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Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

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Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#61

Post by badcede »

sampleofone wrote: post #15
tptacek wrote: post #10

In 20 years in the industry, most spent in startups, much spent consulting with a pretty broad spectrum of other startups, I have never known anyone I've worked with to take modafanil. That's just one data point. But: I don't think it's at all common.

I took modafanil while working for AWS and I never felt the need to bring it up - what makes you think everyone you interact with is listing all their medication to you?

All he said was that he hadn't known them to. If they were and didn't tell him, that explains that.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#62

Post by eip »

throwawayaddy wrote: post #47
throwawayaddy wrote: post #46

(Posting on throwaway for obvious reasons). I was on Adderall for mild ADHD for 10 months in 2016. Software Engineers in my late 20s. I found that I was not finishing any of my side projects. Was working (and still do) for a FAANG. Consulted a real doc i.e Psychiatrist in San Francisco and he diagnosed me with very mild ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) Apparently this is quite common in adults these day…

(Continued. HN is limiting my posts for whatever algo reason) My side-project procrastination was the main reason I decided to see a Psychiatrist. Before Adderall, I had about 8 different side-projects in various states of progress, with a couple hosted and launched, but I was doing nothing to market and grow them. Now, a couple of years later, I have successfully grown the 2 that were launched and were languishing,…

>Psychiatrist

>Claims LSD, "fries" the serotonin production network in the brains and destroys neurons permanently.

>Prescribes speed

“Drug misuse is not a disease, it is a decision, like the decision to step out in front of a moving car. You would call that not a disease but an error of judgment.” ― Philip K. Dick

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#63

Post by pvg »

tptacek wrote: post #10

In 20 years in the industry, most spent in startups, much spent consulting with a pretty broad spectrum of other startups, I have never known anyone I've worked with to take modafanil. That's just one data point. But: I don't think it's at all common.

I don't think it's prevalent or universal but at the same time, how many people come up to their consultant (triply so for a security-related one) and say 'I just crushed and snorted a couple of adderall'. It seems like an even worse way to get such data than openly asking pseudonymous strangers on a message board.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#64

Post by oliwarner »

xzel wrote: post #45

I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…

I feel like you're admitting to being party to several federal crimes here.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#65

Post by srean »

oliwarner wrote: post #64
xzel wrote: post #45

I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…

I feel like you're admitting to being party to several federal crimes here.

Well, he wrote more than six lines.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#66

Post by sshine »

xzel wrote: post #45

I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…

I've tried modafinil once for an exam. It helped with concentration, but not focus, if that makes any sense; i.e. I procrastinated as much, but was super effective about it. I've tried mild amphetamines (Ritalin) as a freelancer, and I ended up practicing my handstand half of the time. There really is no drug that replaces emptying your mind of worries (seeing a shrink for the big things, and putting aside the small things), knowing what you want to do, and doing it.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#67

Post by chi3 »

oliwarner wrote: post #64
xzel wrote: post #45

I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…

I feel like you're admitting to being party to several federal crimes here.

He mentioned nothing about where he's from though.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#68

Post by majewsky »

vimcat wrote: post #60

Is there any human who can read binary code 01011010010110101101 without take psychedelic?? steve jobs, bill gates, elon mask, john lennon ,thom yorke , genious everybody took lsd, everybodys junkie. lsd make human robotize that push our technolody towards future

> Is there any human who can read binary code 01011010010110101101 without take psychedelic??

Nobody can "read binary code", because you do not specify what you encode.

It's like asking what e.g. a circle symbol means, without supplying any context whatsoever.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#69

Post by oliwarner »

chi3 wrote: post #67
oliwarner wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like you're admitting to being party to several federal crimes here.

He mentioned nothing about where he's from though.

Comment history includes both a employment and location history. He's doing this in America.

But just be aware of the legality of whatever you're doing. Broadcasting that you're having your friends mule prescription drugs into the country for you is going to take the very laziest of warrant applications to work out who you and your friends are.

Re: Ask HN: How true is it that most founders are taking drugs like Modafanil?

#70

Post by xzel »

oliwarner wrote: post #64
xzel wrote: post #45

I describe modafinil as one of the best cups of coffees you'll ever have, but it doesn't leave much more of an effect than that; imo it is mostly mental. Things can become very clear in your head and you will often be very awake for a long period if you take 100+ mg. I've had friends bring me back wakalert, modafinil, modvigil, from India and I've ordered them online. I've taken them off and on for about three years.…

I feel like you're admitting to being party to several federal crimes here.

I still torrent music too.

I agree it’s a bit lax and my Opsec probably isn’t the most consistent with my comment history here but I’d rather be honest with an employer than lie anyways. I’ve lost at least one or two interviews this way, but I see it as a positive thing. I’m not particularly good at not being myself, which is something I’ve had difficulty with at the workplace. But seriously thanks for pointing out; it’s not something I’ve considered much on HN.

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