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Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

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Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#21

Post by sdoering »

factsaresacred wrote: post #19
burnte wrote: post #6

I think we've seen Thiel do this before, indirectly fund opposition to organizations he doesn't like when he can't attack them directly. He's also funded lots of politicians that work quite hard to restrict rights at every level of government, including, frankly, that are rather adamantly against equal rights for gay people. He's a great representation that some people will align themselves with anyone to further the…

> the "dangers" of multiculturalism, gender and ethnic diversity I don't know if "dangers" is your word or his, but it's been shown (a priori and a posteriori) that multiculturalism and ethnic diversity erodes trust and causes social strive. This is opposed to cultural pluralism, where a dominant culture exists and tolerates additional values that don't erode or threaten the dominant culture. The reason I comment is…

And your unquoted "proof" is gathered exactly how? You state something as a standing fact without giving us the ability to check the stated facts (and underlying methodologies) ourselves.

So it seems to me that people using arguing strategies like you just seem to have done are eroding "trust" in a rational discussion more then anything else. Tactics like these are well below what I personally would classify as honorable discussion.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#22

Post by burnte »

factsaresacred wrote: post #19
burnte wrote: post #6

I think we've seen Thiel do this before, indirectly fund opposition to organizations he doesn't like when he can't attack them directly. He's also funded lots of politicians that work quite hard to restrict rights at every level of government, including, frankly, that are rather adamantly against equal rights for gay people. He's a great representation that some people will align themselves with anyone to further the…

> the "dangers" of multiculturalism, gender and ethnic diversity I don't know if "dangers" is your word or his, but it's been shown (a priori and a posteriori) that multiculturalism and ethnic diversity erodes trust and causes social strive. This is opposed to cultural pluralism, where a dominant culture exists and tolerates additional values that don't erode or threaten the dominant culture. The reason I comment is…

It's not my word, I think being exposed to other cultures and people is important and beneficial.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#23

Post by asymmetric »

factsaresacred wrote: post #19
burnte wrote: post #6

I think we've seen Thiel do this before, indirectly fund opposition to organizations he doesn't like when he can't attack them directly. He's also funded lots of politicians that work quite hard to restrict rights at every level of government, including, frankly, that are rather adamantly against equal rights for gay people. He's a great representation that some people will align themselves with anyone to further the…

> the "dangers" of multiculturalism, gender and ethnic diversity I don't know if "dangers" is your word or his, but it's been shown (a priori and a posteriori) that multiculturalism and ethnic diversity erodes trust and causes social strive. This is opposed to cultural pluralism, where a dominant culture exists and tolerates additional values that don't erode or threaten the dominant culture. The reason I comment is…

Got some references to back up your argument?

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#24

Post by burnte »

mrschwabe wrote: post #17
burnte wrote: post #6

I think we've seen Thiel do this before, indirectly fund opposition to organizations he doesn't like when he can't attack them directly. He's also funded lots of politicians that work quite hard to restrict rights at every level of government, including, frankly, that are rather adamantly against equal rights for gay people. He's a great representation that some people will align themselves with anyone to further the…

Seems clear you are eluding to his endorsement and $1m contribution to the Trump campaign. We share different views - I am happy to disagree with you because I think Peter Thiel is to be commended for conducting business in line with his own philosophical & political views: this is perhaps the entire goal of business. From my perspective, he clearly sees the need for change in this world and works diligently to see t…

I'm referring to the Gawker case, although I think his political donations are harmful to the nation as a whole, too.

Also, you meant alluding, not eluding. :)

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#25

Post by mpweiher »

oculusthrift wrote: post #10
docdeek wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Free speech --> Sue a magazine Free speech doesn’t mean freedom from being held to account for your speech.

held to account != able to be sued legally. i agree that getting protested is one thug but getting sued and shut down is a legal issue which is contrary to free speech

Nah, if you make slanderous or libelous statements, suing is a perfectly fine remedy.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#26

Post by dguaraglia »

bufferoverflow wrote: post #15
oculusthrift wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

held to account != able to be sued legally. i agree that getting protested is one thug but getting sued and shut down is a legal issue which is contrary to free speech

No, it's not. Freedom of speech doesn't cover slander/libel. Freedom of speech means government can't put you in a cage for your expressed ideas (with few exceptions, like yelling fire in a theater).

Weird, because in Gawker's case, he didn't have a case for libel or slander. They outed him as gay. I considered their actions despicable, but they didn't lie and that's why he didn't have a case. And that's why he had to use Hulk Hogan to exact revenge, which goes to show that a single guy with too much money can essentially reign unchecked in today's America.

That's not good, no matter if you happen to agree politically with said guy with too much money at this particular point in time.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#27

Post by rb666 »

factsaresacred wrote: post #19
burnte wrote: post #6

I think we've seen Thiel do this before, indirectly fund opposition to organizations he doesn't like when he can't attack them directly. He's also funded lots of politicians that work quite hard to restrict rights at every level of government, including, frankly, that are rather adamantly against equal rights for gay people. He's a great representation that some people will align themselves with anyone to further the…

> the "dangers" of multiculturalism, gender and ethnic diversity I don't know if "dangers" is your word or his, but it's been shown (a priori and a posteriori) that multiculturalism and ethnic diversity erodes trust and causes social strive. This is opposed to cultural pluralism, where a dominant culture exists and tolerates additional values that don't erode or threaten the dominant culture. The reason I comment is…

Any credible source for your bold statements? Otherwise we can conclude the Russian trolls have also infested HN.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#28

Post by dagw »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #5
polskibus wrote: post #4

I wonder why Google in particular and not the others like Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon etc. who enjoy similar market power?

I would suspect because Peter Thiel is a conservative, and none of those others are bankrolling the Democratic Party nearly as heavily.

I would suspect that looking at his investment portfolio rather than is political statements will give a better clue as to why he is doing what he's doing.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#29

Post by golergka »

ukulele wrote: post #3

His words haven't matched his actions for quite some time now, with the common theme being whatever is good for Mr. P. Thiel is what he's up to, prior pontifications be damned. Free speech --> Sue a magazine Capitalism rules --> Sue because a company is too powerful For a self proclaimed libertarian, his actions are about as libertarian as a baked potato.

When you (not personally you, every one of us) see such a discrepancy, we have a choice: either label the person who displays it as "stupid" or "lying", or question our assumptions about their beliefs or actions.

In particular, a lot of people who align themselves with libertarianism quite commonly have their views simplified to an absurd extent. If a person advocates for "free speech", do you necessarily think that they advocate for everyone being able to publish anything at all, without any repercussions whatsoever? If a person says "capitalism rules", do you honestly think that he believes that no company should be regulated in any way?

I think that at the point where you simplify a person's political views to two-word formulas, you may have already lost most of the knowledge of what they actually believe in.

Re: Is billionaire VC Peter Thiel trying to break up Google?

#30

Post by bufferoverflow »

dguaraglia wrote: post #20
bufferoverflow wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's quite clear about multiculturalism and diversity - he is criticizing the premise that pushing the people "who look different, but think alike" is not as productive as progressives think. He wants the diversity of ideas, regardless of ethnicities and skin colors.

"I don't think people should all think alike, so I'll attack anyone who disagrees with me". Sound reasoning.

That's a straw man. He doesn't "attack anyone who disagrees with me".
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