Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
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Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#2What I don't get is if Peter truly feels he was doing a public good by shutting down Gawker, why must he do so in secret?
Would the mission be impaired if the sponsor were revealed or is Peter an underhanded snake?
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#3From the article: "Many are growing disillusioned because they bought what Silicon Valley sold them: an idealistic and almost utopian vision in which the technological advances of the Information Age would change the world -- or at least the Western world -- for the universal good."
Maybe it's just me, but I only occoasionally even heard of that idea, much less bought into it. Am I that far out of the echo chamber?
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#4From the article: "Many are growing disillusioned because they bought what Silicon Valley sold them: an idealistic and almost utopian vision in which the technological advances of the Information Age would change the world -- or at least the Western world -- for the universal good." Maybe it's just me, but I only occoasionally even heard of that idea, much less bought into it. Am I that far out of the echo chamber?
I've heard that idea a LOT, especially from people 10-15 years ago. I think most people abandon that thinking pretty quickly, but it persists with a smaller but still significant number.
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#5What I don't get is if Peter truly feels he was doing a public good by shutting down Gawker, why must he do so in secret? Would the mission be impaired if the sponsor were revealed or is Peter an underhanded snake?
Maybe he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. "Do good without bragging about it."
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#6From the article: "Many are growing disillusioned because they bought what Silicon Valley sold them: an idealistic and almost utopian vision in which the technological advances of the Information Age would change the world -- or at least the Western world -- for the universal good." Maybe it's just me, but I only occoasionally even heard of that idea, much less bought into it. Am I that far out of the echo chamber?
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Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#7For the record, Scott Adams also believes in the philanthropic nature of Thiel's actions: http://blog.dilbert.com/post/145205211401/billionaire-brandi...
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#8What I don't get is if Peter truly feels he was doing a public good by shutting down Gawker, why must he do so in secret? Would the mission be impaired if the sponsor were revealed or is Peter an underhanded snake?
I doubt the decision in the Gawker case was made in complete isolation from the public opinion, and public favour these days is significantly based upon who can depict themselves as the underdog/victim and therefore claim the moral high ground. Presumably, being financially supported by Thiel would not exactly have earned Hogan underdog points.
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#9What I don't get is if Peter truly feels he was doing a public good by shutting down Gawker, why must he do so in secret? Would the mission be impaired if the sponsor were revealed or is Peter an underhanded snake?
Maybe he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. "Do good without bragging about it."
Also, even if it was a good thing to do, it doesn't mean that the public has the same opinion.
Re: Thiel shows why tech billionaires are the new robber barons
#10What I don't get is if Peter truly feels he was doing a public good by shutting down Gawker, why must he do so in secret? Would the mission be impaired if the sponsor were revealed or is Peter an underhanded snake?
Maybe he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. "Do good without bragging about it."
I think this could be a legitimate explanation in his mind- unfortunately for him it became a high profile case and now he has to go on the defensive.