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What the fuck happened to nerds

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Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#61

Post by roryirvine »

jmyeet wrote: post #27

This misses what happened entirely. What happened is that tech companies got so large that they are now essentially defense contractors. You can't both be a countercultural rebel, the kind who would evoke 1984 in a TV ad, and be a CEO and/or significant owner in a trillion dollar company. At some point, the company's interests align with domestic and foreign policy and the company becomes a tool of the state, which i…

And that entwinement runs in both directions.

The tech giants have been spared regulation and oversight, in a way that has allowed them to cement their position at the top. Not only does this enable the sort of egregious abuses we've had to become used to, it also stifles innovation and competition - to the detriment of everyone, including their own shareholders.

The USA risks trapping itself in a spiral of oligarchy, reminiscent of Russia in the late 1990s.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#62

Post by blooalien »

lopsotronic wrote: post #51
jmuguy wrote: post #44

In the movie Revenge of the Nerds, they basically rape someone. So I dunno, being a "nerd" doesn't necessarily imply you're also a good person. Mark Zuckerberg is definitely a nerd, and he's also a piece of shit. I also think its another variation of that trope that the people that seek power are the very ones you don't want to have it. And those that don't care about it are the ones we need to seek it. Take Woz for…

Where the self-identifier of "nerd" as "I don't care that I don't know how to make people like me" is given precedence over "I care more about esoteric knowledge than about how to make people like me"

> Where the self-identifier of "nerd" as "I don't care that I don't know how to make people like me" is given precedence over "I care more about esoteric knowledge than about how to make people like me"

I no longer really give a rat's ass whether people like me anymore, because a lifetime of being bullied over nothing more than my choice of hobby/career has taught me that I'm just gonna be widely hated for simply enjoying learning new stuff, no matter what else I do or how nice I am to people. (To the contrary, I'm hated and abused more the nicer I try to be.) Literally two people in my life have encouraged that joy of learning; My mother and my fifth grade teacher. Everyone else has tried to shut that down at every available opportunity (with the exception of the rare few others I occasionally find that also love learning). Fine. Hate me. Like I really care anymore. Not worth the effort to engage on that level anymore for literally no gain whatsoever. Hah-ha. I'ma nerd. Whatever. Get over it.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#63

Post by throwaway_7274 »

In my lifetime I have seen the tech ethos shift slowly, then quickly, from “don’t be evil” to “don’t be a pussy.”

It took me utterly by surprise when, after finishing my PhD, I decided it would be less damaging to my soul to go into finance. Even more surprising, I think I was right.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#64

Post by tennfown »

throwaway_7274 wrote: post #63

In my lifetime I have seen the tech ethos shift slowly, then quickly, from “don’t be evil” to “don’t be a pussy.” It took me utterly by surprise when, after finishing my PhD, I decided it would be less damaging to my soul to go into finance. Even more surprising, I think I was right.

I guarantee you they’re all pussies though.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#65

Post by pesus »

alephnerd wrote: post #37
mrhottakes wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you read the article, it's not about competition.

I read the article, but the attributes which OP views as negative are just the general traits of hypercompetitive people. The only way to win is by hook or by crook - that is what you learn in hypercompetitive environments. Edit: Can't reply > Yours is the kind of attitude that has ruined the industry If you can't compete you will be made redundant. Honestly, in some aspects that is what I appreciate about the Chines…

It's interesting seeing an example of the sociopathy the article is talking about in the wild. This account backs up basically every single stereotype about the tech industry these days. I don't agree this attitude has ruined the industry though, it's actually ruined the entire world.

Don't be surprised if the sociopathy and destruction you love so much comes back to haunt you, though. I'm sure you'd think that was great anyway.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#66

Post by move-on-by »

dozerly wrote: post #43
geraldwhen wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are currently multiple trivial ways for a layman to block all YouTube ads.

Clearly the original comment is from a mercenary nerd who has not heard of DNS blocking of ads.

I’ve been very involved with the DNS blocking scene- and it’s extremely easy to circumvent. I always wonder if there are some principled nerds on the architecture side purposely designing things to be easily blocked with DNS blocking. Or perhaps the mercenary nerds are just that inept. Maybe a mix. I also don’t think the numbers of users with DNS blocking are large enough for the mercenary nerds to care about. However, the math for LoE to bypass DNS blocking has certainly changed recently.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#67

Post by weinzierl »

A bit the article falls into the trap it warns against.

It isn't really about "nerds", more about a certain type of founder.

A true title (also dispensing the unnecessary swear) would have been: "What happened to the honest founder?". I wouldn't have clicked that, probably wouldn't even have noticed. That's OK, I'm not the target audience.

I clicked the original title though and even read it but honestly felt a bit lured in on false premises. Classic clickbait, little reputation lost, 5 minutes attention won.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#68

Post by zzrrt »

mbgerring wrote: post #11

I respect Moxie a lot and it greatly diminishes my opinion of him that he agreed to be part of this. I hope he got paid a lot for this, and that he’s plowing the money back into something worthwhile.

It's like Joey Allegra was just announced as the magazine sales winner. https://moxie.org/stories/money-machine/

Right up there with finding out Grimes was with Elon.

Maybe we should open our minds a bit, and also remember that a parasocial relationship (speaking for myself) isn't really knowing someone.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#69

Post by _DeadFred_ »

jmuguy wrote: post #44

In the movie Revenge of the Nerds, they basically rape someone. So I dunno, being a "nerd" doesn't necessarily imply you're also a good person. Mark Zuckerberg is definitely a nerd, and he's also a piece of shit. I also think its another variation of that trope that the people that seek power are the very ones you don't want to have it. And those that don't care about it are the ones we need to seek it. Take Woz for…

In 90s tech the terms Woz is a geek, Zuck is a nerd.

Re: What the fuck happened to nerds

#70

Post by mc32 »

mrhottakes wrote: post #60
mc32 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could be so but once their companies get on the path to getting listed they get advice from their banks or investors and either or both have one thing in mind: how do we make this company into an investment multiplier? Also often founders are paired with business types to make companies more viable. “Making money off of shareware” is no longer enough (never mind that it’s a non-starter now that everything is needs to…

Do you really think Zuckerberg is only evil because he's getting evil advice from his banks?

I’m pretty certain they are not a moderating force. I think the lead-up dot-com bubble its subsequent burst and the following hunt for unicorns was begot by a different breed of people than those pursuing the technology sector before them. After the Netscape IPO more people started going into CS as a way to get a foot in the door to massive riches rather than the pursuit of technology as a way to solve human problems. The Woz vs Zuck, for example.
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