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Interview with Paul Graham

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Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#111

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

vlunkr wrote: post #88
samatman wrote: post #36

> But a few years after it's over, we'll be acting as if [COVID] never happened. We're good at that. I fear this prediction won't come true. There's a great risk that 'health theatre' will join security theatre as a durable if not permanent part of our existence. That years from now, we'll be getting temperatures checked, schools will be shutting down for worse-than-usual influenzas, and so on. I still can't bring an…

On the other hand wouldn't it be good for some of the extra hygiene to stick around? Allowing kids to do online school when they're sick rather than prioritizing in-person attendance is a great step forward IMO. Not only because schools spread illness quickly, but because it's a horrible experience to be sick at school. Same goes for work.

Perhaps some, and I think the examples you give of staying home when sick are great ones. I also hope wearing masks when sick stays socially acceptable.

That said, this "hyper sterilization" mindset is not appropriate if we're not in a pandemic. Copious hand sanitizer, social distancing, masks when not sick, limiting crowds, etc. are not needed when we're not in a pandemic and they have huge downsides for society.

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#112

Post by [deleted] »

pdonis wrote: post #84
ishansharma wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I admit that politics is mixed into my opinions here. It's just that based on current political climate, I think it's hard to keep politics aside. My thoughts about pg have essentially gone through this flow: - Start reading some of the old essays in college, agree with most of the points - Start working, the essays slowed down. I read old ones once in a while, still mostly agree - Start following pg on twitter. Ther…

> I don't see any alternative arguments There aren't any arguments in that essay at all. It just describes, with numbers, the consequences of a wealth tax for startup founders. > I see his position as against the transfer of wealth and societal equality The essay states no position whatever. Not every essay has to state a position. Some essays are just about stating some facts.

[deleted]

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#113

Post by samatman »

wombatmobile wrote: post #110

> 2. What's the future of what we now call journalism? Is it all Substack (a YC company)? Can we run the global-scale world with that model? I'm new to HN and was interested to read PG's answer, because I like the civility and on-pointedness of HN, which I think is a result of its rules of engagement. So, first I looked at Substack, which I hadn't heard of before. PG's answer suggests he values journalism, but I was…

> I was surprised that Substack doesn't address the main problem of journalism ... a lack of a viable business model to support people who practice journalism.

It... does, though? Substack is a way for writers to offer subscriptions for their content. Two friends of mine are benefiting from this, one has managed to pay her bills this way and the other is well on his way.

I don't consider it a magic bullet, but it's clearly a step in the right direction.

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#114

Post by [deleted] »

pdonis wrote: post #84
ishansharma wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I admit that politics is mixed into my opinions here. It's just that based on current political climate, I think it's hard to keep politics aside. My thoughts about pg have essentially gone through this flow: - Start reading some of the old essays in college, agree with most of the points - Start working, the essays slowed down. I read old ones once in a while, still mostly agree - Start following pg on twitter. Ther…

> I don't see any alternative arguments There aren't any arguments in that essay at all. It just describes, with numbers, the consequences of a wealth tax for startup founders. > I see his position as against the transfer of wealth and societal equality The essay states no position whatever. Not every essay has to state a position. Some essays are just about stating some facts.

[deleted]

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#115

Post by Zak »

WalterBright wrote: post #50
samatman wrote: post #36

> But a few years after it's over, we'll be acting as if [COVID] never happened. We're good at that. I fear this prediction won't come true. There's a great risk that 'health theatre' will join security theatre as a durable if not permanent part of our existence. That years from now, we'll be getting temperatures checked, schools will be shutting down for worse-than-usual influenzas, and so on. I still can't bring an…

> Something made our society irrationally risk-averse Our brains are finely tuned to detect danger. If there isn't any danger, danger will be exaggerated or simply invented. Our society has been very successful at eliminating all sorts of dangers, hence the irrational view of the remaining risk today.

Here's one: a majority Americans surveyed on various occasions usually believe crime rates at the time of the survey are worse than some point in the past. This holds true even when there has actually been a large decrease in crime over the given interval.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/16/voters-perc...

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#116

Post by whiddershins »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #108
hkai wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The federal government doesn't promote the covid fear only because of which party is in power right now. One of the presidential candidates promises a nationwide mask mandate, and, judging from the actions of authorities in NYC or other places, there will be other severe restrictions on freedom of business, assembly and travel. So yes, I also tend to agree that many people will continue supporting the health theater…

I fail to see how this is "health theater", especially mask mandates, which show high effectiveness and relatively low imposition on personal freedoms, considering the pandemic is currently ongoing .

Citation needed. Where are deaths increasing?

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#117

Post by darkerside »

ghufran_syed wrote: post #97
darkerside wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I truly don't know the answer on whether the wealth tax is a good idea (and there probably isn't a single right answer). But, that sure is a shitty way of saying, "I don't understand, can you explain your viewpoint to me?"

I think it's an accurate summary of the arguments in favor of a wealth tax. But I would really like to hear if there are other arguments that can't be characterized that way. But it's hard to be persuaded when no-one actually presents the argument , and instead just criticizes the tone.

I'm happy to present one as an example. If be happy to continue discussing it past that as well, as long as you are willing to converse and not argue.

Wealth in the hands of a few becomes static. Jeff Bezos can only buy so many jets. When you leave it there, the entire economy stagnates.

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#118

Post by Zak »

ishansharma wrote: post #44
gonehome wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My read from dvt and ishansharma is that they're just being political. Basically when PG was writing about stuff they considered part of their in-group then it was great and wonderful. When he writes about stuff that's no longer aligns with their existing political in-group's beliefs (his arguments against the wealth tax [0], his essay about conformism [1], his essay about economic inequality [2]) - suddenly he's 'di…

I admit that politics is mixed into my opinions here. It's just that based on current political climate, I think it's hard to keep politics aside. My thoughts about pg have essentially gone through this flow: - Start reading some of the old essays in college, agree with most of the points - Start working, the essays slowed down. I read old ones once in a while, still mostly agree - Start following pg on twitter. Ther…

> So I see his position as against the transfer of wealth

That would be consistent with his previous writings on the topic. He doesn't necessarily seem to be against all taxation that results in some transfer of wealth away from the rich, especially, I suspect through inheritance. Someone who believes founding startups are an important way humanity's wealth increases is likely to be hesitant about anything that might put the brakes on that process; a wealth tax would diminish the incentive for smart people to go all-in on high-risk high-reward ideas.

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#119

Post by paxys »

samatman wrote: post #36

> But a few years after it's over, we'll be acting as if [COVID] never happened. We're good at that. I fear this prediction won't come true. There's a great risk that 'health theatre' will join security theatre as a durable if not permanent part of our existence. That years from now, we'll be getting temperatures checked, schools will be shutting down for worse-than-usual influenzas, and so on. I still can't bring an…

We are at maybe the peak of the COVID crisis and none of this is happening in the USA. What makes you think things are going to change once we get back to normal?

Re: Interview with Paul Graham

#120

Post by sillysaurusx »

throwaway713 wrote: post #95
Swizec wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was at the 2010 after party and I will always remember trying to pitch Ron Conway and he just turned around and walked away. Scoble listened to me then said “You’re an idiot, RSS is dead” Fun times for a 22 year old nerd on his first trip to USA. I grew a thick skin fast. The fact that a random kid from Europe could even get a chance to show up and speak to all those amazing people ... priceless. Just wish I had ha…

> he just turned around and walked away > You’re an idiot That seems awfully rude of them. They don't sound like very pleasant people.

Some are. Most were nice. Some do that as a way of seeing whether a founder will get discouraged; if you know your idea will work, it’s easy to respond “Actually, that isn’t a problem anymore because X.” That tends to perk up the ears of VCs, since old ideas are bad until they’re suddenly very good.
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