reser...