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

Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

buzzfeed.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 160 posts

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#11

Post by burntrelish1273 »

pault wrote: post #3
LeoJiWoo wrote: post #2

Rumors are swirling that Thiel is gearing up for economic/regulatory war on silicon valley. So I can't say this is surprising but I find it all extremely confusing. EDIT: Mostly rumors I hear from happy hours with some politicos in DC. Sorry, its just meat space rumors.

What would he have to gain from such a war?

Thiel is clearly a libertarian nutter of the Bannon varietal, from his statements and interviews.

To them "all regulations == bad," lacking nuance and honest reality in preference to utopian illusions that align with the interests of unlimited greed.

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#12

Post by s73ver_ »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #5

Can anyone provide context to this? Sam has been on record saying that he wouldn't cut Thiel solely for political affiliations. Was there another reason?

They didn't feel he was a good fit, or maybe Thiel didn't want to transition to whatever they replaced the partner program with. Simple as that.

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#13

Post by sillysaurus3 »

tptacek wrote: post #10

Can we save ourselves a really long, pointless political argument? They ended the entire part-time-partner program, and transitioned some of the part-timers to advisor roles. Thiel is one of multiple part-timers not to become an advisor. You are not going to get an answer, or more "context", from YC about the political implications of this change. No matter how many times you ask and how carefully you word the questi…

Sure, let's not argue. But it's fine to be curious.

Sam has said that he won't cut Thiel for political ties. Thiel is cut. Does this represent an internal shift in momentum, or an external shift in appearances?

Combine that with some recent news regarding Thiel. I wish I'd paid more attention to it. It was something like, Thiel was making a move against a certain company. So maybe it has nothing to do with politics, or that politics are an incomplete answer.

If we won't get an answer, that's fine. But it's unnecessary to shut down the conversation so harshly.

There could very well be a non-political reason for this move, and HN is one of the best places to shake loose counterintuitive truths.

I guess what bugs me is the lack of curiosity here. Everyone is acting relieved to be rid of Thiel. The underlying dynamics are interesting, and there's no reason it has to be an argument or polarizing.

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#14

Post by meritt »

tptacek wrote: post #10

Can we save ourselves a really long, pointless political argument? They ended the entire part-time-partner program, and transitioned some of the part-timers to advisor roles. Thiel is one of multiple part-timers not to become an advisor. You are not going to get an answer, or more "context", from YC about the political implications of this change. No matter how many times you ask and how carefully you word the questi…

> Can we save ourselves a really long, pointless political argument?

Did you reach that conclusion based on personal experience? Because you were quite vocal and unfortunately prescient about it 395 days ago [1].

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12733024

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#15

Post by imustbeevil »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #13
tptacek wrote: post #10

Can we save ourselves a really long, pointless political argument? They ended the entire part-time-partner program, and transitioned some of the part-timers to advisor roles. Thiel is one of multiple part-timers not to become an advisor. You are not going to get an answer, or more "context", from YC about the political implications of this change. No matter how many times you ask and how carefully you word the questi…

Sure, let's not argue. But it's fine to be curious. Sam has said that he won't cut Thiel for political ties. Thiel is cut. Does this represent an internal shift in momentum, or an external shift in appearances? Combine that with some recent news regarding Thiel. I wish I'd paid more attention to it. It was something like, Thiel was making a move against a certain company. So maybe it has nothing to do with politics,…

It's not really a conversation if people just say whatever they believe with no evidence. It's much closer to noise.

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#16

Post by dominotw »

tptacek wrote: post #10

Can we save ourselves a really long, pointless political argument? They ended the entire part-time-partner program, and transitioned some of the part-timers to advisor roles. Thiel is one of multiple part-timers not to become an advisor. You are not going to get an answer, or more "context", from YC about the political implications of this change. No matter how many times you ask and how carefully you word the questi…

>I'm happy Thiel's no longer involved with YC.

I am not quite familiar with what role he played at YC. Why are you glad he is gone ?

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#17

Post by misterHN »

tptacek wrote: post #10

Can we save ourselves a really long, pointless political argument? They ended the entire part-time-partner program, and transitioned some of the part-timers to advisor roles. Thiel is one of multiple part-timers not to become an advisor. You are not going to get an answer, or more "context", from YC about the political implications of this change. No matter how many times you ask and how carefully you word the questi…

Paul Graham owes everyone an explanation for using internet properties to propagate an anti-Trump agenda.

If Paul Graham lacks the discipline to create an open environment, he should at the very least admit this and appeal to the public for someone who can moderate an open forum for political discussion.

It is time to discuss succession, and succession to someone who can function in the role of moderation without engaging in a political witch hunt.

Paul Graham, you are a witch hunter. Admit this in public, assert that the role of forum moderator cannot be held by a witch hunter, and tell the public you've made plans to appoint a successor.

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#18

Post by randyrand »

pault wrote: post #3
LeoJiWoo wrote: post #2

Rumors are swirling that Thiel is gearing up for economic/regulatory war on silicon valley. So I can't say this is surprising but I find it all extremely confusing. EDIT: Mostly rumors I hear from happy hours with some politicos in DC. Sorry, its just meat space rumors.

What would he have to gain from such a war?

A few large silicon valley companies have a large concentration of power. Libertarians like distribution of power among smaller entities.

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#19

Post by [deleted] »

SimbaOnSteroids wrote: post #9
pault wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would he have to gain from such a war?

Regulatory lock for both Palantir and Facebook. Regulations can be very good for large businesses as they erect enormous barriers to entry into certain spaces that only established companies can hope to surmount.

[deleted]

Re: Y Combinator Cuts Ties with Peter Thiel After Ending Part-Time Partner Program

#20

Post by api »

pault wrote: post #3
LeoJiWoo wrote: post #2

Rumors are swirling that Thiel is gearing up for economic/regulatory war on silicon valley. So I can't say this is surprising but I find it all extremely confusing. EDIT: Mostly rumors I hear from happy hours with some politicos in DC. Sorry, its just meat space rumors.

What would he have to gain from such a war?

If this is true and not just rumors, my guess would be that it's political. SV tends to lean left or left-libertarian.
Post reply on HN