Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#181

Post by PaulDavisThe1st » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 10:53 PM UTC

tehjoker wrote: post #43

AnonHP wrote: post #6

My guess, which is just a guess, is that the founders got tired of Google Search and advertising and Android and mobile hardware and privacy issues and regulatory issues so much that the “don’t be evil” motto was glaring at their faces and made them uncomfortable enough to step aside and let others run the show (or run things into the ground). This must have allowed them to enjoy their riches in relative peace. Somet…

This sounds like a just-so story. Just as likely they are running sensitive projects inside of Google that interface with the government. I am far more likely to believe that than a billionaire simply enjoying their money for its epicurean aspects. Attaining a billion dollars requires the will-to-power. That's not something that goes away.

I know quite a few billionaires from the Amazon "process" that definitely did not have "the will-to-power". They just got lucky.

How that relates to Page (& Brin) ... I don't know.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#182

Post by kens » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 10:53 PM UTC

moralestapia wrote: post #158

mam2 wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also Gates, to put it in very uncharitable terms, has shown that it doesn't matter if you're seen as a hated, greedy CEO as long as you do enough philanthropy later in life. Well this is a weird way of assuming theres some sort of need to redeem yourself after having been "perceived" in a way by some (possibly) retards. At that point its just easier to not care at all what people think. And its actually healthier..…

>having been "perceived" in a way by some (possibly) [redacted] Perhaps you're a young man. Warranted or not, 90s Gates was the prototype for the asshole tech CEO. Only Larry Ellison came close, and that's saying something ...

I'm pretty sure that Shockley, the founder of Shockley Semiconductor has them both beat. His management style was described as autocratic, erratic, and hard-to-please as well as domineering and paranoid. Not to mention his questionable views on race and eugenics.

In 1957, eight of his researchers (the "traitorous eight") had enough, so they left and founded Fairchild Semiconductor, (co)invented the integrated circuit, and essentially started Silicon Valley. Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce, two other members of the traitorous eight, went on to found Intel. If Shockley had been a nicer guy, Silicon Valley might not exist.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#183

Post by PaulDavisThe1st » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 10:54 PM UTC

ogre_codes wrote: post #130

ry_co wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alternatively, data could be considered not to exist until it is collected. In this way Larry is neither stealing it nor are you giving it. I personally find this interpretation more compelling. Otherwise you'd get weird conclusions, like Darwin stealing evolution from nature, rather than being the creator of the idea and the data that supports it.

We're off in the weeds now. The point here is that there was no agreement about this... or even knowledge about the collection of data. There was unilateral action on the part of Google/ Facebook to secretly create data collection points all over our lives. The person I replied to suggested we volunteered this information to Google. Which is almost entirely untrue. Most people Google and Facebook track have zero know…

I don't want to blame "most people". But had they read the agreements (!) and understood them (!!) they were told they were being tracked.

So I blame the people a bit, but I blame a media culture that didn't make it clear, and an educational system that prevented them from understanding what was happening.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#184

Post by ItsDeathball » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 10:55 PM UTC

manjana wrote: post #147

e_dv1 wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a conspiracy theory, so even education doesn't always help. Kary Mullis is one example of someone who was smart enough to win a Nobel prize for his work on PCR... but unfortunately later fell into the conspiracy theory rabbit hole for HIV, climate change, etc. I have read that anxiety issues [1], as well as a personality spectrum called "schizotypy" [2] which in itself can be linked to severe anxiety issues at t…

I'm not sure whether this holds much merit in reality as it is purely speculation, but I'd strongly suspect that a great deal of modern popular conspiracy theories are designed and initially propagated by PSYOP groups to influence and control certain aspects of reality for whatever intended purpose (that's kind of the essence or purpose of a PSYOP) - like for example, preventing Bill Gates' eliminating third world po…

I'm not saying you're wrong, but a conspiracy theory about a conspiracy to spread conspiracy theories is extremely meta and wonderfully ironic.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#185

Post by PaulDavisThe1st » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 10:56 PM UTC

mlazos wrote: post #69

haswell wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While it may be true that what Google has become played a major role in taking everyone's privacy, I don't think it's fair to blame this on Larry. Much like Larry chose to remove himself from the public stage, so, too can we stop using Google products. I realize it's a bit more complicated than this, but I'm not fond of your take here.

I’m of the opinion they definitely misled everyone to get users. Hey look at this! It’s FREE! Gmail, maps, youtube, all free! Not once did anyone ever say free except you must surrender all of your inner secrets first

They told what you they were collecting. It wasn't "all of your inner secrets", but it turns out that it's enough to infer what those probably are.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#186

Post by fatbird » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 11:05 PM UTC

2muchcoffeeman wrote: post #145

dddbbb wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's still relatively young, and likely realises the near absolute power he holds over one of the largest companies in the world is not something he can get back once he gives it up. Also Gates, to put it in very uncharitable terms, has shown that it doesn't matter if you're seen as a hated, greedy CEO as long as you do enough philanthropy later in life.

What would Bill Gates have to do to finally shed his reputation as a business man? Honestly, Gates seems like a pretty good guy from interviews he’s given and he’s doing something good with his money.

For many, it seems like his rehabilitation was bought with dirty money:

1. Earn a billion with brutal, unscrupulous business practices

2. Spend half of that charitably, keep the rest, and expect to be seen as a great philanthropist.

Suddenly his charitable works don't seem to offset his reputation so much.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#187

Post by gdubs » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 11:05 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #116

dagmx wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's depressing knowing how large swaths of people are anti science and have made it part of their political identity to boot

It's depressing knowing how many people think all polls are scientifically valid representations of the general population. It's well known that even the way a question is stated or worded can influence the outcome of a poll.

Well, a single poll, sure. Many polls...

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#188

Post by ALittleLight » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 11:06 PM UTC

esperent wrote: post #157

lukaa wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is nothing from evolutionary point of view more important than having children. It would be highly unusual if nature didn't make that experience overall speaking as one of best things in life.

And yet, all the studies of people with children show that they make you less happy, while they are around, although more happy later in later, presumably once they have moved out. Years of relief built up I guess (just kidding, more likely the benefits of having an extended close family when you are older). Speaking for myself, I know that I would hate to have my freedom taken away by having children. I also know th…

Happiness is overrated. Like picking a food to eat because it's sweeter.

If you could choose between a future where your happiness doubled but one of your loved ones died, or the unadjusted future, which would you prefer?

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#189

Post by ryantgtg » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 11:07 PM UTC

jolux wrote: post #178

ryantgtg wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with this. And partisanship is largely the outcome of propaganda peddled by the media to sell ads. I know this is a narrow, arrogant viewpoint, but I view all hardcore partisans as victims of propaganda (with the caveat that perhaps "propaganda" is not the best word here...).

This is ridiculous both-sidesism.

I'm not a both-sidesist. My comment has nothing to do with "both sides have good/bad people." We are currently in a situation where many on the left believe that the far right are pure evil idiots. And those on the right believe that people on the far left are... pure evil idiots. But - guess what - this isn't true.

Re: Ask HN: What Happened to Larry Page?

#190

Post by tehjoker » Fri, Sep 04, 2020, 11:19 PM UTC

tim333 wrote: post #95

tehjoker wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Democrats are right wing by the standard that they uphold social inequality. They certainly market themselves as left-leaning, but if I had space and sufficient interest, I could easily discourse about the ways in which they are anything but.

Though by that standard most humans would be right wing.

Most politically visible Americans yes. People in other countries hold different perspectives, especially in former colonies. People that don't benefit from social inequality (i.e. the majority) are relatively easy to convince the system doesn't work for them.