Live data from Hacker News

Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

online.wsj.com

171–180 of 212 posts

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#171

Hmm, would love to see Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet in a competition to see who can solve more of the worlds problems.

In a way there are, or at least BillG and Elon Musk. Buffett is giving his money to the Gates Foundation. Musk and Gates each identified what they saw as our greatest issues where they could have impact, and went from there. Whether we agree with their priorities or not, it's inspiring to watch.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#172
post #22
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Malthusian thought always strikes me as a comfortable little tautology to live in. It seems like it could be a neat way to contextualize one's efforts to delay the onset of, and diminish the impact of inevitable catastrophe. But I only ever see it being used to shit on ideas that on first glance would appear to accelerate the inevitable. Which in and of itself is bit odd. It may be a bit cold to see it this way, but…

I think it's interesting to discuss it here, the zenith of technocopian optimism and futurism. There's a host of intelligent people frequenting Hacker News, but few have any idea what sort of trouble we are in. No conscious thought at all about the value chain that's involved for them to fill up their car in the awesome Bay area with amazing people doing fantastic work to "change" the world. Why aren't you guys picki…

Every generation claims this, yet life continues to become cheaper and more comfortable. Where is the economic evidence for what you are talking about?

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#173
post #31

I don't get the negativity in this thread. Bill Gates is trying to solve hard problems and people here are complaining. Sure, they may not be the problems that you think are most important, and I'm sure the foundation is making missteps along the way and wasting some money. But his message in this article is a good one I think: > The process I have described—setting clear goals, choosing an approach, measuring result…

>I don't get the negativity in this thread. Bill Gates is trying to solve hard problems and people here are complaining. I respect Bill Gates and think his cause is noble but they are partly childish because of the idealism and the hopes to cure disease. ilaksh's post on this thread is part of the reason why though I wanted to reply to your post instead of doing so to his. It will be far more controversial though. Da…

If you think we should do with fewer humans on this earth--you first.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Complicity is only with those willfully ignorant, I imagine. Colonialism ~is~ a malevolent mass. "Rich white persons" tend to be the force behind colonialism, but theoretically it could be anyone.

So I'm assuming you're of native ancestry in your particular region.

I'm not pretending to claim some sort of native ancestry, and being the result of colonialism doesn't preclude me from disapproving of policies and interests beyond my control.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Sounds like "Rich White Guy" is the best person to solve the problems, then" This is not a binary "problems" or "no problems". The manner by which colonialists "improve" the rest of the world is at the expense of the rest of the world. Not commenting on Gates' particular methods, but injecting money generally comes with a cost, and at various freedoms of the countries involved. At best of intention, throwing money a…

But measuring what you're doing and the impacts you're having and adjusting as you go is likely to have a better outcome than those with similar goals who lacked such introspection.

I don't disagree with this at all.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Complicity is only with those willfully ignorant, I imagine. Colonialism ~is~ a malevolent mass. "Rich white persons" tend to be the force behind colonialism, but theoretically it could be anyone.

What about Chinese colonialism?

Certainly in effect.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#178
post #27
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well actually the first world will rape all the resources, just as it's doing now and the population will sort itself out in the third world, much as it's doing now.

Except, the population in the first world will be hit as well. Do you think 315 million Americans makes the USA not overpopulated?

"Except, the population in the first world will be hit as well."

Of course they will. They'll just be hit much later than the rest.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#179
post #31

I don't get the negativity in this thread. Bill Gates is trying to solve hard problems and people here are complaining. Sure, they may not be the problems that you think are most important, and I'm sure the foundation is making missteps along the way and wasting some money. But his message in this article is a good one I think: > The process I have described—setting clear goals, choosing an approach, measuring result…

I am beyond disgusted with every negative poster in this thread. I have never met or heard of anybody so horrible, awful, and heartless that they would condemn one of the wealthiest people in the world for giving away his entire fortune and retirement to try and save the lives of millions of people. I want to apologize for these next two words. It's completely out of character for me, and they might get me banned fro…

I'll say them. I assume it was one of these three:

Fuck You!

Fuck off!

Eat Shit!

These four are from me though:

Fuck off and die.

Re: Bill Gates: My Plan to Fix The World's Biggest Problems

#180
post #89

A couple of years ago my wife's 2 years old nephew was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (eye's cancer). I contacted the world's best hospitals and was told that the treatment will cost hundreds of thousands dollars. So I tried to get some financial help from related funds and organizations and contacted all of them I could find on the internet. Guess what happened: 90% of them just ignored me, and the rest told me that…

I used to volunteer for one of the world famous named-after-desease organization. They organizing yearly events collecting funds for "research". While events are fun and people are happy to gather together - no one knows what exactly this "research" does and what outcome of it. People just assume that someone somewhere researching something and then one day magic solution will appear as a result of this research and…

Even still, "research"-focused organizations are still superior to the much less savory "awareness"-based organizations that take money to promote themselves and give as little as possible towards problem solving and aid.
Post reply on HN