Welcome Home, Garry Tan(ycombinator.com)
ycombinator.com
Welcome Home, Garry Tan
https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/welcome-home-garry-tan/
289 comments
You gave me my start in 2009 when you let me build Posterous themes. That experience introduced me into the world of startups, pushed me to become better at code, helped me get my start in design, and ultimately changed my life forever.
I can't thank you enough for giving a nobody like me a shot, and I can't wait to passively watch as you continue to do this for countless others!
I can't thank you enough for giving a nobody like me a shot, and I can't wait to passively watch as you continue to do this for countless others!
Garry, massive congratulations. Been watching your career growth for years, and been inspired by your every step. Being able to have you as one of my group partners was a blessed period in my own career that I'm glad to have had.
Hacker News & YC have changed my life too. HN pulled me out of a funk during a Master's thesis that my heart was no longer in, and thrust me into the world of startups. Going through YC did the same, and put me onto a path of success with my own startup.
I'm very excited to see you back at the helm of YC, because I know how many others you'll be able to help. I'm excited for this future.
Hacker News & YC have changed my life too. HN pulled me out of a funk during a Master's thesis that my heart was no longer in, and thrust me into the world of startups. Going through YC did the same, and put me onto a path of success with my own startup.
I'm very excited to see you back at the helm of YC, because I know how many others you'll be able to help. I'm excited for this future.
Me too. I too am inspired by Garry's growth.
Congrats Garry! So well deserved. I feel so lucky to have had your help as a group partner when we went through W13 as Errplane (hah, good thing we figured out something to pivot to).
YC changed my life too and I can't imagine it in better or more capable hands.
YC changed my life too and I can't imagine it in better or more capable hands.
I have nothing but positive memories from all the times we met in S12. Your genuine excitement for the cool products everyone was building was refreshing in a time when all my conversations were about customer development and building an org. (Not that we didn't also talk about that, of course, but you were always the biggest reminder WHY we were here.)
I really think there's no one better for this role, it makes me really excited about YC again! Congrats!
I really think there's no one better for this role, it makes me really excited about YC again! Congrats!
Congrats. I was binge-watching on Youtube and came across one of your videos a few days ago which inspired me to start thinking of doing something with my 10 year experience, specially when you talked about there being no shortage of money :) No other investor has ever reached me via Youtube let alone inspire. Great move by YC.
Congrats Garry! Will never forget how you helped us design our logo during office hours. Took 2 minutes and the result was better than anything we came up with that month.
Just incredible to see you complete the circle here Garry.
I'll be really interested to see the perspective you bring, especially when it comes to the human side of the equation of founding a startup.
I remember for some time you were looking seriously at mental health for teams. Any early thoughts on how you might adjust the current sentiment of hustle culture?
I'll be really interested to see the perspective you bring, especially when it comes to the human side of the equation of founding a startup.
I remember for some time you were looking seriously at mental health for teams. Any early thoughts on how you might adjust the current sentiment of hustle culture?
Congrats Garry! I'm one of those lurkers, and was due to your influence that I became a founder and got into YC.
Interesting you chose to become a VC given your reservations about growth v. sustainability: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5229805 (:
Either ways, good luck!
(btw, love the production quality of your videos on youtube; and now, YC-- Dalton, Michael et al-- who do have fantastic content, can use a bit of that production magic).
Either ways, good luck!
(btw, love the production quality of your videos on youtube; and now, YC-- Dalton, Michael et al-- who do have fantastic content, can use a bit of that production magic).
Where better to change things than from the inside?
What's your take on YC batch sizes? YC has gotten criticism for making them too big, but it seems totally natural to me to scale them up. Do you think they are right-sized now?
I like how this is turning fast into sort of a press conference minus the audio or video signal.
Congrats! Who knew in ‘08 that you’d be running the joint one day?
Congrats Garry. As an S22 founder and long time follower of your content (and also HN lurker) I am excited that you are back in YC!
This is pretty fabulous news, Garry. You've been an inspiration, from meeting you back in the Posterous days during Summer '08 and seeing your contributions and achievements along the way since then. Bravo!
Congrats Garry! You're going to do a great job I am sure.
Congratulations! While I am going to greatly miss the videos you did on YouTube the truth is you are so right for the job. Two words of advice for you - be bold.
What advice can you give to solo founders trying to break into YC, outside of the normal platitudes? Seems like there is an almost impossible bar to meet.
I look forward to learning more about your journey. I've recently launched a company and I am finding the YC Startup School content fascinating.
Being from a non-coastal area, my HN engagement has for many years been a lurker and general technology trend interest. I'm pleasantly surprised how well developed YC content is.
Being from a non-coastal area, my HN engagement has for many years been a lurker and general technology trend interest. I'm pleasantly surprised how well developed YC content is.
Did you cash out of COINBASE yet?
300k to 2.4 billion WOW
300k to 2.4 billion WOW
Congratulations, Garry! YC couldn't have picked a better leader.
Congrats Garry! This is wonderful news. Garry was extremely generous and helpful to us during our YC days. Cannot thank him enough for all his help. This is awesome for YC!
Congrats, Garry! I'm honored to have met you in a YC interview and I'm a fan of what you've done in recent years in SF and on YT.
Congrats, Garry! Well-deserved. Excited for you and for YC.
Super impressed by this comment, really shows a lot of character and humility from GT. Will be following the next chapter with interest.
Huge news and big congrats! You've been an awesome inspiration. I'm really looking forward to where you take YC.
What are the biggest changes you want to do?
I'm very, very excited for this!
Good luck! May the force be with you
Crazy to see you end up at the top! Excited to have you run the programme for all the newcomers!
Congrats Garry, couldn't think of anyone better. Looking forward to where you take YC!
Hearty congratulations Garry, Start-up school was an awesome experience with you. Cheers!
I’ve been following your YT videos and glad you’re back at YC. You’re a total inspiration.
Congrats Garry! Going to apply for the winter batch, hope to meet you there ;)
congrats Garry!! you are a founder's founder and will do great things at YC.
That is awesome.
Hope you enjoy the ride!
Hope you enjoy the ride!
Congrats Garry! You're definitely an inspiration!
Congratulations! Quite the journey since we did YC S08! :D
Congrats Garry - pretty amazing story!
Congrats! YC is lucky to have you!
Thanks for sharing!
How was Palantir and Mr. Thiel's leadership?
congrats garry! huge news!
I guess everyone Garry has blocked on Twitter will not be applying to YC any time soon :)
Twitter has been a tough one - I got involved in local politics which has been a challenge. Large accounts typically do have to block a lot to make it usable, and in particular I've had problems with folks doxxing my former home address (I had to sell that house and move), and making threats of violence against me.
I'm sorry if I got it wrong, and I am happy to unblock if I did get it wrong.
I'm sorry if I got it wrong, and I am happy to unblock if I did get it wrong.
I'm seeing many people say you've blocked them without ever having interacted with you. Many have jumped to the conclusion that you simply block people who disagree with your politics. I don't tweet about SF politics, but after I tweeted this, you replied tell me it's funny but wrong, and then blocked me: https://twitter.com/sandofsky/status/1491167231467999236
Which is fine. I block plenty of people. I also mute people, because a block carries a message. And if I found myself in role that gets considerable scrutiny, I'd probably reevaluate my entire approach to social media.
Which is fine. I block plenty of people. I also mute people, because a block carries a message. And if I found myself in role that gets considerable scrutiny, I'd probably reevaluate my entire approach to social media.
I'm in the blocked club and have no idea why. Here's the one tweet I ever sent @garrytan, responding to his reply to me: https://twitter.com/nelson/status/1185919273065041925. (I'm happy to report that business reopened with new owners and the rumor was the old owners just went broke.)
I agree blocking people is fine and should be stigma free. But Mr. Tan's framing of his reasons for blocking seems at odds with the visible pattern. Fair enough; feel free to block me just because you're tired of my bullshit.
I agree blocking people is fine and should be stigma free. But Mr. Tan's framing of his reasons for blocking seems at odds with the visible pattern. Fair enough; feel free to block me just because you're tired of my bullshit.
I don't think I ever interacted with him on Twitter, but I do from time to time press the "like" button on tweets in favor of criminal justice reform, in favor of the tax measure that voters passed in San Francisco to support homeless services (and that Stripe and its investors, YC included, loathe), and some similarly "progressive" issues in the Bay Area. FWIW, I also press "like" on some number of tweets that are considered "moderate" (to use the wacko language of San Francisco politics) but that's neither here nor there.
I don't particularly care that I triggered his Twitter blocking scripts. But I do take it as a sign that he wants to send a signal to founders looking to raise from his firm that they'd do well to support his political views or stay quiet on social media.
I don't particularly care that I triggered his Twitter blocking scripts. But I do take it as a sign that he wants to send a signal to founders looking to raise from his firm that they'd do well to support his political views or stay quiet on social media.
> ... in favor of the tax measure that voters passed in San Francisco to support homeless services ...
Ok come on, a tax on gross receipts is asinine. Of course low margin businesses with high volumes left. Square left, Stripe left, PayPal left. That cuts into the tax base which in turn means less revenue to help the homeless.
Regardless of whether you think what they did with it was good, the actual calculus of who has to pay how much makes zero sense.
Then of course there's the fact that money went to putting the hobos under highway overpasses in tent cities instead of building more houses.
I'm with Garry on this one.
Ok come on, a tax on gross receipts is asinine. Of course low margin businesses with high volumes left. Square left, Stripe left, PayPal left. That cuts into the tax base which in turn means less revenue to help the homeless.
Regardless of whether you think what they did with it was good, the actual calculus of who has to pay how much makes zero sense.
Then of course there's the fact that money went to putting the hobos under highway overpasses in tent cities instead of building more houses.
I'm with Garry on this one.
I’m old enough to remember when the Square CEO campaigned for the gross receipts tax. It was the tech industry’s idea.[1]
Bonus points for saying “hobo”!
[1] https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SF-Citi-video-plugs-...
Bonus points for saying “hobo”!
[1] https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SF-Citi-video-plugs-...
God I was there at the time. I’m also old enough to remember when he looked like a normal human. Although with that in mind I was referring to Prop C in 11/18.
This was his reward for actively working to push out politicians the right wing VC set didn't like
I'm in the blocked club and have never interacted with him!
I am not blocked by him, which means I haven’t spent enough time making fun of him for putting “.eth” in his name then silently removing it.
Same. It's clear there is a connected graph of follow edges all of whom were blocked by this guy. Seems he can't live outside his filter bubble. Perfect for the leader of YC, honestly.
iratewizard(1)
There are a bunch of block-tools which are of the kind "block everyone that liked this tweet", "block everyone that follows this person" etc. Casting that wide of a net probably also carries some "false negatives" (which could explain the "I'm blocked but never interacted with the person).
Paul Graham does something similar. (He's blocked me and we've never interacted.) He said somewhere that he blocks people when he sees them behaving badly, or something like that, and that in the past when he has randomly stumbled across somebody he had previously blocked and taken a second look at their tweets he's felt only vindication.
Now, look, Graham blocked me on these grounds, so I'm not thrilled to say that I think he's completely right about this. I block people I haven't interacted with all the time. Not everybody on twitter is a good actor there, even if they're nice people in other contexts, and it makes life easier to kick some of those people to the curb before they're even aware you exist.
I probably said something tendentious or snarky or unfair or maybe even mean and I might have blocked somebody for the same thing, were the shoe on the other foot.
Now, look, Graham blocked me on these grounds, so I'm not thrilled to say that I think he's completely right about this. I block people I haven't interacted with all the time. Not everybody on twitter is a good actor there, even if they're nice people in other contexts, and it makes life easier to kick some of those people to the curb before they're even aware you exist.
I probably said something tendentious or snarky or unfair or maybe even mean and I might have blocked somebody for the same thing, were the shoe on the other foot.
to be fair i block people too when i don't like their memes
The thing is you’ve also been quite aggressive toward other people on twitter. Making yourself out to be a victim is definitely en vogue.
Twitter character limit makes tweets terse by default, which helps devolve any polarising topic into a frothy flailing ball of flamewar... it's one of the reasons people keep coming back for more IMHO, finding a tribe and an enemy tribe then the adrenaline rush of the tweet battles...
Hey garry it seems you blocked me on twitter today! I didn't say anything bad, I'm really confused. I guess it's a mistake - see https://twitter.com/sracka_omacka
I have been blocked in your Twitter. We just had differences of opinion on certain things. I guess you might have under lot of stress at that time so I understand.
I'm blocked by you and have no idea why! Same name on twitter.
The fact that you've got countless people who have never heard of you blocked, would seem to indicate that you have in fact got it wrong.
I don’t see what’s wrong about it. They are probably on some blocklist of low value reply guys.
No, I think he blocks anyone who likes a tweet that disagrees with him. Not necessarily people who are replying to him.
I really don't think he's that petty. Also, Twitter can be toxic as hell. He should block a lot of people if he wants to stay sane while using it.
He is 100% that petty. He literally mass blocks people who have simply liked or followed anyone he disagrees with, no interaction. Not an exaggeration at all.
If you read his post above, he stated that he was being threatened and doxxed. I'm sure he was dragged down by a lot of negativity on Twitter so mass blocking seemed like a decent strategy.
I don't have a problem with him blocking people on Twitter at all. I actually sympathize with him. Twitter is a troll fest and he exposed his real self by getting involved in local politics. You know how "passionate" people can get when it comes to politics.
My problem with Garry isn't with his "pettiness" or Twitter blocking. It's solely with his crypto shilling.
I don't have a problem with him blocking people on Twitter at all. I actually sympathize with him. Twitter is a troll fest and he exposed his real self by getting involved in local politics. You know how "passionate" people can get when it comes to politics.
My problem with Garry isn't with his "pettiness" or Twitter blocking. It's solely with his crypto shilling.
Like with the crypto shilling, he's full of shit.
so? it's just twitter
I was just correcting you're incorrect point...
I am blocked by Garry despite having zero interactions with him on Twitter (nor ever tweeting anything controversial). I see numerous reports of other people stating the same both in this thread and on twitter: https://imgur.com/a/MOPDVSl
Besides the "block anyone remotely progressive" approach to social media (including industry folks like Anil Dash [1]) - he seems extremely uncivil and rude [2]. And Sam Altman has explicitly referenced his politics as a reason for this decision [3].
This gives me the impression that there's a specific political agenda being advanced at YC ...
[1] https://twitter.com/anildash/status/1564285359755874304?s=20...
[2] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FH6Y9DCUYAEkV1p?format=png&name=...
[3] https://twitter.com/sama/status/1564256798323851265
edit: deleted a not very clear link about certain politically charged individuals.
This gives me the impression that there's a specific political agenda being advanced at YC ...
[1] https://twitter.com/anildash/status/1564285359755874304?s=20...
[2] https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FH6Y9DCUYAEkV1p?format=png&name=...
[3] https://twitter.com/sama/status/1564256798323851265
edit: deleted a not very clear link about certain politically charged individuals.
So, why the downvotes? We're not allowed to talk about this?
(Edit: the GP comment was edited after I wrote this - more about that below: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32642696.)
Hardened political rhetoric and seasoned talking points aren't on topic here (regardless of which way the political vector is pointing). If you check out the site guidelines, it should be clear why: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.
You don't have to agree with anyone's views but this style of argument is deathly to the curious conversation we want here. Curious conversation requires, among other things, respect across differences—wanting to learn more about how someone thinks, and why they think that way, and trusting that they have good reasons for all that even if, in the end, they're wrong. And, of course, you and your views deserve the same consideration.
If you want to argue against someone's views here (Garry's or anyone else's), you'll get much further by making your substantive points thoughtfully. We're trying to avoid the online callout/shaming culture here, at least to the extent possible on the open internet.
The culture of political attack goes very much the other way, of course—people save screenshots of the worst things they can find, bring them up at every opportunity, and so on. Guilt by association is another common tactic. None of this helps us really understand each other—anyone can be made to look bad that way, so it really doesn't have much persuasive power. It does get one's own side riled up (in a yay way) and the opposing side riled up (in a boo way), but riler-uppers are what we're trying to avoid on HN, because they destroy the curious conversation I was just talking about.
(I hope it's clear that all of the above should and does apply equally to opposing political sides.)
Hardened political rhetoric and seasoned talking points aren't on topic here (regardless of which way the political vector is pointing). If you check out the site guidelines, it should be clear why: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.
You don't have to agree with anyone's views but this style of argument is deathly to the curious conversation we want here. Curious conversation requires, among other things, respect across differences—wanting to learn more about how someone thinks, and why they think that way, and trusting that they have good reasons for all that even if, in the end, they're wrong. And, of course, you and your views deserve the same consideration.
If you want to argue against someone's views here (Garry's or anyone else's), you'll get much further by making your substantive points thoughtfully. We're trying to avoid the online callout/shaming culture here, at least to the extent possible on the open internet.
The culture of political attack goes very much the other way, of course—people save screenshots of the worst things they can find, bring them up at every opportunity, and so on. Guilt by association is another common tactic. None of this helps us really understand each other—anyone can be made to look bad that way, so it really doesn't have much persuasive power. It does get one's own side riled up (in a yay way) and the opposing side riled up (in a boo way), but riler-uppers are what we're trying to avoid on HN, because they destroy the curious conversation I was just talking about.
(I hope it's clear that all of the above should and does apply equally to opposing political sides.)
What is the difference between "shaming" and "referencing facts", exactly? I genuinely don't understand the distinction. Also, I'm commenting on YC's choice, not Garry's views. I understand if YC doesn't want to host criticism of its decisions, but you should be upfront about it.
I explicit reject this idea that it's unfair to point to things people have said, even if they're screenshots. Sorry, that's just deciding that you can pick and choose data to ignore.
I explicit reject this idea that it's unfair to point to things people have said, even if they're screenshots. Sorry, that's just deciding that you can pick and choose data to ignore.
Callout/shaming culture is a stock phrase I use to describe the sort of internet culture we don't want here [1]. Maybe the word 'shaming' isn't so applicable in this case, though I do think shaming is part of why online warriors like to preserve the worst internet traces left by those they dislike, and copy them into each fresh discussion.
Re 'facts': this is a red herring. There are infinitely many facts. They don't select themselves; humans do that, and they do so for non-factual reasons [2]. As a matter of fact, "but it's a fact" is the most beloved defense of trolls—not that you mean it that way. (Edit: incidentally, I have no idea whether your claims about Garry, including the ones you deleted, were facts or not - but I'm assuming they are for present purposes because it makes the moderation point stronger.)
The problem with your post is that it was obvious online agitprop—in fact one couldn't find a more classic case (edit: before you edited it—it's less that way now). That's off topic on HN, but not because of trying to protect YC from criticism (we don't moderate HN that way [3] – plenty of people criticize YC here), nor because of political disagreement (there's room for a wide range of views, as long as people are using the site as intended)—but rather because it makes threads more predictable and nastier, and therefore more boring. We're trying to optimize for something else on HN [4].
Edit: I just noticed that you edited your GP comment to take out a couple of extreme guilt-by-association references and to add a relevant tweet by sama. Those are two steps towards an on-topic sort of political argument (good), but if you're going to edit comments after they've gotten replies, it's only fair to do so in a way that doesn't deprive other posts of their original meaning. My description ("hardened political rhetoric and seasoned talking points") was accurate about your original post and is less so now. In other words, you subtly changed the thread to make the moderation look less neutral and fair than it originally was. I hope that was just an accidental side effect, and that your motive for making those edits was a sincere desire to use HN as intended.
[1] https://hn.algolia.com/?sort=byDate&type=comment&dateRange=a...
[2] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&qu...
[3] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&qu...
[4] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...
Re 'facts': this is a red herring. There are infinitely many facts. They don't select themselves; humans do that, and they do so for non-factual reasons [2]. As a matter of fact, "but it's a fact" is the most beloved defense of trolls—not that you mean it that way. (Edit: incidentally, I have no idea whether your claims about Garry, including the ones you deleted, were facts or not - but I'm assuming they are for present purposes because it makes the moderation point stronger.)
The problem with your post is that it was obvious online agitprop—in fact one couldn't find a more classic case (edit: before you edited it—it's less that way now). That's off topic on HN, but not because of trying to protect YC from criticism (we don't moderate HN that way [3] – plenty of people criticize YC here), nor because of political disagreement (there's room for a wide range of views, as long as people are using the site as intended)—but rather because it makes threads more predictable and nastier, and therefore more boring. We're trying to optimize for something else on HN [4].
Edit: I just noticed that you edited your GP comment to take out a couple of extreme guilt-by-association references and to add a relevant tweet by sama. Those are two steps towards an on-topic sort of political argument (good), but if you're going to edit comments after they've gotten replies, it's only fair to do so in a way that doesn't deprive other posts of their original meaning. My description ("hardened political rhetoric and seasoned talking points") was accurate about your original post and is less so now. In other words, you subtly changed the thread to make the moderation look less neutral and fair than it originally was. I hope that was just an accidental side effect, and that your motive for making those edits was a sincere desire to use HN as intended.
[1] https://hn.algolia.com/?sort=byDate&type=comment&dateRange=a...
[2] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&qu...
[3] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&qu...
[4] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...
I always learn from your posts dang - really appreciate this substantive explanation, informs my own thinking as we seek to build our own communities for curiosity.
[deleted]
Out of curiosity, why don't you make "YC churn" announcements read-only, like job ads are?
There's not really much curious conversation when they happen, and not really a huge chance of it, either. As an example, the announcement of sama taking over was a hundred and fifty comments of almost exclusively "Congratulations!"
They're posts that are almost exclusively doomed, either to incurious compliments, insults, or needless pessimism; what questions that are asked usually don't get answered, so there wouldn't really be a loss in it anyway.
There's not really much curious conversation when they happen, and not really a huge chance of it, either. As an example, the announcement of sama taking over was a hundred and fifty comments of almost exclusively "Congratulations!"
They're posts that are almost exclusively doomed, either to incurious compliments, insults, or needless pessimism; what questions that are asked usually don't get answered, so there wouldn't really be a loss in it anyway.
I wouldn't call this a "churn announcement" - it's the biggest YC news in years. I guess I can think of a few different answers to your question. One is that since it's significant new information, it's on topic (job ads are the opposite of that). Another is that there's a special relationship between YC and the HN community, and it's good for the community to have space to discuss that. A third is that there is definitely no way that the community would support us trying to close such a topic to comments.
Also, job ads get placed on the front page by software. This submission got on the front page by upvotes like any other.
Also, job ads get placed on the front page by software. This submission got on the front page by upvotes like any other.
It's definitely newsworthy and relevant to the community. I support the status quo of non interference (laissez-faire) by the mods into publishing status of this news story and your reasoning stated in this comment.
You can talk about it but when most folks in tech are fairly to extremely liberal, why is it bad to have representation from all sides? The left (which I’m guessing you are a part of) preaches diversity. Shouldn’t diversity also include political views as well as race, class, and gender affiliation?
this is their first and only openly politically-active hire at this level, with the politics explicitly relevant to their hiring, I don't know why you're calling that balanced representation unless you mean that it's balanced to have right wing leader-owners dominate liberals and leftist workers (lol)
For one, it would mean leadership that recognizes that Asians have been unfairly represented.
When we’re talking about left-winged workers, we’re talking about a bunch of ivory tower armchair leftists who get free lunch ( no irony intended ) and artisanal coffee, and have been the privileged class most of their lives.
If we’re talking about actual laborers, the democrats has abandoned that platform and serves the political gap that Donald Trump capitalized on.
When we’re talking about left-winged workers, we’re talking about a bunch of ivory tower armchair leftists who get free lunch ( no irony intended ) and artisanal coffee, and have been the privileged class most of their lives.
If we’re talking about actual laborers, the democrats has abandoned that platform and serves the political gap that Donald Trump capitalized on.
Nope. Look up paradox of tolerance
That only applies to fringe extremes in politics. Not to conservatism in general. That is an insane assumption to make.
Kinda wondering what his beef with Hamasaki was that prompted "Resign you piece of shit". Seems like this was a Board of Education person, was he that bad, like poisoning the kids school lunches?
edit: sorry I realise that I may asking some stupid questions that everyone knows already. But to me Garry Tan was just the Posterous guy. I'm just a bit floored to hear that there's more to this and I'm trying to find my bearings. Seeing the name Andy Ngo is a massive red flag to me, but I can't really parse what was being said in the tweet.
edit: sorry I realise that I may asking some stupid questions that everyone knows already. But to me Garry Tan was just the Posterous guy. I'm just a bit floored to hear that there's more to this and I'm trying to find my bearings. Seeing the name Andy Ngo is a massive red flag to me, but I can't really parse what was being said in the tweet.
John Hamasaki is a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco who was a former member of the police commission. He seems to advertise himself by being intentionally incendiary, making up lies like the police get paid overtime to participate (i.e. walk) in the pride parade. There is also a group of people around him who amplify his lies. I can imagine people being fed up with being the target of his harassment, which I believe Gary was.
This seemed to be about some board of education thing though - Garry's tweet features a screenshot saying "THANK YOU for donating to our campaign to recall the school board..." but it's aimed at the Hamasaki guy.
Hamasaki takes sides and works with prolific accounts over any salient prog vs. mod local political issue. The fact that the topic in the screenshot had to do with the BOE recall specifically is pretty irrelevant. He had probably been harassing Garry for any local political position for months. Unfortunately, Hamasaki also recently deleted months of tweets to clean up his image for a local election run, so it’s hard to find citations.
Garry pushed a political agenda specifically for a tough on crime via punishment approach (in terms of policing streets, not so much tough on wage theft or other more leading crimes). You make it sound like it was some specific tactics that were the issue, rather than that the issue he's taking is with an ideologically diametrically opposed approach to addressing crime
My comment was about Hamasaki being a liar and online harasser and doesn’t have anything to do with policy positions.
Is there a possibility that pragmatism may have played a bigger role than deeply ingrained philosophical and political ideologies? We are talking about a self described highly controversial and extreme political/social experiment in a local political setting that has global impacts for a variety of unrelated issues.
If you had an indefensible objective argument to make, you wouldn't have used a throwaway
[flagged]
So as an outsider who is literally just trying to piece this together, it doesn't seem extreme or left-wing at all. Can you explain why this is an extreme left wing talking point?
HOLY SHIT no way this is ridiculous, I just wanted to check something that sounded "crazy" and it's true. I liked about 5 anti @garrytan replies as a test and I am unable to tweet or retweet! What the fuck!!!
Are you serious! Garry I pay for one of your fucking services I just wanted to check that these people were WRONG not that they were correct. What the hell.
Are you serious! Garry I pay for one of your fucking services I just wanted to check that these people were WRONG not that they were correct. What the hell.
I can't do shit on Twitter:
https://imgur.com/a/OBnVpUI
Cool! Ok so, confirmed. Garry Tan is a sinister guy. Glad I asked here!
Edit: Sorry but how is this downvoted to zero? I have done nothing except add five "likes" to Twitter and my account is now banned there. This is insane. I was pro-or-neutral-Garry at the start of this convo, he was just the Posterous guy. Now my Twitter is gone. What the hell?
Edit 2: uhh so how do you get an account back?
https://imgur.com/a/OBnVpUI
Cool! Ok so, confirmed. Garry Tan is a sinister guy. Glad I asked here!
Edit: Sorry but how is this downvoted to zero? I have done nothing except add five "likes" to Twitter and my account is now banned there. This is insane. I was pro-or-neutral-Garry at the start of this convo, he was just the Posterous guy. Now my Twitter is gone. What the hell?
Edit 2: uhh so how do you get an account back?
It could simply be that twitter is having issues. I see weird stuff as well. ("something went wrong" messages all over the place).
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32644427
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32644427
Yeah it seems to be just a glitch. Kinda wild to see "just like some tweets, see what happens..." and then have Twitter completely crap out.
Twitter automatically bans new accounts all the time. (I’ve heard from others that contacting support helps, but I personally just gave up on getting an account.) If you want to test getting blocked, you need to do it with an established account.
Whether it's a ban or a glitch, why would you blame Garry for it? He doesn't control Twitter.
Anil can be combative on Twitter. I have respect for him and positive interactions under my real name, but I’m not surprised he would have gotten into a heated discussion at some point with Garry.
so YC is celebrating having political influence that is explicitly pro-cop, hard on crime via punishment, etc., that's lovely
What's the story here, did this happen a lot or something?
From my understanding he autoblocks anyone who likes a tweet that pushes back on his political takes.
OK so I was waiting for a reply like this that explained the accusation. I read this, liked a few @garrytan replies that weren't positive and ... it appears I'm now blocked!? What the hell!!??
edit: so apparently I conducted my test at a really unfortunate time when Twitter was having some global problems. It has recovered and I am not blocked at all.
Messages just like it are evenly diffused with death threats. That's why.
I've gotten death threats, no joke. Hitman showed up at my house one time. No joke.
No joke.
I've gotten death threats, no joke. Hitman showed up at my house one time. No joke.
No joke.
Many who get into it start blocking lists they get from their bubble.
Didn't expect most of this thread to be people whining about being blocked on twitter. What the hell has happened to hacker news?
lol
Now that there's been some regime change, and now that it's been a while, can we finally get a report on why YC killed YCR, or at least (and most importantly) HARC & VPRI (which had become dependent on YCR funding)? And, in these times of VC prosperity, could there be another attempt at it, this time with longer-term dedications than "Whenever we get bored of the PR from funding computational research or there's a momentary lapse in market conditions?"
Long-term computing research is one of the best ways to ensure YCombinator's continued growth and avoid dominance from companies that are increasingly avoiding the publication of their own research (and, divorced from either of those two things, it would do a substantial amount of good, which is more important to some people but less an immediately-swaying argument to capital); it seems absurd how it was sort of thrown to the wayside on what seemed to be a whim (judging by when VPRI shuttered and the other two stopped seeing activity, possibly by the 2017 crypto crash causing YC to momentarily get more conservative in its funding).
Long-term computing research is one of the best ways to ensure YCombinator's continued growth and avoid dominance from companies that are increasingly avoiding the publication of their own research (and, divorced from either of those two things, it would do a substantial amount of good, which is more important to some people but less an immediately-swaying argument to capital); it seems absurd how it was sort of thrown to the wayside on what seemed to be a whim (judging by when VPRI shuttered and the other two stopped seeing activity, possibly by the 2017 crypto crash causing YC to momentarily get more conservative in its funding).
(Throwaway because it’s a small world)
This is disappointing.
YC needs a fresh perspective. Recycling older members is not a positive sign for continued innovation. I wouldn’t point to “HODL diamond hands” crypto hype (suddenly disappeared..) and personal brand-building content creation as the type of leadership YC needs at this stage.
Specifically in this, someone who has been running a large VC fund for the past half-decade with considerable inside deal access through YC. The conflicts of interest are sizable, and we can’t really pretend that they won’t compound now that Garry’s at the head of YC.
Lastly, to balance flood of positive reviews, there have been consistent (if quiet, again, small world) reports of pettiness and using power/influence against personal grudges. I have not worked with Garry directly, founder friends have and back channels are..not same as the public comments here. Everyone has weaknesses. This isn’t a good one for the position.
This is disappointing.
YC needs a fresh perspective. Recycling older members is not a positive sign for continued innovation. I wouldn’t point to “HODL diamond hands” crypto hype (suddenly disappeared..) and personal brand-building content creation as the type of leadership YC needs at this stage.
Specifically in this, someone who has been running a large VC fund for the past half-decade with considerable inside deal access through YC. The conflicts of interest are sizable, and we can’t really pretend that they won’t compound now that Garry’s at the head of YC.
Lastly, to balance flood of positive reviews, there have been consistent (if quiet, again, small world) reports of pettiness and using power/influence against personal grudges. I have not worked with Garry directly, founder friends have and back channels are..not same as the public comments here. Everyone has weaknesses. This isn’t a good one for the position.
>I wouldn’t point to “HODL diamond hands” crypto hype (suddenly disappeared..)
This is my biggest worry. I'd have preferred a non-crypto-junkie.
This is Gary saying that ETH will go up to $10k soon: https://twitter.com/garrytan/status/1402648829732614146
It went to $1k instead.
At times, following Gary on Twitter felt like following a dumb crypto bro.
Everyone looks like a genius during a bull market and 0% interest rate environment.
This is my biggest worry. I'd have preferred a non-crypto-junkie.
This is Gary saying that ETH will go up to $10k soon: https://twitter.com/garrytan/status/1402648829732614146
It went to $1k instead.
At times, following Gary on Twitter felt like following a dumb crypto bro.
Everyone looks like a genius during a bull market and 0% interest rate environment.
Also, if you're reading this Gary, just know that it's ok to say you won by investing in Coinbase early but let's not act like Coinbase isn't powered by scams.
You don't have to keep shilling crypto just because you invested in Coinbase early. You can take the win and not be a crypto bro.
You can shill crypto if our lives are improved by it and that if crypto disappeared one day, our lives would be worse. But not now. It kills your reputation hurts people. Right now, I see you as a Matt Damon who knows how to code.
PS. I'm forever grateful for you pushing Boudin out in SF.
You don't have to keep shilling crypto just because you invested in Coinbase early. You can take the win and not be a crypto bro.
You can shill crypto if our lives are improved by it and that if crypto disappeared one day, our lives would be worse. But not now. It kills your reputation hurts people. Right now, I see you as a Matt Damon who knows how to code.
PS. I'm forever grateful for you pushing Boudin out in SF.
> This is Gary saying that ETH will go up to $10k soon:
Well actually,
1. He didn't say it will go up to $10k "soon." That video is talking about long-term performance.
2. ETH is down just ~~27%~~ 41% since that video, and has moved farther up than down.
3. It's only been a year since the video, which is talking about The Merge as one of the factors behind this belief, and The Merge hasn't happened yet.
4. Quote from the video: "It's not really gonna be that smooth a ride to $10000."
Well actually,
1. He didn't say it will go up to $10k "soon." That video is talking about long-term performance.
2. ETH is down just ~~27%~~ 41% since that video, and has moved farther up than down.
3. It's only been a year since the video, which is talking about The Merge as one of the factors behind this belief, and The Merge hasn't happened yet.
4. Quote from the video: "It's not really gonna be that smooth a ride to $10000."
>1. He didn't say it will go up to $10k "soon." That video is talking about long-term performance.
I remember reading his LinkedIn post on this $10k topic. In it, I think he said something along the lines of "soon".
But it really doesn't matter. Saying $10k ETH is the same as a random crypto bro saying $100k BTC soon. There are no fundamentals. Just shilling. Marketing. Ponzi-like behavior.
I don't doubt that ETH might go up to $10k eventually, given enough time. After all, crypto is basically trading with Nasdaq nowadays.
>2. ETH is down just 27% since that video, and has moved farther up than down.
Down 40.97%
>3. It's only been a year since the video, which is talking about The Merge as one of the factors behind this belief, and The Merge hasn't happened yet.
He said the biggest factor is that ETH is deflationary: https://youtu.be/jo58qEoThSs?t=381
He suggests that this makes ETH "ultra sound money".
I'm not going to argue for or against this idea.
>4. Quote from the video: "It's not really gonna be that smooth a ride to $10000."
Sure. Anyone who's been in crypto long enough knows crypto isn't a smooth ride. It doesn't say anything.
I remember reading his LinkedIn post on this $10k topic. In it, I think he said something along the lines of "soon".
But it really doesn't matter. Saying $10k ETH is the same as a random crypto bro saying $100k BTC soon. There are no fundamentals. Just shilling. Marketing. Ponzi-like behavior.
I don't doubt that ETH might go up to $10k eventually, given enough time. After all, crypto is basically trading with Nasdaq nowadays.
>2. ETH is down just 27% since that video, and has moved farther up than down.
Down 40.97%
>3. It's only been a year since the video, which is talking about The Merge as one of the factors behind this belief, and The Merge hasn't happened yet.
He said the biggest factor is that ETH is deflationary: https://youtu.be/jo58qEoThSs?t=381
He suggests that this makes ETH "ultra sound money".
I'm not going to argue for or against this idea.
>4. Quote from the video: "It's not really gonna be that smooth a ride to $10000."
Sure. Anyone who's been in crypto long enough knows crypto isn't a smooth ride. It doesn't say anything.
>I remember reading his LinkedIn post on this $10k topic. In it, I think he said something along the lines of "soon".
Ok, I can't find his LinkedIn post on $10k ETH anymore. Maybe he deleted.
But I distinctly remember wording around "soon".
Ok, I can't find his LinkedIn post on $10k ETH anymore. Maybe he deleted.
But I distinctly remember wording around "soon".
I didn't realize Garry was so crypto-y. Now as the President and CEO of YC where everyone constantly says "Make something people want", "Solve a real problem", I'm curious for him to chime in to the 'What's a real use-case for crypto?' debate.
>I didn't realize Garry was so crypto-y. Now as the President and CEO of YC where everyone constantly says "Make something people want", "Solve a real problem", I'm curious for him to chime in to the 'What's a real use-case for crypto?' debate.
That's why I think YC under Garry will pivot to something like: "Catch the next big thing" even if the next big thing is a scam and an environmental disaster.
I look forward to YC becoming full-time crypto shills and pump and dump scams.
That's why I think YC under Garry will pivot to something like: "Catch the next big thing" even if the next big thing is a scam and an environmental disaster.
I look forward to YC becoming full-time crypto shills and pump and dump scams.
Gotta challenge a16z muscling into that space.
That’s pretty funny. A sizable chunk of leaders I’ve encountered left a wake of discontent behind them. And it’s always in the form of pettiness and grudges. Some people just have weak morals. I imagine that’s why they chase power for so long—to prove that they don’t.
[deleted]
> YC needs a fresh perspective. Recycling older members is not a positive sign for continued innovation.
That they may need [0], but I wouldn't be as dismissive about their current crop of partners either, given their ridiculous and sustained success.
> Lastly, to balance flood of positive reviews, there have been consistent (if quiet, again, small world) reports of pettiness and using power/influence against personal grudges.
I wouldn't know for sure, but there's two sides to every coin: With great power comes great responsibility" / "With great power comes the absolute certainity that you will turn into a right c*"
[0] In the lieu of other firms doing things differently, including ex-YC Daniel Gross' Pioneer.App, BeOnDeck, Enterpreneur First, Sequoia Arc, a16z Start, and others.
That they may need [0], but I wouldn't be as dismissive about their current crop of partners either, given their ridiculous and sustained success.
> Lastly, to balance flood of positive reviews, there have been consistent (if quiet, again, small world) reports of pettiness and using power/influence against personal grudges.
I wouldn't know for sure, but there's two sides to every coin: With great power comes great responsibility" / "With great power comes the absolute certainity that you will turn into a right c*"
[0] In the lieu of other firms doing things differently, including ex-YC Daniel Gross' Pioneer.App, BeOnDeck, Enterpreneur First, Sequoia Arc, a16z Start, and others.
I've used a lot of great products from Garry over the years.
My favorite is the software he built that YC alums get to use.
From 2008-2012 we had an email list.
Garry wrote a Rails site (IIRC) in 2012 and that was a clear inflection point for YC alums. Total game changer for many of us and has provided lots of value over the years. I think it was also the starting point for online SUS.
Congrats Garry/YC!
My favorite is the software he built that YC alums get to use.
From 2008-2012 we had an email list.
Garry wrote a Rails site (IIRC) in 2012 and that was a clear inflection point for YC alums. Total game changer for many of us and has provided lots of value over the years. I think it was also the starting point for online SUS.
Congrats Garry/YC!
Small thing, but I asked Garry in the comments of his YC videos what his production setup was. He took the time to answer and I remember & appreciate that.
Garry, I only have one ask (maybe two)!... Force them all to keep making those YC Office Hour videos lol! Even better, whoever your editing team is for your channel... add them to the team as well.
All the best!
All the best!
Congrats, Garry! Seems appropriate to start to unblock founders on Twitter?
What a great appointment!
I've had one brief interaction with Gary a long time ago, and he's been a role model ever since
I had a difference in opinion with my cofounder and wanted to leave the startup we'd founded, even if it meant leaving the YC program (which I adored), and would likely lose my visa to stay in the US. Seeing how distressed I was, Gary took me aside somehow simultaneously made me feel heard, but also told me that it's up to me to come back stronger from this moment.
It made all the difference to me, and I've thought back to that moment many times in the years to come.
I've had one brief interaction with Gary a long time ago, and he's been a role model ever since
I had a difference in opinion with my cofounder and wanted to leave the startup we'd founded, even if it meant leaving the YC program (which I adored), and would likely lose my visa to stay in the US. Seeing how distressed I was, Gary took me aside somehow simultaneously made me feel heard, but also told me that it's up to me to come back stronger from this moment.
It made all the difference to me, and I've thought back to that moment many times in the years to come.
I think Garry changed my life in 2013 and might be reason why an awkward inarticulate engineer got into YC. He believed in my me and my cofounder.
To me, Garry is one of the people that embodies the spirit of YC. See some kind of potential in early founders (my cofounder called this "a twinkle in his eye"). Believe in them. Give them a shot.
Being a founder is SO lonely. Especially when few believe in what you're doing.
So happy that Garry's back.
To me, Garry is one of the people that embodies the spirit of YC. See some kind of potential in early founders (my cofounder called this "a twinkle in his eye"). Believe in them. Give them a shot.
Being a founder is SO lonely. Especially when few believe in what you're doing.
So happy that Garry's back.
Garry is incredible. I've met him 10 years ago during YC. He helped company I worked for a lot. Probably one of the most available people from the whole YC - at least it seemed that way to me.
Also, I did attend Garry's 30th birthday party. Great memory how casual and down to Earth everything was.
Good luck with new/old adventure.
Also, I did attend Garry's 30th birthday party. Great memory how casual and down to Earth everything was.
Good luck with new/old adventure.
I'm incredibly happy with this move.
I got to chat with Initialized (Garry was one of the co-founders) a while ago and I must mention that I was greatly impressed by Garry down-to-earth questions, knowledge, kindness and humility. I've been following him since on his Youtube channel... it's a gold mine for any entrepreneur out there.
Excited for what lies ahead for YC.
[1]: https://youtube.com/garrytan
I got to chat with Initialized (Garry was one of the co-founders) a while ago and I must mention that I was greatly impressed by Garry down-to-earth questions, knowledge, kindness and humility. I've been following him since on his Youtube channel... it's a gold mine for any entrepreneur out there.
Excited for what lies ahead for YC.
[1]: https://youtube.com/garrytan
I actually found his channel with the alternative YouTube recommendations database I'm working on. He was one of the top links off the list for Y Combinator's channel.
The list for his channel includes some likely suspects like TechCrunch, Y Combinator, and a16z but also some smaller names doing business advice like Section4 and David Perell:
https://channelgalaxy.com/id%3DUCIBgYfDjtWlbJhg--Z4sOgQ/
The list for his channel includes some likely suspects like TechCrunch, Y Combinator, and a16z but also some smaller names doing business advice like Section4 and David Perell:
https://channelgalaxy.com/id%3DUCIBgYfDjtWlbJhg--Z4sOgQ/
When I was in YC Garry showed me how to be a founder. After YC Garry showed me how to be a more compassionate human to myself and others. I'd recommend everyone check out the inner work Garry has also achieved beyond his external achievements.
Congrats Garry!
Congrats Garry!
Garry Tan has been the most influential figure that I have ever had a chance to come across. He appeared right at my critical moments of life and death, at the turning points of the tide. I am certain to say that without Garry and his helping hand, my life would not be what it is today. I consider myself very lucky to have met him.
Congratulations, Garry!
Congratulations, Garry!
Congratulations, Garry! Huge fan of your work, especially the high-value YouTube material.
One question: what does this mean for Initialized Capital?
One question: what does this mean for Initialized Capital?
Jason Calcanis commented about this on his recent Youtube video which was strangely enough deleted.
That it could be a massive conflict of interest situation where Garry could funnel the best YC startups into Initialized before demo-day.
That it could be a massive conflict of interest situation where Garry could funnel the best YC startups into Initialized before demo-day.
I know Garry as “the fellow who I’ve never interacted with who has me blocked on Twitter”. Seems I’m not alone!
I almost feel bad he hasn't blocked me on Twitter
Are you going to continue with your youtube channel? I hope you do, learned so many things from that channel
This is an impressively casual press release!
Wow, exciting news!
Congrats Garry. Feels like a John Frusciante comeback.
Really hoping to be part of the W23 batch.
Congrats Garry. Feels like a John Frusciante comeback.
Really hoping to be part of the W23 batch.
This makes me so optimistic for the future of YC. Congrats Garry!
Congrats, Garry. You told me when I interviewed to have a co-founder. I'm happy to report I still can't find a co-founder but you were right.
Garry is an awesome individual. Not only a mentor in tech, but a community advocate in San Francisco! I'm so happy about this news!
On the light end here, Aproova Mehta once said; "I learn't two important lessons, First and foremost, Gary Tan loves his beers..haha"
We probably wouldn't have instacart where it is if it weren't for Gary. Thanks Gary.
https://youtu.be/wkmR7TYUt_c?t=653
We probably wouldn't have instacart where it is if it weren't for Gary. Thanks Gary.
https://youtu.be/wkmR7TYUt_c?t=653
I could be wrong but I think he spells his name Garry, not Gary.
Thank you. Had missed that
Garry took the time to meet with me almost a decade ago, when my startup was just a side project and I was still a full-time corporate lawyer. I wish I'd been more ready to take his excellent advice, which I still remember!
I also remember being surprised that he drove a humble old car, perhaps a late-90s Camry? Respect.
I also remember being surprised that he drove a humble old car, perhaps a late-90s Camry? Respect.
Any thoughts on a program for open source startups like there are for nonprofits and hardware?
Congrats Garry! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and views through content you put out. Thank you for also standing up for what you believe in and I share strongly in that sentiment.
As a HN lurker and YC fan, it's very exciting to see this. Bless up!
As a HN lurker and YC fan, it's very exciting to see this. Bless up!
[deleted]
I've always liked Garry.
Congrats! What is going to happen of the next few years with AI is going to be mind blowing. The more people you can stear away from crypto and towards democratizing AI, the better, IMO.
You say to the guy who wrote the first seed check of Coinbase
Crypto has run it's course, I don't think Gary did anything wrong by helping the crypto experiment happen. But YC is about the future, not the past.
Realistically YC is about maximizing ROI and I would happily bet a crypto-related startup will be in Summer '23s cohort - they have crazy valuations and liquidity out of the gates. Personally I want those startups to showcase problems crypto is useful at solving rather than selling pickaxes to the gold rush but I'm less sure that that'll happen. Certainly the idea that Crypto has ran its course is, IMO, premature - people have said that during every bear market since the beginning yet overall usage appears to be increasing and institutional buy-in again appears to be increasing.
Is it premature to say beanie babies or tulips have run their course?
There will continue to be many hardcore fans of tulips and crypto regardless of the price, but marketcap adjusted for inflation has passed the max
There will continue to be many hardcore fans of tulips and crypto regardless of the price, but marketcap adjusted for inflation has passed the max
As a crypto sceptic I'd still love to have been the person who wrote that check
Or worse, Web3 ends up intertwining AI/AGI with it.
[deleted]
> What is going to happen of the next few years with AI is going to be mind blowing.
Or where it is headed it more dystopia.
AI has already been democratized to death by the same gate keepers creating dystopian deep fakes and training on tons of your data on lots of data centers to incinerate and burn up the planet with zero efficient alternatives.
The AI game has run its course, with nothing left other than the same Tech giants and one hypocritical Open 'faux' AI company.
Or where it is headed it more dystopia.
AI has already been democratized to death by the same gate keepers creating dystopian deep fakes and training on tons of your data on lots of data centers to incinerate and burn up the planet with zero efficient alternatives.
The AI game has run its course, with nothing left other than the same Tech giants and one hypocritical Open 'faux' AI company.
Crypto bag holder I presume?
Please don't cross into personal attack. You can make your substantive points without that.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
Not quite. But the direct opposite after playing the market for fun, but that is totally irrelevant here and for another time. Let's not deflect and make this about me.
We need to concern ourselves with AI running its course and with wasteful deep learning models constantly training, retraining with that burning up the planet via the data centers especially with zero efficient alternatives, which that is the main concern here and using our data to fuel this dystopia.
We need to concern ourselves with AI running its course and with wasteful deep learning models constantly training, retraining with that burning up the planet via the data centers especially with zero efficient alternatives, which that is the main concern here and using our data to fuel this dystopia.
Congrats Garry! Huge fan of your work and demeanor.
Congrats Garry, I am happy to see you with that title and I am very curious about what is ahead of the YC following your lead. Best wishes!
Congrats! Tons of respect.
What is happening to your current VC fund? I may have missed it, but who do you hand the reins to?
What is happening to your current VC fund? I may have missed it, but who do you hand the reins to?
Jen Wolf and Brett Gibson
https://blog.initialized.com/2022/08/jen-wolf-and-brett-gibs...
https://blog.initialized.com/2022/08/jen-wolf-and-brett-gibs...
[deleted]
Great person/institution-fit!
Congratulations Garry and thank you Geoff!
Very excited to see the next chapter of growth at YC!
Very excited to see the next chapter of growth at YC!
This is good news. Congrats!
Welcome back, Garry!
Exciting news and big congrats to you Garry!
“Garry Tan is a moral canary in a coal mine. When people hate on Garry Tan, they out themselves as either evil or stupid, because in fact Garry is as close to a 100% good guy as you get”.
—Paul Graham
https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1460931338131890180
————
Congratulations Garry! Your blogs were my inspirations when I was running my startup. I always remember this line:
“The ideal startup team involves really two major roles — builder, and hustler. I used to say it took three roles (designer, engineer, hustler).....In reality, I think designer / engineer can be abstracted to builder”.
Congratulations Garry! Your blogs were my inspirations when I was running my startup. I always remember this line:
“The ideal startup team involves really two major roles — builder, and hustler. I used to say it took three roles (designer, engineer, hustler).....In reality, I think designer / engineer can be abstracted to builder”.
Being a good guy probably ranks the least IMO for leading VC. You need to be extremely shrewd and calculative, have a great bullshit detector, need to have solid intuition based on scant data, good general knowledge, well versed in various industries and areas of study, pragmatic and brutally honest. I am probably missing a few more. Speaking generally, nothing against Garry.
Do both. There's nothing preventing you from looking at the numbers, the pitch, and saying "no." In terms of being "good". You can be honest and kind the same as how one can be honest and mean.
I have no strong opinion of Tan, but calling a person who happily worked for (and profited from) Palantir a 'moral canary in a coal mine' seems a bit of a stretch.
Tan worked at Palantir prior to 2007, so if you’re blaming him for Palantir’s work with ICE then…
> they out themselves as either evil or stupid
> they out themselves as either evil or stupid
I dunno, but Palantir has always been a little bit…
I mean, it’s kinda in the name.
I mean, it’s kinda in the name.
Not really
By the time of the LoTR timeframe, when have the palantiri ever been used for good? Seems like malevolently misleading things happen even to the evil characters after they use it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palant%C3%ADr#Characteristics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palant%C3%ADr#Characteristics
Based only on your comment, I'm guessing you're unaware of Palantir's work with intelligence agencies even when Tan was there. Also, Thiel's mission from the start was this kind of work.
I served in the Marine Corps. I've had some exposure to Palantir's 'offerings'. It's a fucking nightmare of a company, morally and ethically, and it always has been.
I served in the Marine Corps. I've had some exposure to Palantir's 'offerings'. It's a fucking nightmare of a company, morally and ethically, and it always has been.
Not to defend Thiel, but don’t you think that his exist from Facebook (after 17 years) because of the stance they took at the beginning of the pandemic is worthy of some attention?
Specially, that Facebook suffocated voices of Trump’s advisors who opposed the lockdown.
“Social media, particularly Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, was actively suffocating voices, including mine, that dissented from the accepted COVID narrative. By August, Facebook told the Washington Post they had taken down seven million posts “for spreading coronavirus misinformation.” Meanwhile, Wikipedia crafted smears and distortions of my background and then locked it to edits”. —Dr. Scott Atlas, A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America
Specially, that Facebook suffocated voices of Trump’s advisors who opposed the lockdown.
“Social media, particularly Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, was actively suffocating voices, including mine, that dissented from the accepted COVID narrative. By August, Facebook told the Washington Post they had taken down seven million posts “for spreading coronavirus misinformation.” Meanwhile, Wikipedia crafted smears and distortions of my background and then locked it to edits”. —Dr. Scott Atlas, A Plague Upon Our House: My Fight at the Trump White House to Stop COVID from Destroying America
I've studied Thiel, he's just not mainstream left. If you want to listen to him with good faith, I enjoyed this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM9f0W2KD5s
Doesn't come across evil to me unless by evil you mean just not mainstream left, which might be the correct in the valley.
Doesn't come across evil to me unless by evil you mean just not mainstream left, which might be the correct in the valley.
I tried to watch that interview. It's just dry, boring, slow and abstract (to me) but I'll grant you it wasn't what I was expecting.
My issue with Thiel is his hypocrisy: he warns about surveillance AI and how it's evil, which is just rich, since he founded Palantir and holds shares of Clearview.
My issue with Thiel is his hypocrisy: he warns about surveillance AI and how it's evil, which is just rich, since he founded Palantir and holds shares of Clearview.
Someone asked him directly this question and he addressed it in quite a lot of detail, something along the lines of two morally good ideas of extreme transparency and extreme privacy. I don't agree with him though, I personally stand strictly on the conservative/classical-liberal side that there is no compromise that's acceptable with regards to 4th amendment.
Not "mainstream left"? I guess the right, what was once the far right but today is just the right is indeed not "mainstream left". Make no mistake where he stands: he was one of the largest donors of Trump, served on his transitional team and has once written "I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible".
https://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/educatio...
https://www.cato-unbound.org/2009/04/13/peter-thiel/educatio...
There were hundreds of doners to Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, let alone 2016 campaign. If not directly, then through other superPACS including FAANG companies [1].
https://www.opensecrets.org/2020-presidential-race/donald-tr...
If your viewpoint is so myopically constrained by a single data point, I don't know what to say.
I find intellectuals from all corners of political spectrum to be interesting. Usually, when people dismiss intellectuals not for their arguments, but by some ostensible thinly veiled morality or the media zeitgeist; it is already an indicator that something interesting is out there. Anyways, all I am saying is that Peter is not evil in any stretch of the definition as the media portrays him. He is just not your typical conformist thinker.
[1] They only paused after Jan 6th, they were happily donating to both parties: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-corporate-go...
https://www.opensecrets.org/2020-presidential-race/donald-tr...
If your viewpoint is so myopically constrained by a single data point, I don't know what to say.
I find intellectuals from all corners of political spectrum to be interesting. Usually, when people dismiss intellectuals not for their arguments, but by some ostensible thinly veiled morality or the media zeitgeist; it is already an indicator that something interesting is out there. Anyways, all I am saying is that Peter is not evil in any stretch of the definition as the media portrays him. He is just not your typical conformist thinker.
[1] They only paused after Jan 6th, they were happily donating to both parties: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-corporate-go...
you talk about donating to "both sides" however dems are also a conservative party and hardly a "leftist" organization, your point is not as strong as you make it seem
I am addressing "mainstream left" and honestly, the main point of contention is that we should debate about Peter Thiel, but calling him evil is wrong and extremely misinformed.
It is neither wrong nor is it misinformed.
Do you remember why Thiel invested in Confinity which became PayPal? Because he thought a digital wallet could lead to “the erosion of the nation-state”. If it's not self evident to you why that's a bad thing perhaps read https://eand.co/how-america-collapsed-and-became-a-fourth-wo...
Max Chafkin argues that Thiel “has been responsible for creating the ideology that has come to define Silicon Valley: that technological progress should be pursued relentlessly—with little, if any, regard for potential costs or dangers to society.” continued with “Palantir, his second company, popularized the concept of data mining after 9/11 and paved the way for what critics of the technology call surveillance capitalism”.
And of course there was gawker. No, what gawker did was not right but Thiel's reaction was not right either. That's some straight up vigilante BS.
Do you remember why Thiel invested in Confinity which became PayPal? Because he thought a digital wallet could lead to “the erosion of the nation-state”. If it's not self evident to you why that's a bad thing perhaps read https://eand.co/how-america-collapsed-and-became-a-fourth-wo...
Max Chafkin argues that Thiel “has been responsible for creating the ideology that has come to define Silicon Valley: that technological progress should be pursued relentlessly—with little, if any, regard for potential costs or dangers to society.” continued with “Palantir, his second company, popularized the concept of data mining after 9/11 and paved the way for what critics of the technology call surveillance capitalism”.
And of course there was gawker. No, what gawker did was not right but Thiel's reaction was not right either. That's some straight up vigilante BS.
I disagree with Max Chafkin, I've watched probably every single Thiel interview (there is a Spotify podcast of collection of his interviews) and I do not share whoever this Max Chafkin guy is.
If you want a proper critique of Thiel, proper as in properly sourced/researched, not opinions of what someone has made up in their mind: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/inside-the-new-right...
If you want a proper critique of Thiel, proper as in properly sourced/researched, not opinions of what someone has made up in their mind: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/inside-the-new-right...
It's fine to want the erosion of the nation-state, but Thiel specifically wants to replace it with a monarch, not a free society
Peter Thiel's in-house philosopher Curtis Yarvin is a monarchist. So yes, I guess you're correct he isn't mainstream left...
A counterpoint to consider: "The Enigma of Peter Thiel": https://johnganz.substack.com/p/the-enigma-of-peter-thiel
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Yeah but that was before he had the type of money to buy the moral high ground
> The extreme left in SF politics (which in SF = the Establishment).
???
kind off topic, but I am curious what other people in SF think about this statement. I don't live there, but I find it surprising and dubious that the extreme anything is also "the establishment", not saying it's not possible but seems unlikely to me.
???
kind off topic, but I am curious what other people in SF think about this statement. I don't live there, but I find it surprising and dubious that the extreme anything is also "the establishment", not saying it's not possible but seems unlikely to me.
20 years in SF, and I can promise you that the extreme left is not the establishment here. As an example, we had a relatively progressive prosecutor who tried occasionally to hold cops to account. After an acrimonious campaign, he was just recalled with extensive support from a chunk of the establishment. His replacement, selected by the mayor, volunteered as an active proponent in the recall. Except that it came out later that she received $100k in "consulting" fees from a billionaire via a sister organization to the recall campaign: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/reports-sf-da-brooke-jen...
San Francisco gets a lot of press as being radical, but the government strikes me as pretty middle-of-the-road and wealth-focused. i can't think of a policy here that would be out of place in any other sensibly run city in the US. And we're definitely to the right of places like Copenhagen and Amsterdam. And that goes back a long way; CA's current governor was a centrist mayor here back in the day.
San Francisco gets a lot of press as being radical, but the government strikes me as pretty middle-of-the-road and wealth-focused. i can't think of a policy here that would be out of place in any other sensibly run city in the US. And we're definitely to the right of places like Copenhagen and Amsterdam. And that goes back a long way; CA's current governor was a centrist mayor here back in the day.
And Tan was a major backer of that recall
My guess is: the administration controlling North Korea would be considered by many to be extreme (left, right, you pick) but in North Korea they are the establishment.
So too in SF, outside of cali they would be considered extreme (left, right, you pick) but in SF they are the establishment.
Not passing judgment on whether that’s right or wrong just saying that’s what that line could mean.
So too in SF, outside of cali they would be considered extreme (left, right, you pick) but in SF they are the establishment.
Not passing judgment on whether that’s right or wrong just saying that’s what that line could mean.
? where do you get this?
It's from the twitter thread by paul graham that the OC linked. It was a response to someone asking who dislikes Garry Tan, to which Paul Graham replied:
"The extreme left in SF politics (which in SF = the Establishment)"[1]
[1] https://twitter.com/stevemushero/status/1461013669114892288
"The extreme left in SF politics (which in SF = the Establishment)"[1]
[1] https://twitter.com/stevemushero/status/1461013669114892288
Your profile is outdated now! ;)
Congrats! Exciting news for YC
Please revive Posterous!
He did in the form of Posthaven [1] but I'd say please keep it updated. The last post on the Posthaven blog is five years old.[2]
[1] https://posthaven.com/ [2] https://blog.posthaven.com/read-about-how-fly-has-helped-wit...
[1] https://posthaven.com/ [2] https://blog.posthaven.com/read-about-how-fly-has-helped-wit...
Incredible, a public + private UGC hosting service with no service terms or code of conduct (that I could find, even in onboarding). That's so brave lol
could you elaborate what Posterous did well, for those of us who never saw it?
I liked the ability to cross post to Twitter, Facebook, Plurk etc. It was like the one place blog control panel, make a post there and spread it out.
Wow, love it, go Garry!
Congrats Garry!!
Congrats Garry!
Congrats!
> After earning a degree in computer engineering from Stanford, Garry was an engineer at Palantir and then created one of the earliest and best-designed blogging platforms, Posterous.
This is a reminder that Palantir is the firm that sells data mining software to US police and military organizations that then use it to violate human rights.
It should be a black mark on anyone’s record.
This is a reminder that Palantir is the firm that sells data mining software to US police and military organizations that then use it to violate human rights.
It should be a black mark on anyone’s record.
> It should be a black mark on anyone’s record.
Exactly. I have always maintained that a small but significant way to put pressure on 'evil' companies, like Palantir, is to blacklist any employees who have them on their resume, making it difficult for them to attract talent. Unfortunately, I have found that very people share that view, and I am hard-pressed to figure out why.
Exactly. I have always maintained that a small but significant way to put pressure on 'evil' companies, like Palantir, is to blacklist any employees who have them on their resume, making it difficult for them to attract talent. Unfortunately, I have found that very people share that view, and I am hard-pressed to figure out why.
You don't create an ability to have redemption, forgiveness, rehabilitation, or regret. The first step to get someone to change their mind is to remove the dependency of them having an income on said philosophy, and one of the best ways to do that is to give them a chance to not work there anymore and move past it. By forcing them into an association ghetto, you create stronger supporters for the group you dislike, because they have no other options left.
Also everyone's personal set of shit companies doesn't overlap, so it's very easy for no one to get hired fairly quickly, and sometimes people chose the unpopular place out of necessity vs. choice at the time.
A large amount of employees people want to hire have probably worked at a company that people didn't like at one time or another. It's pretty easy to think of a set of nerds who don't like that you've worked at any one of google, microsoft, apple, amazon, facebook, netflix, robinhood, stripe, hospital system, any bank/finance/fintech, government, etc. Pretty much the only companies left are the ones that are not relevant enough to do anything to the world that would lead to someone being a hater in the first place.
Also everyone's personal set of shit companies doesn't overlap, so it's very easy for no one to get hired fairly quickly, and sometimes people chose the unpopular place out of necessity vs. choice at the time.
A large amount of employees people want to hire have probably worked at a company that people didn't like at one time or another. It's pretty easy to think of a set of nerds who don't like that you've worked at any one of google, microsoft, apple, amazon, facebook, netflix, robinhood, stripe, hospital system, any bank/finance/fintech, government, etc. Pretty much the only companies left are the ones that are not relevant enough to do anything to the world that would lead to someone being a hater in the first place.
I definitely see your points. I would want to reserve sanctions for companies who are widely known to be evil so that anyone accepting a position there would know exactly what they are getting into. The main tech companies that come to mind as qualifying are Palantir, Clearview AI and ByteDance. But, yes, I agree that individuals' shitlists will never overlap.
I am still not hiring ex-Palantir people anytime soon, though. It would creep me out to look at them.
I am still not hiring ex-Palantir people anytime soon, though. It would creep me out to look at them.
Microsoft is the main one.
Without MS Office, the USG probably could not make the scale of the wars that they do.
Without MS Office, the USG probably could not make the scale of the wars that they do.
I believe that it is because most people are not actually actively anti-war or pro-human-rights. The median person can be made to endorse and support invasion and torture if they are fed the right media.
Most people are apathetic, and having the military-industrial complex in your work history simply doesn’t register to many.
It’s not that they endorse evil; it’s just that they don’t care.
Most people are apathetic, and having the military-industrial complex in your work history simply doesn’t register to many.
It’s not that they endorse evil; it’s just that they don’t care.
I agree, but we should also go further:
Employees at Meta{Facebook, Instagram, Oculus, etc}, Twitter, Google, Palantir and Uber are all complicit in building systems that amplify surveillance capitalism and this goes for any other company engaging in this space.
It should be a big black mark on anyone’s record working at those companies.
Employees at Meta{Facebook, Instagram, Oculus, etc}, Twitter, Google, Palantir and Uber are all complicit in building systems that amplify surveillance capitalism and this goes for any other company engaging in this space.
It should be a big black mark on anyone’s record working at those companies.
AFAIK nobody ever got murdered by a CIA drone after using Uber.
The same cannot be said of Instagram or Gmail or iCloud (you forgot Apple on your list).
The same cannot be said of Instagram or Gmail or iCloud (you forgot Apple on your list).
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I don’t think it’s necessarily his, or Palantirs’ fault that the US government is evil.
All states are evil
Please keep generic ideological rhetoric off HN, regardless of ideology. It's repetitive and therefore tedious and therefore not what this site is for.
https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&sor...
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
While I acknowledge business as a driving force behind tech, I think if you want to "change the world" all you really have to do is provide solid financial support to open source tech since that is where most of the "For profit" inspiration is coming from anyway.
I didn’t understand the title. Is it common to say welcome home when someone departs a company? I almost thought maybe he passed away and it was a reference to being “in a better place”
I spent 5 years as a partner at Y Combinator previously, left to work on Initialized Capital (which is in good hands now with incredible early stage investors Jen Wolf and Brett Gibson), but now will be returning in the new year to work on the next phase of Y Combinator with many of my old friends and colleagues.
Thanks for the clarification. Congrats Gary!
ITT #blockedbygarry
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I went to Startup School, me and my cofounders applied, we got an interview, and we got in. I was an engineer, designer and PM. I'd built teams and products, but I'd never built a company.
YC gave me a shot, a community, knowhow, and the ability to access capital, talent, and customers.
YC changed my life. I want it to help a lot more people achieve their dreams and goals. It did for me, beyond my wildest dreams.