Item — HN Reader

It's a shift in mindset and feels a bit "man yells at clouds". I think this really underestimates how jarring Jobs and his peers were to the older generation of techies who themselves were jarring to the even older ones (eg. remember all the hate Jobs and Gates would receive from Stallman types?).

I also think OP fails to understand how much more competitive tech culture is now.

Visit and talk with undergrads at a top CS program like Stanford, Cal, UIUC, MIT, etc. The culture is different because this is a much more competitive generation. When the acceptance rate into a top CS program is in the 1-5% range and laurels like being a Valedictorian, NHS member, JV or Varsity team member in HS, and taking 6-7 APs are viewed as table stakes, you get a degree of viciousness, competitiveness, and steel-eyed execution that older Americans just aren't used to.

Honestly, I like it. It reminds me of the culture and mindset I'd find amongst my Chinese peers in the 2000s and 2010s when they built China.

2 comments

> Honestly, I like it. It reminds me of the culture I'd find amongst my Chinese peers in the 2000s and 2010s when they built China.

I dont like it. It might have built china but this isnt what built modern america. I dont think this focus on personal achievement, rather than slowing down and doing societal good is conducive to creating new technologies. Its hard to monetize new technologies, so if your in it to make the number go up, then youll just copy and optimize what already exists. You need to want to help people to make new things

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 Chinese mindset - much more competitive.

I can't agree with you given candidate evaluation is arbitrary, badly targeted, and privilege centered (school/company pedigree). The latter drives ability to get exposure to disciplines and tooling and often a specific stack could be picked up easily by others with a little time/training. HR looks for safe signals and is happy to ignore good talent that doesn't check all the boxes, especially in a market like this.

> If you can't compete you will be made redundant.

Self-defeating attitude that you will regret later in life. Best of luck.

Yours is the kind of attitude that has ruined the industry. Congrats.

The industry is doing better than ever. We have commercial space flight and AI.

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.