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points by KaiserPro 1 day ago | 0 comments

I agree the valley is in a bubble, but I wouldn't agree with the self flagellation. That would imply a level of self understanding that would require repentance.

One of the big issues with silicon valley (or how I see it) is the lack of ability to look out side and ask why something is the way it is, before trying to slap technology on it.

The smell of money which distorts people's reality to carry on doing something that looks and sounds like a disaster, is too strong.

[–] FacZap 1 day ago

Also the "move fast, break things" motto. These people are literally incapable of slowing down to begin with, much less use that time for self-reflection.

[–] timmytokyo 16 hours ago

Marc Andreessen: "Yes, zero introspection, the less the better. Why introspect? Just move forward, go take action. I find that those who dwell on the past often get stuck in the past. This is a big problem, both at work and at home."

[–] idle_zealot 1 day ago

> That would imply a level of self understanding that would require repentance. One of the big issues with silicon valley (or how I see it) is the lack of ability to look out side and ask why something is the way it is, before trying to slap technology on it.

We're talking about adults here, let's not infantilize and remove agency from them. It's not reasonable to treat as an accident the repeated disruption of regulated industries with the "old laws don't apply because I added computers" playbook. Bad behavior absolutely demands repentance and punishment. To say otherwise is a massive moral hazard that guarantees more harm, failing to counter the "smell of money" with reasonable caution.

[–] KaiserPro 20 hours ago

> let's not infantilize and remove agency from them.

I think the issue is, that a lot of people in silicon valley are sheltered teenagers. Thinking back to my time in a FAANG, the thing that constantly surprised me is how naive a lot of people were. A lack of understanding of American politics, poor attention span and a general lack of grounding in the local community.

A large part of the harm that arose from the FAANGs is down to people genuinely not being able to step back and go "oh yeah, bad people might..."

Then, on top of that you have people in positions of power who actively exploit this naivety to get their own way.

I really must stress that I am not asking or implying that its not their fault. But we have to tackle the sausage factory of stupid that is being fed to silicon valley, mostly on a lie that their startup will make them rich.

[–] gwerbin 1 day ago

> lack of ability to look out side

> smell of money

Seems like an obvious causal pathway to me.

[–] xg15 1 day ago

I think it's telling how often even on HN (and linked articles) there is talk about "humans" doing this or that - when it becomes clear that the discussion is not even about everyday Americans or people from other Western countries, let alone the non-Western world - but just WASP people in Tech.

But sure, let's talk about Humanity.