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YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

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Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#11
I could imagine how a potential interviewee might say something like “I’d tattoo myself with your logo for a chance at a job” and a CEO might respond “Hell, yeah! That’s the kind of energy I’m looking for.”

What I can’t understand is how in a whole executive team, no one thought bringing a tattoo artist to tattoo potential interviewees with was a stupid idea. This wasn’t an accident, or surprise, like a tattoo artist just happened to be there and things got wild. They specifically brought a tattoo artist to do this. What the fuck.

Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#12
post #4
post #3

Ew. At what point do we just decide that this whole community has eaten itself? Remember when a "YC founder" was a diligent nerd just trying to make something people want and get to ramen-profitable before the runway from their tiny seed check ran out? Now being a founder is such a valuable status that it's attracting people who thinking that ghoulish worshipful body art (on the bodies of people afflicted with the sa…

Don’t judge a whole community by one freak.

Noted sociopath Sam Altman is the most visible member of the commumity. it's the right judgement.

Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#13
post #11

I could imagine how a potential interviewee might say something like “I’d tattoo myself with your logo for a chance at a job” and a CEO might respond “Hell, yeah! That’s the kind of energy I’m looking for.” What I can’t understand is how in a whole executive team, no one thought bringing a tattoo artist to tattoo potential interviewees with was a stupid idea. This wasn’t an accident, or surprise, like a tattoo artist…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene_paradox

Or maybe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_%C3%A0_deux

Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#14
post #11

I could imagine how a potential interviewee might say something like “I’d tattoo myself with your logo for a chance at a job” and a CEO might respond “Hell, yeah! That’s the kind of energy I’m looking for.” What I can’t understand is how in a whole executive team, no one thought bringing a tattoo artist to tattoo potential interviewees with was a stupid idea. This wasn’t an accident, or surprise, like a tattoo artist…

Lizard people.

Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#18
post #3

Ew. At what point do we just decide that this whole community has eaten itself? Remember when a "YC founder" was a diligent nerd just trying to make something people want and get to ramen-profitable before the runway from their tiny seed check ran out? Now being a founder is such a valuable status that it's attracting people who thinking that ghoulish worshipful body art (on the bodies of people afflicted with the sa…

Was that image of the plucky hacker shooting their shot actually something based in reality or something cooked up to get people interested in founding a company? Look at the inaugural YC class. Do those people today resemble what you're describing? It is important to have critical literacy about things like this. Describing a narrative that isn't consistent with reality in order to convince people to do something is not unique to Silicon Valley. I'm not encouraging wholesale cynicism but just a healthy level of skepticism.

Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#19
post #5

I've seen this all over the news. It served its purpose.

What purpose is that? Are you claiming they aren't looking to hire people, and just want their company name out there for other purposes? Or that having this story somehow helps their actual hiring goals (e.g. by dissuading people who think that this is awful from applying, or that it will actually make people want to apply)?

I can think of several purposes someone might claim that this has. All of them seem pretty dubious to me though, so if you think it's obvious, I would be interested in hearing what you think it is.

Re: YC founder asks desperate job seekers to tattoo themselves for an interview

#20
From a job listing I saw here on the front page today. Instantly repulsive:

> About the role

> "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success"

> You gotta be in founder mode.

> Next.js web / React Native app. / Supabase, firebase, and Prisma. / Nest.js for WhatsApp / Open AI and Anthropic APIs for agents / Solidity and web3.js for Smart contracts. / A lot of Typescript.

It is a reference, but seemingly also sincere, at least to a non-trivial extent.

Edit: I do not mean this to imply the same company as in the OP

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