points by idle_zealot 1 day ago | 0 comments
> 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.
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.