Yes
Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
11–20 of 36 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#12I truly believe people underestimate sheer luck and a good grasp of an said opportunity.
Mark is a mediocre innovator and a weak and ruthless leader. He has had the chance to claim ownership of Harvard Connection before Fb and purchase trendy platforms being a billionaire.
I sense more luck, opportunity, a huge team of advisors, and less skill, talent or chrisma.
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
> He's good at that. But is he actually any good at building things which enrich society without making him money? Name one human for whom this answer would be true - just one please? (not defending Zuck, he is probably one of the most evil people in the history of the entire civilization)
I don't know the name of my local hospital administrator, and nor do you I suspect. And, thats kind of the point.
your local hospital administrator is building what exactly? she/he works for free? if you are in America you picked another evil empire, US health system - try and pick something else………
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#14Most tech giants are one hit wonders. Microsoft is the exception, not the norm.
The playbook now is get product-market fit -> own 99% market share -> build, buy, exterminate everything that could threaten this market share -> when the disruption comes, pivot to it.
Zuck inspired the playbook. He's done it to perfection. He's been in the ring for 20 years. Yahoo dominated for about 5-7 years. By no means is he a bad CEO.
Facebook's decline was always a part of his strategy, and whatever the employees say about there being a bazillion active daily users doesn't reflect that their time is near. But Instagram still runs strong and Threads has half a billion active users.
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#15Why do you care?
I mean that seriously. Sometimes when one asks a question the asking may be more insightful to you than the answer.
I mean, you'll get a bunch of answers here, reflecting a bunch of opinions. But why do you care about what they think? And what does it matter to you what Zuck is or not.
It doesn't sound like you're asking about billionaires in general (or the number of them, or the harm they are doing), and you're not asking about Facebook in general, but rather on Zuck himself.
Do you think the success of a person is based on their original ideas? Or is it on execution? Do you think he's a bad CEO because his company (and him) are visible? (Does your local accounting firm with 10 employees get the same scrutiny?)
Do you think a CEO operates in a vacuum? Is he the only one eith ideas? Is the the only one (inside meta) who makes bets, or buys companies?
All of which brings us back to, why do you care? Is your success delineated by his reputation? (Hey, maybe you're C level at meta aiming for his job.)
Honestly, I've found for me, caring about the success, or deservingness, of others (big or small) is meaningless to me. Their success doesn't make me fail. Their moral failings doesn't make me a success. My job is to be the best I can be, not compare myself to others. And my definition of success is what I want it to be, not some measure society offers (like absolute wealth.)
I'm objectively a bad golfer (outside the top 100 000 in my country, as my phone delights in telling me), but my measure for golfing success is how much fun I'm having. I don't hate on Rory for his success.
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#16I find the amorality of the billionaire class strange. He could be as good as somebody running a public enterprise, a research lab, a hospital. A state energy utility. Instead he's running a giant meme tank feeding racist shit to win clicks and running fake AI ads boosting scam investments. He's good at that. But is he actually any good at building things which enrich society without making him money?
> He's good at that. But is he actually any good at building things which enrich society without making him money? Name one human for whom this answer would be true - just one please? (not defending Zuck, he is probably one of the most evil people in the history of the entire civilization)
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#17Why do you care? I mean that seriously. Sometimes when one asks a question the asking may be more insightful to you than the answer. I mean, you'll get a bunch of answers here, reflecting a bunch of opinions. But why do you care about what they think? And what does it matter to you what Zuck is or not. It doesn't sound like you're asking about billionaires in general (or the number of them, or the harm they are doing…
If it can be rationally argued that the success of the billionaire class is mostly down to luck, size and "quality" of their lineage's social network, exploiting legal loopholes, and immoral conduct, then it follows that we should demand much more of their wealth for the betterment of society. And I very much think that the argument is correct. The Epstein files and the lesser known but just as important Panama papers is strong evidence.
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#18Why do you care? I mean that seriously. Sometimes when one asks a question the asking may be more insightful to you than the answer. I mean, you'll get a bunch of answers here, reflecting a bunch of opinions. But why do you care about what they think? And what does it matter to you what Zuck is or not. It doesn't sound like you're asking about billionaires in general (or the number of them, or the harm they are doing…
Why do you care why he cares? Why post this long essay?
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#19I truly believe people underestimate sheer luck and a good grasp of an said opportunity. Mark is a mediocre innovator and a weak and ruthless leader. He has had the chance to claim ownership of Harvard Connection before Fb and purchase trendy platforms being a billionaire. I sense more luck, opportunity, a huge team of advisors, and less skill, talent or chrisma.
The problem is the American identity is so closely tied to rich capitalists being essentially "god given right" the same way kings used to be god given rulers, that the mythology surrounding their right to horde wealth is basically a necessity.
Re: Ask HN: Is Zuckerberg just a „one-hit-wonder"?
#20well i wouldn't call him that but he has played his cards right everytime. He's more of a business focused guy. Btw, i had the legit same thoughts 2 days ago but yeah he's just a great leader.