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Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#41

Post by larrys »

mhurron wrote: post #28
destraynor wrote: post #14

That's not true, every time a founder becomes a parent they build shitty solutions to all those problems too :) But seriously this whole angle frustrates me. Who decided that Silicon Valley had to be held over hot coals for building software companies that solve problems and make money. Why does it always read like "they alone inherited the problems of the universe, and are choosing to build dickpic apps instead". Ev…

> Who decided that Silicon Valley had to be held over hot coals for building software companies that solve problems and make money. It would appear that Silicon Valley did. Every mundane piece of software is going to 'change the world.' People are just waiting for that to happen.

Correct. Dates back to at least the interaction between Jobs and Sculley to wit: "Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?".

It's much easier to get young people to buy into a dream of changing the world and making money than it is to buy into a dream of making money w/o changing the world.

Reminds me a bit of the Capone quote something like "You get more with a gun and a smile than a smile alone.."

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#43

Post by gamble »

mhurron wrote: post #28
destraynor wrote: post #14

That's not true, every time a founder becomes a parent they build shitty solutions to all those problems too :) But seriously this whole angle frustrates me. Who decided that Silicon Valley had to be held over hot coals for building software companies that solve problems and make money. Why does it always read like "they alone inherited the problems of the universe, and are choosing to build dickpic apps instead". Ev…

> Who decided that Silicon Valley had to be held over hot coals for building software companies that solve problems and make money. It would appear that Silicon Valley did. Every mundane piece of software is going to 'change the world.' People are just waiting for that to happen.

Because the technology industry depends on a lot of idealistic young workers putting in plenty of unpaid overtime, and no one ever motivated that commitment with a call to increase shareholder returns by 17%.

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#44

Post by jimmaswell »

seanlinehan wrote: post #17
ritchiea wrote: post #5

The title is deceptive because shortly after asking that question in the article, the author comes to a resounding "no" and goes on to talk about why it is our impression that SV only works on the problems of 20-somethings. The core of the author's comment comes at the end: "Imagine how odd it would be to read an article saying that the people who work for manufacturing firms are really just out to make money, or tha…

Here is a strategy that I have heard repeated a few times: When you see a rhetorical question in the title of a news article, the answer is no. The answer is always no. The article may say maybe. But the answer is no. Just like that you've saved yourself a few minutes.

Maybe I'll write an article with the title, "Is the answer to this question no?"

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#45

Post by jimmaswell »

gamble wrote: post #43
mhurron wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Who decided that Silicon Valley had to be held over hot coals for building software companies that solve problems and make money. It would appear that Silicon Valley did. Every mundane piece of software is going to 'change the world.' People are just waiting for that to happen.

Because the technology industry depends on a lot of idealistic young workers putting in plenty of unpaid overtime, and no one ever motivated that commitment with a call to increase shareholder returns by 17%.

Unpaid overtime isn't legal in the United States where SF is, as far as I know.

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#46

Post by davebindy »

kyllo wrote: post #6

If so, it's probably only because young adults are more likely to use the internet and therefore have problems that can be solved by the internet. The internet can't really fix your problems if you don't use it in the first place. Or maybe it could, but you will never know better.

Twenty years ago, this might have been true. I don't think it is today.

I'm 60 years old, and while I'm somewhat unusual in that computers and tech have been part of my life, both personally and professionally, for half my life, I would have to think pretty hard to come up with someone in my circle of friends and relatives in the 50-80 age range who doesn't use the Internet. My 80 year old aunt has a desktop, an iPad and an iPhone. My 81 year old landlady spends an average of 4 hours a day online. Just examples.

We could debate their "expertise" in using the Web or software/apps in general. On the whole, given the kinds of questions I end up fielding from them and others, it isn't particularly high. But then again, that may actually be the fault of the software itself, much of which is difficult for someone for whom tech is not an abiding interest to understand. I spent 10 years reviewing software full-time, and it was often a struggle for me to forget what I knew and judge it from the standpoint of the average Joe.

At any rate, I think it's a canard to say that older adults (or even senior citizens, since I guess I am one now) don't use the Internet. They may not use it the way someone younger does, but that doesn't mean they don't use it.

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#47

Post by jelled »

jimmaswell wrote: post #45
gamble wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the technology industry depends on a lot of idealistic young workers putting in plenty of unpaid overtime, and no one ever motivated that commitment with a call to increase shareholder returns by 17%.

Unpaid overtime isn't legal in the United States where SF is, as far as I know.

Are you familiar with the word "salary"?

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#48

Post by 3825 »

jimmaswell wrote: post #44
seanlinehan wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is a strategy that I have heard repeated a few times: When you see a rhetorical question in the title of a news article, the answer is no. The answer is always no. The article may say maybe. But the answer is no. Just like that you've saved yourself a few minutes.

Maybe I'll write an article with the title, "Is the answer to this question no?"

I see where you are headed. The answer is still no because you won't write the aforementioned article. You're clever.

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#49

Post by doorhammer »

jimmaswell wrote: post #44
seanlinehan wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is a strategy that I have heard repeated a few times: When you see a rhetorical question in the title of a news article, the answer is no. The answer is always no. The article may say maybe. But the answer is no. Just like that you've saved yourself a few minutes.

Maybe I'll write an article with the title, "Is the answer to this question no?"

[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liar_paradox

Re: Is Silicon Valley only interested in the problems of twentysomethings?

#50

Post by rogerclark »

joejohnson wrote: post #34

"[Packer]’s clearly onto something in the way the experience of continuously solving seemingly insoluble technical problems can lead the technocracy to dismiss the challenges of actual societies or, worse, decide they’re simply above them." This rings true for a number of issues in San Francisco. Let's underfund our public transportation and make taxis inefficient and hard to find -- we'll let the free market solve t…

i just looked at your comments on a hunch and i was right: most of your comments have to do with shitting on san francisco. cool hobby
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