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

What I’ve learned from users

paulgraham.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

311–320 of 339 posts

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#311

Post by rchaud »

phpthrowaway99 wrote: post #293
CAPSLOCKSSTUCK wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who found it odd.

Car salespeople say a lot of culturally inappropriate things constantly to each other. The sales manager I mentioned constantly referenced himself being a Jewish accountant to us as a fun way to remind us he's good at his job. Somehow it stuck and I guess I forgot even positive stereotypes are now allowed. I have to admit, the fun banter between salespeople and even management is the #1 thing I miss these days.

> guess I forgot even positive stereotypes are now allowed.

could have been avoided had you said something like "we had a Jewish accountant, as he often liked to remind us" or something that didn't imply that you personally attached some elevated level of job competence based on his choice of holy book(s).

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#312

Post by btbuildem »

phpthrowaway99 wrote: post #167
btbuildem wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've only ever bought used cars, from individuals. Paying extra for the overhead of a dealership and some salesperson's bonus seems absurd to me. You're pretty much guaranteed to get taken advantage of by a professional. Local classifieds, private sellers, take the car to a trusted mechanic for an inspection.

Op here, selling 3000 cars. I've never bought a car at a dealership, and neither has anyone in my family in 25 years. But then again, I know cars inside and out (even from before my car sales career) so I feel pretty safe not accidentally buying a scammers car from Craigslist.

I don't think I could've asked for a better endorsement for my point.

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#313

Post by scruple »

Scoundreller wrote: post #283
scruple wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My last 2 vehicle purchases (2014 and 2021) were through internet sales managers. I told them what I wanted, when I was intending to buy, that I had sent the same e-mail to every $MAKE dealership from San Diego to San Francisco, and that whoever had the best offer was getting my money. It was a painless experience both times.

My friend tried to do this with a Subaru and got nowhere. But it was in 2018 I think. Nothing to lose with the strategy, but it is societal economic situation and demand of car dependent.

That's a good point. We lucked out on our timing in 2021, we were looking ahead of the chip shortage, etc.

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#314

Post by fuckstick »

phpthrowaway99 wrote: post #294
PNWChris wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Likely they mean one of the step exams. Med school and residency are a brutal game - the exams don’t stop till you pass the boards at or around the time you become an attending!

I appreciate that you understood exactly what I meant, giving a medschool outsider some benefit of the doubt. Yes it was one of the board exams he couldn't pass. Others instantly assumed I was lying or exaggerating, as if I need some street cred on an anonymous 1 week old throwaway account.

This is getting more irrelevant to the thread, but it’s highly unlikely “inability” to pass a step exam was the reason for exiting medicine. The first pass rate for US MDs is 95-97%. American medical school is designed to make it highly unlikely you will not pass those tests. You could also retake it up to 5 times.

The real issue is that failing a step exam or passing with a lower score (once passed you can never retake) nearly completely eliminates you from certain specialities - especially the more lucrative surgical subspecialties. Some people may simply decide to give up at that point. It’s much more likely burnout or an overall “fuck this” with the training, or other red flag, eg cheating or egregious behavioral problem then not passing a single exam. Because although there are a ton of exams after entering medical school none are as high stakes as the MCAT for continuing to be a doctor.

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#315

Post by toss1 »

ejb999 wrote: post #128
lnwlebjel wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I rank buy a car from a new car salesman as the worst consumer experience of my life. So much so that I've since bought used cars and in the future hope to buy a Tesla in large part to avoid that experience. I understand that it could greatly benefit the salesperson in understanding the social psychology of the consumer ... but never again will I subject myself to that process.

I'd rather go get a cavity filled, then buy a new car. Do it as infrequently as possible (hoping to get another 10 years out of my 11 year old Toyota). Every time I visit a new car dealer I feel a need to take a shower, just to get the stink off of me.

Don't ask them, tell them.

Do your research, narrow it down to a small set of models and trim levels, know what the best deals available are, and set your numbers a bit lower. Ring several dealers and say "I'm looking for X.Y.Z at price $NNN, what can you do for me?". Some will not even respond, and do NOT get pulled into the "we can only talk when you are here" - cross those off the list. I found one that would come very close to what I needed, and did the whole deal via email, only actually physically meeting him when I actually went to trade-in and get the new vehicle.

And guess who got the next sale a year later when my wife's lease ran out? And who will get the next one?

On top of that, my experience at that dealer overall has been FAR better than many others. It's worth the long search and semi-log drive to find the right one.

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#316

Post by q-big »

GrinningFool wrote: post #306
q-big wrote: post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people insanely detest being manipulated - even if it is for their own good (that's at least what the manipulating person claims). I personally observe this "manipulation-detesting" character trait in particular to be prevalent in hacker circles. By the way: this is also a reason that I see why so many hackers date differently from the typical population since dating is about manipulating the other side to love…

> since dating is about manipulating the other side to love one. Sounds like you're doing it wrong.

> Sounds like you're doing it wrong.

Then I have to conclude that a lot of dating advice that one finds is plainly wrong: "show off your best side" is for example an instance of "manipulate the other person to believe that you are of higher value than you actually are (and thus a relationship with you is a better deal than it actually is)".

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#317

Post by AlwaysRock »

tash9 wrote: post #86
AlwaysRock wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a single example of someone who is highly regarded for an extended period of time that doesnt end up having a strong group of people who dislike them? It's hard to tell if there is just enough commenters on HN that dislike PG or if tech folks in general actually have decided to dislike PG. Regardless, almost every single public figure reputation takes a downturn given enough time. PG is no exception.

Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's been great for almost a decade and everybody still loves him. Growing up dirt poor for most of his life probably helps w/ being a great guy, though.

I was wondering if anyone was going to put specific people in here.

While Giannis was the two time NBA MVP and seems relatively universally loved... Many actual basketball fans hate him al la, "I wish I was 7 feet tall and could just dunk every time" - James Harden, and he has not been famous for all that long. He was mvp in 1029. Before that he wasnt really all that well known outside of basketball.

He is 27. He hasnt been famous since he was 17. Maybe since he was 25. Give him a few years. It's almost certain that he has some controversy over the next ten years or he fades into obscurity due to injury, see Greg Oden.

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#318

Post by caminante »

fuckstick wrote: post #314
phpthrowaway99 wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate that you understood exactly what I meant, giving a medschool outsider some benefit of the doubt. Yes it was one of the board exams he couldn't pass. Others instantly assumed I was lying or exaggerating, as if I need some street cred on an anonymous 1 week old throwaway account.

This is getting more irrelevant to the thread, but it’s highly unlikely “inability” to pass a step exam was the reason for exiting medicine. The first pass rate for US MDs is 95-97%. American medical school is designed to make it highly unlikely you will not pass those tests. You could also retake it up to 5 times. The real issue is that failing a step exam or passing with a lower score (once passed you can never ret…

>This is getting more irrelevant to the thread

Maybe not the thread, but certainly relevant to the top commenter's story, which sounds really embellished.

"Failing the MCAT" (?) -> "Failing boards as dropout reason" (?) ...

And top commenter is all over the thread, trying to win people back after folks point out these oddities. Seems like a lot of effort.

Either top commenter is the car sales messiah or embellishing (along with his "alleged" med school dropout colleague). Both are possible, but one is more likely.

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#319

Post by sleepdreamy »

maroonblazer wrote: post #237
ejb999 wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd rather go get a cavity filled, then buy a new car. Do it as infrequently as possible (hoping to get another 10 years out of my 11 year old Toyota). Every time I visit a new car dealer I feel a need to take a shower, just to get the stink off of me.

I once dated a girl whose dad's idea of a fun Saturday was to spend the day at a car dealership to see how low a price he could negotiate for a car. He'd always walk away, regardless of how low they went. I thought that was hilarious.

Something is deeply wrong with her father!!!

Probably my least favorite consumer experience leans toward purchasing cars. Ironically I also LOVE cars. Hate buying them though

Re: What I’ve learned from users

#320

Post by sleepdreamy »

btbuildem wrote: post #145
lnwlebjel wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I rank buy a car from a new car salesman as the worst consumer experience of my life. So much so that I've since bought used cars and in the future hope to buy a Tesla in large part to avoid that experience. I understand that it could greatly benefit the salesperson in understanding the social psychology of the consumer ... but never again will I subject myself to that process.

I've only ever bought used cars, from individuals. Paying extra for the overhead of a dealership and some salesperson's bonus seems absurd to me. You're pretty much guaranteed to get taken advantage of by a professional. Local classifieds, private sellers, take the car to a trusted mechanic for an inspection.

How does that work? You write a stranger a 30,000 check?

I don't see how this is preferable if you are purchasing nice/new or high end vehicles.

Post reply on HN