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Welcome Home, Garry Tan

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Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#111

Post by 12_throw_away »

dang wrote: post #108
12_throw_away wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, why the downvotes? We're not allowed to talk about this?

(Edit: the GP comment was edited after I wrote this - more about that below: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32642696 .) Hardened political rhetoric and seasoned talking points aren't on topic here (regardless of which way the political vector is pointing). If you check out the site guidelines, it should be clear why: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html . You don't have to agree with anyone's views…

What is the difference between "shaming" and "referencing facts", exactly? I genuinely don't understand the distinction. Also, I'm commenting on YC's choice, not Garry's views. I understand if YC doesn't want to host criticism of its decisions, but you should be upfront about it.

I explicit reject this idea that it's unfair to point to things people have said, even if they're screenshots. Sorry, that's just deciding that you can pick and choose data to ignore.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#112

Post by rmason »

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

Congratulations! While I am going to greatly miss the videos you did on YouTube the truth is you are so right for the job. Two words of advice for you - be bold.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#113

Post by mempko »

garry wrote: post #90
hellomyguys wrote: post #50

I guess everyone Garry has blocked on Twitter will not be applying to YC any time soon :)

Twitter has been a tough one - I got involved in local politics which has been a challenge. Large accounts typically do have to block a lot to make it usable, and in particular I've had problems with folks doxxing my former home address (I had to sell that house and move), and making threats of violence against me. I'm sorry if I got it wrong, and I am happy to unblock if I did get it wrong.

I'm blocked by you and have no idea why! Same name on twitter.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#114

Post by smcl »

12_throw_away wrote: post #107
12_throw_away wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Besides the "block anyone remotely progressive" approach to social media (including industry folks like Anil Dash [1]) - he seems extremely uncivil and rude [2]. And Sam Altman has explicitly referenced his politics as a reason for this decision [3]. This gives me the impression that there's a specific political agenda being advanced at YC ... [1] https://twitter.com/anildash/status/1564285359755874304?s=20... [2] ht…

So, why the downvotes? We're not allowed to talk about this?

Kinda wondering what his beef with Hamasaki was that prompted "Resign you piece of shit". Seems like this was a Board of Education person, was he that bad, like poisoning the kids school lunches?

edit: sorry I realise that I may asking some stupid questions that everyone knows already. But to me Garry Tan was just the Posterous guy. I'm just a bit floored to hear that there's more to this and I'm trying to find my bearings. Seeing the name Andy Ngo is a massive red flag to me, but I can't really parse what was being said in the tweet.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#115

Post by exhaze »

I think Garry changed my life in 2013 and might be reason why an awkward inarticulate engineer got into YC. He believed in my me and my cofounder.

To me, Garry is one of the people that embodies the spirit of YC. See some kind of potential in early founders (my cofounder called this "a twinkle in his eye"). Believe in them. Give them a shot.

Being a founder is SO lonely. Especially when few believe in what you're doing.

So happy that Garry's back.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#116

Post by sterlind »

systemvoltage wrote: post #84
stakkur wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Based only on your comment, I'm guessing you're unaware of Palantir's work with intelligence agencies even when Tan was there. Also, Thiel's mission from the start was this kind of work. I served in the Marine Corps. I've had some exposure to Palantir's 'offerings'. It's a fucking nightmare of a company, morally and ethically, and it always has been.

I've studied Thiel, he's just not mainstream left. If you want to listen to him with good faith, I enjoyed this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM9f0W2KD5s Doesn't come across evil to me unless by evil you mean just not mainstream left, which might be the correct in the valley.

I tried to watch that interview. It's just dry, boring, slow and abstract (to me) but I'll grant you it wasn't what I was expecting.

My issue with Thiel is his hypocrisy: he warns about surveillance AI and how it's evil, which is just rich, since he founded Palantir and holds shares of Clearview.

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#117

Post by preommr »

hackernewds wrote: post #78
preommr wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The extreme left in SF politics (which in SF = the Establishment). ??? kind off topic, but I am curious what other people in SF think about this statement. I don't live there, but I find it surprising and dubious that the extreme anything is also "the establishment", not saying it's not possible but seems unlikely to me.

? where do you get this?

It's from the twitter thread by paul graham that the OC linked. It was a response to someone asking who dislikes Garry Tan, to which Paul Graham replied:

"The extreme left in SF politics (which in SF = the Establishment)"[1]

[1] https://twitter.com/stevemushero/status/1461013669114892288

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#118

Post by mehuln »

garry wrote: post #3

Believe it or not, my journey to Y Combinator started similar to how you may experience YC — through being a regular lurker and reader on Hacker News. I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company. YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, tale…

Congrats Garry! This is wonderful news. Garry was extremely generous and helpful to us during our YC days. Cannot thank him enough for all his help. This is awesome for YC!

Re: Welcome Home, Garry Tan

#120

Post by NCC1701DEngage »

syrusakbary wrote: post #39

I'm incredibly happy with this move. I got to chat with Initialized (Garry was one of the co-founders) a while ago and I must mention that I was greatly impressed by Garry down-to-earth questions, knowledge, kindness and humility. I've been following him since on his Youtube channel... it's a gold mine for any entrepreneur out there. Excited for what lies ahead for YC. [1]: https://youtube.com/garrytan

I actually found his channel with the alternative YouTube recommendations database I'm working on. He was one of the top links off the list for Y Combinator's channel.

The list for his channel includes some likely suspects like TechCrunch, Y Combinator, and a16z but also some smaller names doing business advice like Section4 and David Perell:

https://channelgalaxy.com/id%3DUCIBgYfDjtWlbJhg--Z4sOgQ/

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