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Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

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Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#21

Post by lalos »

jt2190 wrote: post #7

I had a friend who would "test" girlfriends by taking them camping for a few days. Camping or other intense travel that raises the level of discomfort (no running water/flush toilets/electricity/internet/air conditioning etc.) reveals someone's true nature very quickly. You'll see whether they get cranky or stay optimistic, whether they're disorganized or not, whether they carry more or less of their fair share of th…

Also a good way to find out if the don't like camping or if it's their first time. Interesting but I don't like the idea of 'testing' people.

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#22

Post by maaku »

jpd750 wrote: post #14
re1ser wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is really good idea :)

I concur, I feel like this or any other situation to bring out true emotion is what is needed.

Such as dumping you as soon as they find out you'd rather challenge them with physical tests than communicate?

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#24

Post by hga »

lalos wrote: post #21
jt2190 wrote: post #7

I had a friend who would "test" girlfriends by taking them camping for a few days. Camping or other intense travel that raises the level of discomfort (no running water/flush toilets/electricity/internet/air conditioning etc.) reveals someone's true nature very quickly. You'll see whether they get cranky or stay optimistic, whether they're disorganized or not, whether they carry more or less of their fair share of th…

Also a good way to find out if the don't like camping or if it's their first time. Interesting but I don't like the idea of 'testing' people.

Those hardly matter; in fact, if the person was an avid camper the test would be useless, because it's designed to put them under stress in ways considered socially acceptable, and see how gracefully they degrade.

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#25

Post by wfn »

jt2190 wrote: post #7

I had a friend who would "test" girlfriends by taking them camping for a few days. Camping or other intense travel that raises the level of discomfort (no running water/flush toilets/electricity/internet/air conditioning etc.) reveals someone's true nature very quickly. You'll see whether they get cranky or stay optimistic, whether they're disorganized or not, whether they carry more or less of their fair share of th…

If this happens organically, then that's one thing (e.g. going on a hitchhiking/whatever journey for two weeks or more, etc. - it does kind of work (get to know person as side effect, and so on)); but institutionalizing it (so to say) just sounds shitty.

Maybe because the person doing the 'test' would always (at the back of their mind, etc.) know that it was being done deliberately. And this kind of informational asymmetry is, simply put (imho), not ethical. (Nor does it sound sexy or spontaneous or groovy or really interesting.)

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#26

Post by stfu »

wfn wrote: post #25
jt2190 wrote: post #7

I had a friend who would "test" girlfriends by taking them camping for a few days. Camping or other intense travel that raises the level of discomfort (no running water/flush toilets/electricity/internet/air conditioning etc.) reveals someone's true nature very quickly. You'll see whether they get cranky or stay optimistic, whether they're disorganized or not, whether they carry more or less of their fair share of th…

If this happens organically, then that's one thing (e.g. going on a hitchhiking/whatever journey for two weeks or more, etc. - it does kind of work (get to know person as side effect, and so on)); but institutionalizing it (so to say) just sounds shitty. Maybe because the person doing the 'test' would always (at the back of their mind, etc.) know that it was being done deliberately. And this kind of informational asy…

I think the difference between male and female "testing" is often just in the rationalizing process e.g. if you were approached by girls since the age of 12 you would have established by now unconsciously some "filters".

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#27

Post by wfn »

stfu wrote: post #26
wfn wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If this happens organically, then that's one thing (e.g. going on a hitchhiking/whatever journey for two weeks or more, etc. - it does kind of work (get to know person as side effect, and so on)); but institutionalizing it (so to say) just sounds shitty. Maybe because the person doing the 'test' would always (at the back of their mind, etc.) know that it was being done deliberately. And this kind of informational asy…

I think the difference between male and female "testing" is often just in the rationalizing process e.g. if you were approached by girls since the age of 12 you would have established by now unconsciously some "filters".

Sure, but i think there's a nontrivial difference between these kinds of (usually) spontaneous and (often/usually) unconscious filters, vs. a whole streamlined process (which takes a longer time; though it does yield more information, as a rule (imo.))

Then again, maybe this is just, uh, institutional ludditism ;) (i.e., everyone has their own process, some have simply industrialized it a bit (e.g. for want of a more spontaneous set of filters, as you said.) But this metaphor probably doesn't work that well.)

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#29

Post by lnanek2 »

Spearchucker wrote: post #9
daSn0wie wrote: post #4

i'd do a small throw-away project with the person before you attempt anything. if you can complete the project, then tackle something bigger. it's like training camp before full-season play.

Not always practical. I've almost completed a 7-year project and now find myself in the unusual position of being a technical founder in search of a non-technical co-founder. I could go out alone for sure and yet know that I'm just not good at carving out a market for my product, no matter how good I know it to be. My challenge isn't knowing what to look for (if I have a skill it's reading people) - it's finding some…

That doesn't mean you couldn't take a break for a hackathon, Startup Weekend, etc. to meet and try out other people.

Re: Ask HN: Horror co-founder stories.

#30

Post by cookrn »

cachebunfield wrote: post #10

I have a story in the making that I hope will have a happy ending. I started a company with two of my good friends whom I also happen to be living with at the moment. We're profitable and growing, but that doesn't mean we don't have problems. I am the technical co-founder while the other two handle operations and the business development side. However, they seem to be just going with the flow while I on the other han…

A few thoughts, which could be helpful:

* Founder vesting schedules can be implemented at anytime, including backdating the start date. For example, the standard 4 year vesting with one year cliff could be be set to start 9 months in the past so that in three months from implementation, all of you would have hit your cliff. This could be used as a negotiating tactic if they are averse to the idea of vesting in general.

* What's best for everyone is what's best for the company. The company is at risk without better founder communication, so to help the company, communication should be improved. Remembers, this isn't about being combative or competitive. When they win, you don't lose. When any of you wins, everybody wins.

* Everyone is biased to appreciate their own work. This goes for you as well as your cofounders. Do they think they're working hard? If this is just about hours worked, them working a fairly normal schedule and you working double-time is only unhealthy for you. Maybe there is a happy solution in some expectation setting.

I've had these issues as well and am happy to talk anytime. Contact info is in my profile.

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