Live data from Hacker News

Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

economist.com

61–70 of 125 posts

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#61
post #57

I read the article, but I can't see how the title is supported. What is for example, the second largest tech hub and how narrow is silicon valley's lead over it. I would guess that the bay area if way way ahead of anywhere else (I don't like it, but it seems to be self apparent) and the lead is not narrow at all.

I'd bet either NYC or Seattle is number two. I think Seattle comes closest in salaries thanks to the number of FAANG and similar companies with either HQ's or large branches (same time zone as California helps). NYC is probably number two as far as startup scenes.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#62

another major part of the problem is the entitled, defocused employee culture in silicon valley. generated by the fact that crazy talent competition ensures employees have a huge safety net in the form of big tech. i raise capital in silicon valley. but i do not want to hire people there. i hire amazing engineers in russia at a fraction of the cost and they: - are loyal instead of jumping to new shiny stuff at every…

it's not loyalty, russia has an abysmal economy and the average wage is incredibly low.

you're not really making a case against the bay area, you're making a case for why companies outsource: low wages, low labor regulations, and a captive workforce available to be exploited.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#63

another major part of the problem is the entitled, defocused employee culture in silicon valley. generated by the fact that crazy talent competition ensures employees have a huge safety net in the form of big tech. i raise capital in silicon valley. but i do not want to hire people there. i hire amazing engineers in russia at a fraction of the cost and they: - are loyal instead of jumping to new shiny stuff at every…

You sound like an entitled employer

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#64

another major part of the problem is the entitled, defocused employee culture in silicon valley. generated by the fact that crazy talent competition ensures employees have a huge safety net in the form of big tech. i raise capital in silicon valley. but i do not want to hire people there. i hire amazing engineers in russia at a fraction of the cost and they: - are loyal instead of jumping to new shiny stuff at every…

Your comment is a verbose version of "I exploit economically, socially and politically depressed and/or oppressive environments to find workers who won't demand much for fear of losing a job" with some extra (mostly subjective or false) decoration around it.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#65
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not the original poster, but I'll respond (disclaimer: I'm a single male, about to turn 30 in a few months, who lives near Silicon Valley): 1. Single men vastly outnumber single women in Silicon Valley due to the unfortunate gender demographics of the tech industry, making for a very competitive dating environment for single men. 2. Due to the Bay Area's high housing prices, single people living in the Bay Area w…

> It seems like a man has to be in excellent physical shape, make a ton of money, and have the right pedigree in terms of degrees and credentials in order to be attractive in Silicon Valley Isn't this universally true and not based on location at all? I'm a bit confused by this point TBH.

> Isn't this universally true and not based on location at all? I'm a bit confused by this point TBH.

I think what is universally true is that the ladies will go for the highest ranking guys they can get. What seems to be happening there is that gender imbalance accentuates the effect by raising the bar higher than it otherwise would be.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#66
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your point #4 will be magnified to the extreme in Tokyo.

That’s true but he’ll be much, much more of a rarity in Tokyo. Trust me there are girls who have a thing for Americans and there are girls who have a thing for black guys and they have limited options. I sincerely doubt Tokyo is worse than Shanghai for xenophobia or racism and all the black guys I know here are dating or married to Chinese girls.

Beijing is great for dating from the foreign guy perspective also, regardless of ethnicity (black, Indian, white, ...).

Now if you are a girl, things are actually tougher in Asia.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#67
post #64

another major part of the problem is the entitled, defocused employee culture in silicon valley. generated by the fact that crazy talent competition ensures employees have a huge safety net in the form of big tech. i raise capital in silicon valley. but i do not want to hire people there. i hire amazing engineers in russia at a fraction of the cost and they: - are loyal instead of jumping to new shiny stuff at every…

Your comment is a verbose version of "I exploit economically, socially and politically depressed and/or oppressive environments to find workers who won't demand much for fear of losing a job" with some extra (mostly subjective or false) decoration around it.

How do you know he's exploiting them? He didn't tell you how much he pays them.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#69
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your comment is a verbose version of "I exploit economically, socially and politically depressed and/or oppressive environments to find workers who won't demand much for fear of losing a job" with some extra (mostly subjective or false) decoration around it.

How do you know he's exploiting them? He didn't tell you how much he pays them.

And even if he did tell us how much he paid them, none of us are qualified to determine what wage rate is “exploitation”.

Re: Silicon Valley is changing, and its lead over other tech hubs narrowing

#70

another major part of the problem is the entitled, defocused employee culture in silicon valley. generated by the fact that crazy talent competition ensures employees have a huge safety net in the form of big tech. i raise capital in silicon valley. but i do not want to hire people there. i hire amazing engineers in russia at a fraction of the cost and they: - are loyal instead of jumping to new shiny stuff at every…

Do you speak Russian, or do you target those that went to top colleges, e.g., Moscow State Univ. that are more likely to speak fluent English?

Every Russian I've worked with that went to MSU or MIPT had excellent English, but they also all went to the US for grad school so I don't know how representative they are.

Post reply on HN