Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

newyorker.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 312 posts

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#71

Post by lhnz »

Gatsky wrote: post #65
Denzel wrote: post #58

I've been trying to put my finger on what bothers me about Sam Altman ever since he was named President of YC in 2014. Now I know. It's less to do with him; more to do with this narrative of Sam Altman as some visionary, world-saving, future-builder. The story just doesn't fit the character. There's no comparison between him and true visionaries like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, etc. Unlike Sam, these guys can…

I don't get it... This is just a bunch of your feelings about famous people you haven't met? Where's the content? I just lost a minute reading this, and another replying.

You seem irrationally perturbed. Aren't all comments below articles about tech heroes generally people's opinions on people they've never met?

I know that negativity might look rude, but the hero worship (while more socially acceptable) isn't any better.

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#72

Post by lhnz »

bambax wrote: post #67
dang wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Friends can disagree. Pretty sure it's as simple as that.

It's not just politics, like one would be a little more conservative and the other a little more liberal. A Trump presidency would be an extinction-level event (for example -- and this is just one small example -- he doesn't "believe" in global warming, and would dismantle the EPA). How far can friendship go? The only way to explain this is, Altman doesn't think Trump is that big of a threat. Which makes me question…

> A Trump presidency would be an extinction-level event.

You are amusing. How similar to a meteor strike would you say Trump is, or is there another analogy that you want to make [0]?

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event#Most_widely_s...

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#74

Post by Lordarminius »

Denzel wrote: post #58

I've been trying to put my finger on what bothers me about Sam Altman ever since he was named President of YC in 2014. Now I know. It's less to do with him; more to do with this narrative of Sam Altman as some visionary, world-saving, future-builder. The story just doesn't fit the character. There's no comparison between him and true visionaries like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, etc. Unlike Sam, these guys can…

> I've been trying to put my finger on what bothers me about Sam Altman ...Bottom line, the results we see today are largely due to PG & friends ....

The NYT and other papers have to deliver stories to the readership, I guess. But this has a premise that is borderline ridiculous.

YC has proven itself and justified its business model many times over. But one gets the sense that it is still cruising on the momentum of P.G. and the early team.

Not knocking Sam Altman in any way. He is ambitious and has a plan which he has publicized - but he has not yet delivered on it. It is far too early to laud his greatness by speaking of his 'manifest destiny'. He has high standards for YC applicants; we should apply those standards to him as well.

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#75

Post by bambax »

lhnz wrote: post #72
bambax wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not just politics, like one would be a little more conservative and the other a little more liberal. A Trump presidency would be an extinction-level event (for example -- and this is just one small example -- he doesn't "believe" in global warming, and would dismantle the EPA). How far can friendship go? The only way to explain this is, Altman doesn't think Trump is that big of a threat. Which makes me question…

> A Trump presidency would be an extinction-level event. You are amusing. How similar to a meteor strike would you say Trump is, or is there another analogy that you want to make [0]? [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event#Most_widely_s...

> How similar to a meteor strike would you say Trump is

Very similar. The main difference is that a meteor strike is bad luck (an "act of God"), whereas electing Trump would be an act of Thiel and friends.

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#76

Post by bambax »

dang wrote: post #68
camillomiller wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, but we're talking about opposite world views here. I actually read a bit of an insinuation to the fact they're both gay, but maybe I'm overreading into the article.

You guys surprise me. Obviously friends can disagree, including about important things. I'm trying to think of a sublime historical example but I'm tired and all that comes to mind is Camille Paglia and Rush Limbaugh. Oh well.

If the article is to be believed, this is not just "some friend", it's someone Altman would want to spend the rest of his life with in the event of a catastrophe: it's his favorite human being on the planet.

And it's not just one's opinions or even party affiliation; Thiel is working very hard and very publicly to get Trump elected.

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#77

Post by kristianc »

n72 wrote: post #54

"The missing circuit in my brain, the circuit that would make me care what people think about me, is a real gift." I think that circuit exists and is functioning quite well. It seems to me there's a lot of glory embedded in YC's plans.

"The missing circuit in my brain, the circuit that would make me care what people think about me, is a real gift."

... opined Altman in his New Yorker PR piece.

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#78

Post by lubonay »

camillomiller wrote: post #70
Denzel wrote: post #58

I've been trying to put my finger on what bothers me about Sam Altman ever since he was named President of YC in 2014. Now I know. It's less to do with him; more to do with this narrative of Sam Altman as some visionary, world-saving, future-builder. The story just doesn't fit the character. There's no comparison between him and true visionaries like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, etc. Unlike Sam, these guys can…

It's the American narrative and boy, is it clear in all its features if you read this article with a European mind. If you're American and some foreigners tell you that you all look like you're up your own assess all the time, just think of this New Yorker piece as an explanation why. Excellent prose that crafts the same old boring story about how this very special individual has become richer and more successful tha…

As a fellow European, I disagree that we have built in common features - unless you think "European" means your country and its closest relatives. If we all had the same culture, the EU wouldn't probably be in its slow bureaucratic slump.

On topic, don't underestimate the power of faith. Humans are not rational beings by default, so powerful narratives about the hot shots of SV really do have an effect in inspiring the next generation of SV hot shots. Yeah, it might be a bubble waiting to pop, but it also might be the fastest economic and technological growth the world has ever seen.

Re: Sam Altman’s Manifest Destiny

#80

Post by lubonay »

S4M wrote: post #63
napsterbr wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My gaydar had already told me, but I did not know he was out. I'm guessing it's not easy at all being an openly gay VC within this small community in the Valley. Kudos to Sam, I already had a great respect for him; much more now. I hope he can disrupt minorities and bigotry too.

The city of Paris used to have a gay mayor and a gay man is the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world, so I'd say bigotry is largely disrupted already.

"The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed."
Post reply on HN