YC is a cult • Hacker News Board

Re: YC is a cult

#11

Post by azharcs » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 4:50 AM UTC

I am surely going to be a part of this cult.

Re: YC is a cult

#12

Post by pc » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 4:51 AM UTC

  - People are put in physically or emotionally distressing situations;
  - Their problems are reduced to one simple explanation, which is repeatedly emphasized;
  - They receive unconditional love, acceptance, and attention from a charismatic; [sic]
  - They get a new identity based on the group;
  - They are subject to entrapment (isolation from friends, relatives, and the mainstream
  culture) and their access to information is severely controlled.

To the extent that YC fits this definition, so does any intense and ambitious collaboration. Take the Manhattan Project, the Apollo missions, and some parts of the Human Genome Project -- they all fit criteria 1, 2, 4, and the first part of 5 to a much greater extent than YC ever does.

So it looks like we have a broken test function. (Though perhaps it's just missing a type-check -- maybe it's only supposed to be applied to religions.)

Re: YC is a cult

#13

Post by alaskamiller » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 4:56 AM UTC

dshah wrote: post #4

He got at least one thing wrong: YC folks don't work hard to make money. Many of them work really hard, but I don't think it's to make money.

Pretty sure it's for the money.

Re: YC is a cult

#14

Post by SwellJoe » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 4:56 AM UTC

Linkbait, and not even original. People were calling pg a cult leader years ago.

Re: YC is a cult

#15

Post by kajecounterhack » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 4:58 AM UTC

dshah wrote: post #4

He got at least one thing wrong: YC folks don't work hard to make money. Many of them work really hard, but I don't think it's to make money.

Money is what we use to buy bread, iphones and laptops. Hacking, we do for fun and enjoyment. But also to buy bread, iphones and laptops.

Well, its all good.

Re: YC is a cult

#16

Post by gscott » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 5:00 AM UTC

sutro wrote: post #8

Does YC require its participants to practice polygamy? I checked the FAQ but this wasn't covered.

What happens at the Yscraper stays at the Yscraper.

Re: YC is a cult

#17

Post by jrockway » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 5:03 AM UTC

sutro wrote: post #8

Does YC require its participants to practice polygamy? I checked the FAQ but this wasn't covered.

Hopefully!

Re: YC is a cult

#18

Post by jrockway » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 5:04 AM UTC

I am opinionated, concerned about environmental issues ... surrounding software and data access.

We've got to stop dumping the used ones and zeros into the oceans! It's melting the ice caps!

Re: YC is a cult

#19

Post by mattmaroon » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 5:08 AM UTC

alaskamiller wrote: post #13

dshah wrote: post #4

He got at least one thing wrong: YC folks don't work hard to make money. Many of them work really hard, but I don't think it's to make money.

Pretty sure it's for the money.

I did it for the cheese. The Boston batch gets some pretty good stuff.

Re: YC is a cult

#20

Post by rokhayakebe » Tue, Jul 29, 2008, 5:08 AM UTC

And several years ago the same thing was said about Schools.