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

'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

missionlocal.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

331–340 of 558 posts

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#331

Post by foldr »

cqqxo4zV46cp wrote: post #296
littlestymaar wrote: post #293

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> this was out-of-hours There's no out-of-hours for CEO. He was using is official Twitter account to make a public statement, that's a work-related mistake. (It's not like he used some anonymous account to troll on some subreddit) > Walmart cashiers shouldn't be sacked for immaturity and poor judgement in their personal lives if their work is life is up to scratch. I don't know if they should, but they definitely are…

I agree that this guy is a tosser. I’m always first in line to give a fatcat tech bro what for. But you’re completely barking up the wrong tree with this tribalist argument. You’re holding him to a standard that you at least in part don’t believe in, but are simply saying “an eye for an eye!” when he wasn’t even the one responsible for taking the first eye. Chill.

They may think that it's reasonable to hold tech CEOs to higher standards in this respect than Walmart cashiers. So I don't think there's necessarily any inconsistency here.

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#332

Post by rsynnott »

tempsy wrote: post #179
bsder wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So? Then they need to lower the damn rent. This idea that rising property values is a God-given right needs to stop . Capitalism is supposed to work BOTH directions--up and down.

not sure what you’re talking about but rents in SF are still very much down vs 2019 market has demonstrated plenty it can lower rents as is

Clearly not enough, if there are still vacancies.

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#333

Post by nonrandomstring »

s_dev wrote: post #310
tempestn wrote: post #301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main consequence to him so far has been a lot of people thinking less of him. It was also consequential for the subjects of the tweet, and to a much lesser extent, to all of us who've been exposed to it.

Okay sounds like he faced those exact consequences and a bunch of people are acting like victims because they chose to take him too literally. I don't think Gary really cares what you or some others think. He's developed a thick skin for this sort of stuff maybe others should too. I think more of him though. Sort of like when a polite old woman tells someone to fuck off and they're literally shook. A lot of people co…

> A lot of people could do with hardening up a bit.

How often have I heard that from bullies who shit themselves, whine and go running to mommy as soon as they get a little of what they give?

You actually mean "shut up, roll over and passively accept abuse." Anyone who hardened-up, as in speaking their honest feeling and the truth about this sort of bully would be banned from here in 5 seconds!

We don't have the option to "harden up", because we value civility and intellectual curiosity, and all know it would make this forum a much worse place.

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#334

Post by chomskyole »

ChildOfChaos wrote: post #311
tempestn wrote: post #257

I'm a little bit aghast at all the comments saying this is normal or no big deal. Maybe it is normal (or at least common), but it shouldn't be. If you believe it's no big deal, I can't agree. I can see this kind of behaviour from adolescents, but adults should understand that words are meaningful and have consequences, and that even if you disagree with someone, they're still a human being who deserves some modicum o…

But you would say this kinda thing to friends, people joke around all the time, it’s good to show that strength of emotion about something instead of having to PR speak your entire live.

Mate, no I don't say this to my friends, but even if I take your point: if I say it to my friends there won't be any impact on anyone's life. Gary's rant absolutely has a potential to impact lives. So you chose your words to the occasion, no?

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#336

Post by chomskyole »

refurb wrote: post #326
rsynnott wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but he's apologised for it so I don't think it's fair to drag him down. So, the way this works is, he can say whatever he likes, but people shouldn't say mean things about him? How does this work? I'm genuinely curious; this, on the face of it, makes no sense to me at all. Is it because he's rich? I don't get it.

Yes, when people apologize for things we generally move on since the person acknowledge their error. Let’s be honest, it’s blowing up because the California political machine is threatened by this guy, and tearing him down for a small transgression means they’ll hold onto the reins of power even longer.

A death threat by one of the richest persons = A small transgression when they apologise after the fact

Seriously?

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#337

Post by chomskyole »

refurb wrote: post #327
littlestymaar wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's immature and poor judgement Which is enough to make him unfit for the position at YC and justifies his resignation. Walmart cashiers are being fired everyday for things like immaturity and poor judgment, why should YC CEO be held under lower behavior standards than blue collar workers?!

If being immature and showing poor judgement means you can run a VC fund 100% of VC funds would be firing their CEOs. Thats a ridiculous position to say he’s unfit. But I get it. He’s threading the political establishment so they’ll make hay with this to tear down an opponent. It’s politics.

From grandparent:

> Walmart cashiers are being fired everyday for things like immaturity and poor judgment, why should YC CEO be held under lower behavior standards than blue collar workers?!

Parent: >> If being immature and showing poor judgement means you can run a VC fund 100% of VC funds would be firing their CEOs.

USA, USA????

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#338

Post by throwaway645780 »

cj wrote: post #44

As a YC alum who worked with Gary Tan directly, this is… odd. Anyone who knows Gary knows he’s a (relatively) gentle human being. I can’t imagine him hurting a fly. His tweets seem totally out of character compared to the Gary Tan I personally knew. Maybe he has changed? I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I am not an alum but I did have a short chat with him about 6 years ago: "gentle" is definitively not how I would describe him, at least from that interaction.

Everybody has a bad day though so I did gave him the benefit of the doubt, but I'm really not surprised by this tweet "scandal" at all and the way he's dealing with it.

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#339

Post by Brian_K_White »

tedk-42 wrote: post #268
tempestn wrote: post #257

I'm a little bit aghast at all the comments saying this is normal or no big deal. Maybe it is normal (or at least common), but it shouldn't be. If you believe it's no big deal, I can't agree. I can see this kind of behaviour from adolescents, but adults should understand that words are meaningful and have consequences, and that even if you disagree with someone, they're still a human being who deserves some modicum o…

He's paraphrased 2pac is his alcohol fuelled moment "Fuck Mobb Deep, fuck Biggie Fuck Bad Boy as a staff, record label and as a motherfuckin' crew And if you want to be down with Bad Bo, then fuck you too Chino XL, fuck you too All you motherfuckers, fuck you too (take money, take money) All of y'all motherfuckers, fuck you, die slow, motherfucker" It's immature and poor judgement but he's apologised for it so I don'…

Somehow in all my many alcohol fuelled moments, I never said anything like that.

Fuck this odious turd and anyone who would try to excuse him.

Re: 'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant

#340

Post by s_dev »

nonrandomstring wrote: post #333
s_dev wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay sounds like he faced those exact consequences and a bunch of people are acting like victims because they chose to take him too literally. I don't think Gary really cares what you or some others think. He's developed a thick skin for this sort of stuff maybe others should too. I think more of him though. Sort of like when a polite old woman tells someone to fuck off and they're literally shook. A lot of people co…

> A lot of people could do with hardening up a bit. How often have I heard that from bullies who shit themselves, whine and go running to mommy as soon as they get a little of what they give? You actually mean "shut up, roll over and passively accept abuse." Anyone who hardened-up, as in speaking their honest feeling and the truth about this sort of bully would be banned from here in 5 seconds! We don't have the opti…

Pursuing intellectual curiosity involves tolerating ideas or language or phrasing you don't like. The world is messy. Gary hasn't bullied or abused anyone. That is where the line is.

The real answer is here is Gary could have phrased his words better and he would have been more effective in communicating his message. That's it.

Post reply on HN