Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

npr.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 45 posts

Re: Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

#2

Post by dictum »

> That prompted Sam Biddle of the Gawker site ValleyWag to suggest referring to the newcomers as "Software Americans."

What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"? Anyway, I had to check the article. Here's how it ends:

"So, the next time you see someone taking up a seat at a coffee shop to work on a cold cut delivery app at 2 pm, resist the urge to slur—instead of "techie," just call them a fucking loser dork with inconsequential ideas and a dumb life."

No, those "techies" don't make the search engine you use to find the information you need in your work and your daily life. They don't make the operating systems that run on your computers and mobile devices, nor the devices. They don't make the software that runs in your appliances, the automation systems that allow billions of people around the world to have products and services only the rich could afford in the past. They don't make novel ways to discover drugs and the origins of diseases. They don't make the communication services that allow you to stay in contact with people you know and discover people you didn't know. They don't make CMSs, blogging engines or web browsers.

They make cold cut delivery apps. Fucking cold cut delivery app making loser dorks.

Re: Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

#3

Post by BlackDeath3 »

dictum wrote: post #2

> That prompted Sam Biddle of the Gawker site ValleyWag to suggest referring to the newcomers as "Software Americans." What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"? Anyway, I had to check the article. Here's how it ends: "So, the next time you see someone taking up a seat at a coffee shop to work on a cold cut d…

>What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"?

I've heard the more generalized version of this phenomenon (meaning "s/look at/do") referred to as "the call of the void". Interesting and slightly haunting.

Re: Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

#4

Post by stock_toaster »

dictum wrote: post #2

> That prompted Sam Biddle of the Gawker site ValleyWag to suggest referring to the newcomers as "Software Americans." What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"? Anyway, I had to check the article. Here's how it ends: "So, the next time you see someone taking up a seat at a coffee shop to work on a cold cut d…

> What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong?

Compulsion?

Re: Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

#5

Post by argc »

BlackDeath3 wrote: post #3
dictum wrote: post #2

> That prompted Sam Biddle of the Gawker site ValleyWag to suggest referring to the newcomers as "Software Americans." What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"? Anyway, I had to check the article. Here's how it ends: "So, the next time you see someone taking up a seat at a coffee shop to work on a cold cut d…

>What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"? I've heard the more generalized version of this phenomenon (meaning "s/look at/do") referred to as "the call of the void". Interesting and slightly haunting.

"The call of the void" is a beautiful (and haunting) way to put it.

On an unrelated note... Wtf is wrong with Sam Biddle... Troll extraordinaire?

Re: Hackers? Techies? What To Call San Francisco's Newcomers

#7

Post by nbouscal »

argc wrote: post #5
BlackDeath3 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What is the word when you know you shouldn't look at something, but the urge to do it is too strong? Masochism doesn't quite cut it. "Mild death drive"? I've heard the more generalized version of this phenomenon (meaning "s/look at/do") referred to as "the call of the void". Interesting and slightly haunting.

"The call of the void" is a beautiful (and haunting) way to put it. On an unrelated note... Wtf is wrong with Sam Biddle... Troll extraordinaire?

It's a Gawker site, being a troll is practically a job requirement.
Post reply on HN