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> It's supposed to be an alternate way of working if we follow pg. You're making it seem like it's a scam when it's a different paradigm of working that happens to have the optionality of massive growth potential.

In many cases, it is a scam. Ponzi schemes could also be rebranded as a different paradigm of working. And if you get out at the right time, a Ponzi scheme also has the opportunity of massive growth potential.

99% of startups aren't actually doing anything. They're just putting shiny interfaces on vapor.

> There's nothing frivolous about it as long as it's legitimate and can accomplish what it's setting out to do.

It's not legitimate, because it's not setting out to do anything except make money. Most startups aren't producing anything. I'd use the phrases "lipstick on pigs" or "turd polishing", except pigs and turds are actually useful. Most startups actually produce things worse than pigs or turds: they produce nothing of any value. And of the startups which are actually solving real problems, many startups actually are are solving problems for people I don't care for, and are actually actively harmful.

Yes, you can make money and be "successful" as a startup, but to quote Randall Munroe, "I never trust anyone who's more excited about success than about doing the thing they want to be successful at."

I'll give you one thing: people's intention when they start a startup isn't usually to openly steal people's money; they usually at least fool themselves into thinking they will be providing some real utility. But that doesn't make much difference to people whose retirements will take a hit when the tech bubble bursts.




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