'Stupid,' 'shameful:' Tech workers on Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan's rant • Hacker News Board

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

#481

Post by JohnFen » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 6:41 PM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #445

JohnFen wrote: post #442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We can debate about whether it should be normal, but clearly it is, right? I don't think it's even close to being normal. If it were, then this wouldn't have raised the firestorm it did.

The firestorm is entirely because Tan is rich and Asian. There’s always been a taboo on “punching down,” but in recent years in certain circles politicians have moved positions in the hierarchy.

> The firestorm is entirely because Tan is rich and Asian.

I don't think the firestorm is because of either of those things. I think it's mostly because Tan is a powerful figure in the SV tech scene.

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

#482

Post by JohnFen » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 6:46 PM UTC

dandanua wrote: post #454

JohnFen wrote: post #443

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it interesting that you added "despite tech advancements". I don't see how the level of technological advancement enters into this equation at all.

tech advancements = improvements of life for the whole humanity, and thus overall happiness. But it seems this naive thinking doesn't work in this world.

> tech advancements = improvements of life for the whole humanity

Yes, that equation is inaccurate. Tech advancements mean more powerful tools. Tools that can be used to improve things or can just as easily be used to make things worse.

The entire history of mankind indicates that it will always end up being a mix of both.

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

#483

Post by ilrwbwrkhv » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 6:50 PM UTC

raffraffraff wrote: post #199

minimaxir wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's more the state of modern social media. Post Elon acquisition, many influential tech figures have discovered that being a provocateur on Twitter/X is more consistently successful at building an audience than genuine insight.

This was the case pre Elon too. It's human nature. People are social creatures and they love to join some fight as long as they have their own comrades with them. My wife spent years on Twitter embroiled in a very long running and bitter political / rights issue. She was always thoughtful, insightful etc. She'd spend 10 minutes rewording a single tweet to make sure it got the real point across in a way that wasn't in…

People gathered up to see public hangings. We just love to see a fight. When Gary Tan acts like a monkey, people line up to see it. Same reason why Elon draws a crowd. Calling people a pedo is the online equivalent of a fist fight and we humans love it.

Should Gary Tan quit over this? Of course not. I think the fact that people put others on a pedestal is a mistake in the first place.

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

#484

Post by shermantanktop » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 6:57 PM UTC

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…

My general rule is sort of a variant of Godwin’s Law:

“The first person to tell their opponent ‘you shouldn’t be so sensitive’ forfeits the debate.”

There are of course exceptions. But obnoxious people think that every time they say something offensive or awful, the onus is on others to make allowances.

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

#485

Post by neon_electro » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 7:06 PM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #404

paulryanrogers wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even a supreme court can be wrong sometimes. In the US that's been happening more often of late.

Can you give an example?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC

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

#486

Post by tempestn » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 7:11 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #448

ChildOfChaos wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> But you would say this kinda thing to friends No, I wouldn't. I have never said anything like that to my friends (nor have my friends ever said anything like that to me), and I can't imagine ever doing so.

Exactly. And that holds regardless of how drunk I might be, fwiw.

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

#487

Post by jncfhnb » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 7:17 PM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #136

jncfhnb wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? What’s wrong with blocking strangers you deem annoying?

He expects everyone else to take heat from him but can’t handle the tiniest bit of criticism direct at him It’s a bit rich

Does he really expect people to take heat from him?

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

#488

Post by narcindin » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 7:23 PM UTC

shermantanktop wrote: post #484

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…

My general rule is sort of a variant of Godwin’s Law: “The first person to tell their opponent ‘you shouldn’t be so sensitive’ forfeits the debate.” There are of course exceptions. But obnoxious people think that every time they say something offensive or awful, the onus is on others to make allowances.

I have a similar rule: "The first person to tell their opponent 'your ideas are offensive' forfeits the debate".

I believe my rule prevents more bad arguments.

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

#489

Post by reducesuffering » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 7:26 PM UTC

caskstrength wrote: post #205

smugma wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I felt like they were trolling… super fancy whiskey and then sparkling white wine that you pick up at Lucky on sale.

> super fancy whiskey and then sparkling white wine that you pick up at Lucky on sale. Off the shelf Macallan and Balvenie bottles from his photo is what some Eastern European owner of chain of car repair shops would buy in duty free airport store when going to his annual Turkey or Egypt vacation, definitely not a "super fancy whisky" and a bad value for money.

Those are Balvenie 21 and Macallan 18, ~$300 amazing bottles of scotch whisky. They're not worth the $ (diminishing returns after $50 bourbon and $80 scotch), and are incredibly poor taste when you're in the midst of a political fight with people who campaign on rent control as to not get evicted...

But they're great quality whisky.

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

#490

Post by justin66 » Fri, Feb 02, 2024, 7:34 PM UTC

ignoramous wrote: post #375

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…

> normal It isn't normal for anyone else, of course. As for Garry, he is heavily invested in SF politics. > no big deal It is a big deal only if Garry was consistently inflammatory. Otherwise, it can be safely relegated to careless jibe by a drunkard. > words are meaningful and have consequences True, but one is allowed to retract, excuse, apologize. One incident unto drastic consequences will result in heavy-handedn…

> Are we being too sensitive, vindictive, projecting remorse? One look at tech Twitter (and deleted tweets) and we'd want to cancel them all. What good is that going to bring, other than create an inescapable and ever shrinking echo chamber?

It's simply nonsensical to think that there are two extremes of discourse, "echo chamber" and "people can feel free to voice threats," which are in opposition.

> It is a big deal only if Garry was consistently inflammatory. Otherwise, it can be safely relegated to careless jibe by a drunkard.

People on the business end of a threat certainly have a different perspective on what can be "safely relegated" to the "don't worry" category. There's nothing wrong with taking into account the perspective of those being threatened when determining whether something like this is a "big deal," as the parent poster presumably did, and as the law does.

> It isn't normal for anyone else, of course. As for Garry, he is heavily invested in SF politics.

How unique he is. It's hard to imagine a reality where lots of people are heavily invested in politics and behave foolishly because of it. That would be an alternate reality that is difficult to imagine.