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Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

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Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#71

Post by antoncohen »

If you want to do something meaningful, do not start a charity. Charities will not give all the unemployed people jobs. Start a company.

It doesn't matter if the company makes frivolous garbage, as long as it employs 30,000 people in Detroit. People in Africa are not starving because you don't have a charity that gives them free medicine. They are starving because there is no one in Africa starting a company that employs 30,000. It doesn't matter what that company does, as long as it does something other people want to pay for, and it is able to provide employment for people.

Innovation feeds the economy. Even if that innovation sounds as frivolous as web advertising. That frivolous company may be the next Google, they may employ 30,000, and they may even help people who don't have clean drinking water.

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#72

Post by [deleted] »

edw519 wrote: post #27

Please don't fall into the trap of believing that your daily work and working for the greater good are mutually exclusive. You may not realize it, but you are often contributing to the greater good on a daily basis simply by doing your job. It's sometimes hard to visualize this because we are often many degrees of separation away from the "end user". You don't actually have to be physically building that home for the…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#73

Post by BasDirks »

pclark wrote: post #62
chailatte wrote: post #45

Careful, you might make new YC companies' head explode. (YC S11) Interviewstreet is disrupting the recruitment space and create a place where the best hackers get the best jobs (YC S11) Splitterbug private beta: track expenses with friends from your phone Munch On Me (YC S11) Helps You Discover Tasty Dishes Stypi (YC S11) Is Etherpad Reborn Parse (YC S11): A Heroku For Mobile Apps Envolve (YC S11) Launches An API For…

Numerous of your comments have a very mean tone, can you remember that the companies you list each have numerous people all of whom have spent many years of brutally hard work to get to where they are today, in fact, can you just be much nicer?

Parent could have just quoted the slogans without further comment and it would have implied the same. Let us not be nice simply because folks work hard, a certain Adolf had very good work ethics. Even though I think parent has a point, I do not think said YC start-ups are obliged to give a fuck about what I, or parent think. I hope they succeed.

Criticism and even a spoonful of cynicism does not kill dreams. If they do, it was a lousy dream.

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#74

Post by sidman »

Its not that black and white. Just cause your startup isnt directly fixing the world problems it doesnt mean that one day it might not. Either directly or indirectly.

I hate to say it but i think in more cases then not the kind of startups that most of us imagine doing (ie web startups) have a hard time doing anything to solve the worlds problems directly (the worlds problems that you mentioned more specifically). Not saying there isnt (i seen a few that raise money and help schools execute projects for instance but there are only a handful) but for the most part they do not tackle for example educational problems DIRECTLY such as say OLPC does.

I really love sal khans khanacademy stuff, its truly awesome but it isnt getting to the kids that dont have a roof over their school let alone an internet connection and many of these schools could really use his material.

This material might one day with the help of a very rich successful individual who is willing to purchase computers for the less fortunate parts of the world to then be able to view khans stuff. I think this applies to ALL web startups that isnt directly raising money for the problem parts of the world.

BUT what can be done is, the success (monetary or influential) we get from allowing people to find restaurants that are near them, or allows people to search for data easier can be put to good use.

Maybe even purchase those computers for some unfortunate part of the world that will then allow them to view sal's, standfords or any similar educational content that will actually change the lives of those kids.

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#75

Post by zol »

ga wrote: post #31
zol wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been struggling with a similar question to the author lately. For me, what it boils down to is this: I have to spend 8 hours a day working on something. It seems like better value to be working on something beneficial to humanity than something meaningless, or even detrimental. I would answer the question of "should you?" with a resounding yes. I've been finding it difficult to match up my skills as a software e…

I wouldn't give a yes. If what you are doing is meaningless for humanity or detrimental (for the sake of the example, let's say your work is on anti personnel mines), but that you find a great fulfillment in doing that, good for you! I have always thought very disturbing in the occidental culture the notion that there are "unworthy" occupations, and some people "waste their life" doing something different that they c…

I guess if you're happy building land mines and blowing people up then that's your prerogative. We are all different and for whatever reason these jobs are staffed by people willing to work them.

I can only talk about personal experience; that is, if I meet someone in need, am able to help them, and as a result they are in a better position than before, it makes me feel great.

It's a selfish proposition, by helping someone, i'm essentially helping myself. Having said that, it still feels right and I have a compulsion to extend that to my life's work.

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#77

Post by jhdavids8 »

pclark wrote: post #62
chailatte wrote: post #45

Careful, you might make new YC companies' head explode. (YC S11) Interviewstreet is disrupting the recruitment space and create a place where the best hackers get the best jobs (YC S11) Splitterbug private beta: track expenses with friends from your phone Munch On Me (YC S11) Helps You Discover Tasty Dishes Stypi (YC S11) Is Etherpad Reborn Parse (YC S11): A Heroku For Mobile Apps Envolve (YC S11) Launches An API For…

Numerous of your comments have a very mean tone, can you remember that the companies you list each have numerous people all of whom have spent many years of brutally hard work to get to where they are today, in fact, can you just be much nicer?

Umm...while I don't necessarily agree with the original comment, just because a company has 'numerous people' who have worked really hard does not mean you should be sympathetic to those companies or people. Hell, Enron, Lehman Brothers, and numerous others had hard-working people...doesn't make their cause noble nor does it mean they should receive sympathy for their hard work.

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#78

Post by indrax »

xenophanes wrote: post #60

Step 1: learn about what is and isn't meaningful, instead of uncritically assuming altruistic morality is true and devoting your life to doing what is "meaningful" according to some other people. Be your own guide instead of just assuming charity = meaningful. Read Atlas Shrugged.

I cant stand libertarian equivocation on the meaning of 'selfishness'. If your 'ethics' is predicated on not putting a high personal value on the wellbeing of others, you are the problem. If your 'selfishness' is seeking the fullness of your values while recognizing this needs to be reciprocated and you happen to not be a psychopath, good.

Re: Ask HN: How can I do something meaningful?

#80

Post by jhdavids8 »

I just want to say that if you can't think of something substantial or meaningful to do, don't get discouraged. Trust me, I'm in your boat and don't know where to start. While I try to find that start, I'm also trying to focus on a startup I do believe in but I know is no charitable 'game-changer'. It's easier to have that bright idea or enforce some charitable influence once you have personal influence and resources (cough, cough..money). If you're in that position, you can make substantial difference much easier (and yes, you don't necessarily need those things either, but they do help)
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