I consider myself a remixer. Related, I recommend this video series on the topic: http://www.everythingisaremix.info
We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
131–140 of 236 posts
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#132We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators... That's a fine line. The most significant innovations are often iterations. (Google comes to mind.) Why do we do this? Because we want to get rich, of course. I disagree with "Because we want to get rich". And I definitely disagree with "of course". Real hackers do this because we just have to . It just so happens that currently it's also a grea…
thank you. I was about to post the same. Couldnt agree with you more.
I find the title a nice one-liner, draws attention. But when you think about it, so what? When is something innovation, and when is it iteration anyway? The man didnt land on the moon out of a single project, you know. that classic example was actually iteration ;).
The general statement in there is that of those old guys in every company; "Back than, everything was better.". Nope.
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#133That's probably one of the best and most insightful articles I've ever read, that used the term "first world problems". In fact, it may be the only article I've ever read that used that term, that wasn't a complete joke.
There's so much truth there... we work on "stuff" and some of the "stuff" we work on is truly amazing in many ways, but - and I don't know about you - I sometimes find myself wondering "is this really making the world a better place, in the general sense"? Even the stuff we are doing at Fogbeam Labs, which I am very passionate about, and even though we have very explicit core values[1] that drive us - sometimes leaves me thinking "this isn't going to help a poor starving child in Africa. Should I be doing something else"?
On the other hand, part of the reason we do all Open Source software is exactly because we think producing more OSS does make the world generally better, in at least some small regard. And if some would be entrepreneur in Africa or Afghanistan or something uses our software some day, and it helps them succeed, grow a business and create jobs and improve lives, then we have done something very positive. But it's hard to keep that in mind sometimes, when the chain of connections is so long and so speculative. I sometimes want to be doing something with a more obvious and direct impact on helping people.
[1]: http://fogbeam.blogspot.com/2011/06/blogging-fogbeam-custome...
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, think it through. Poster said, "I've contributed to keeping prisoners in prison." This is in no way an inherently good thing--especially given the well-documented clusterfuck that is the judicial system in the US. Have you ever been through the wringer? I don't think that kudos for helping that system is in order, unless it was specifically something like "I wrote software to help schedule inmate times so that vi…
So basically you are creating your own context based on your biases to paint the OP as evil because he didn't provide a full, encyclopedic accounting of everything he worked on. gg internet once again.
What are you on about? How is angersock trying to "paint the OP as evil"??? He raised a very interesting and insightful question and provoked a discussion, that's all. Excessive hyperbole here isn't helping the discussion along.
(And this is saying something coming from me, given my well known penchant for using hyperbole to make a point!)
Edit: edited to make less abrasive.
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#135The reason very few are truly innovating on a global level is because nobody wants to put in the decades studying to become an expert in any one field -- and I don't blame them. I've been seesawing between two life decisions lately: 1) Do I continue with medicine, become super-specialized and then look for a way to use my expertise to bring innovation to the world and become wealthy, or 2) Do I use whatever knowledge…
thought experiment:
If someone had the skills, ability, and opportunity to tangibly help a large group of people through their work, but instead chose to work on the "next hot social app" in order to gain personal wealth (assume both were "one-time" opportunities, and mutually exclusive), would you hold that person to be ethically unjust?
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#136Earlier quoted context omitted.
the right way to think about their position in society. What is "the right way" for a person to think about his position in society? Is there only one correct point of view?
Good point, but teaching them that "your position in society" is a thing that should be thought about and has a huge effect on your worldview is step one.
That's true - it's good that people don't take their life situation for granted.
What concerns me is when it's presented as a predigested, one size fits all "conclusion" - e.g. "Straight White males are oppressors, females and minorities are oppressed, no exceptions ever".
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#137This is why I joined Coursera instead of starting another startup when I left the one I founded. There are few things more exciting that a web developer could be working on today than access for education for everyone. Big movements are happening in online ed. Tectonic shifts are happening.
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#138Earlier quoted context omitted.
IMO I want to make things, cool things, innovative things, things that add value to peoples lives, things that will save lives, things that others will appreciate, and things that will make me happy and content. If I could achieve this without having to think about getting rich or becoming broke, I would. I don't want personal fame or appreciation either. I just want to be. I just want to do.
Are you envisioning a monastic-like group dedicated to turning productive making toward eradicating human suffering and the like?
Well, I'm definitely up for being a part of said group
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, think it through. Poster said, "I've contributed to keeping prisoners in prison." This is in no way an inherently good thing--especially given the well-documented clusterfuck that is the judicial system in the US. Have you ever been through the wringer? I don't think that kudos for helping that system is in order, unless it was specifically something like "I wrote software to help schedule inmate times so that vi…
> "Fix the base system" would be something like "I made a simpler marketplace so that care providers (doctors) can directly bill patients, cheaply and transparently." ... while simultaneously violating the agreements they signed with insurance providers and putting themselves out of business? I don't know about you, but I want prisoners to stay in prison. To make a blanket statement like "[Contributing to keeping pri…
To make a blanket statement like "[Contributing to keeping prisoners in prison] is in no way an inherently good thing" is just madness.
I don't understand this point of view. At least in the US a very large portion of the prison population are in jail for non-violent crimes related to drug sales and/or possession, and are being imprisoned unjustly. Some if not all "white collar" crime prisoners should probably also not be imprisoned. I for one certainly do not see jail as having any sort of innate "goodness" or nobility associated with it. It's a horrible, brutal, inelegant hack at best, and a travesty of justice in many cases.
Re: We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators
#140We call ourselves innovators, but most of us are really just iterators... That's a fine line. The most significant innovations are often iterations. (Google comes to mind.) Why do we do this? Because we want to get rich, of course. I disagree with "Because we want to get rich". And I definitely disagree with "of course". Real hackers do this because we just have to . It just so happens that currently it's also a grea…
> - prisoners are kept in jail
I wouldn't be too proud of that. In fact I would turn down such a job "opportunity" if it ever should come up.
Yes, I know. Prisons are a necessary evil until we come up with a better solution to crime but still they are evil and I don't want to help robbing fellow human beings of their freedom.