dtby

It's exceptionally unclear why people executes their down votes. I consider it worth my while to point out: "No you're not crazy, this really is as pointless as you think."

If it seemed like I care about getting down voted, I assure that's only ancillary.

I didn't explain why it was (demonstrably) summarily unhelpful because I assumed it was clear to anyone with a basis in logic, without even a nod to the fact that I happen to know how it works in practice beyond the theory.

In case anyone happens to continue to be confused: see, also: No true Scotsman.

No worries. I thought the Planet without Laughter was particularly entertaining.

It's also amusing in its own way to watch my comments get voted down.

I have, undoubtedly played more +EV games versus a casino than anyone on this site. (And, yes, I will bet on that, too!) But some sort of egalitarian sense of correctness has driven the "value" of my comments below yours.

I cared enough to make a 2nd (and now third) comment about it, but really, I don't care. So that kinda sucks.

Hey, neat. Yet another comment where I am a demonstrable expert and I get voted to Hell like a moron. Feel free to get this one to -44, except that you can't tell any more where it lives. Best to down vote if you're unsure.

How clever. The intent was more than apparent.

Also, in case it was unclear to any still reading, Democracy is for suckers.

This comment is completely unhelpful.

Like quanticle said, social networking.

My problem is that is not a real thing which can be monopolized. I promise I'm not being (intentionally) obtuse here. I don't understand which piece of an online offering requires Facebook. Maybe an example would help me.

possibly because they've got a de facto monopoly for the time being

On what?

I just can't remember the name of it!

Sounds like you're talking about ThirdVoice, but I can't be certain.

90% of startups fail, give or take.

You're going to need either a much firmer definition of startup or a much more defined range to make this have even the slightest bit of credibility.

There are at least 4 different currencies being used to pay people in my office. Sometimes two different currencies to the same person. As each portion is (or can be) negotiated separately, this isn't merely a conversion question.

Also, our bonuses are denominated in USD and then converted (or not) into whichever currency we prefer.

And to be perfectly clear. I will take all of your action, every day, in prediction of market movements.. You tell me what you want. I will set a price and we will play for as much money as you like [up to my assets of 20MM or so.] I have no fear that I will beat you [or any one else] before you get me broke.

he cost of market data and a system equipped to process it are not inconsiderable.

Not even close, if you consider the alpha for generating value. I know it's awesome on HN to think that generating 10M over 2 years entitles one to a "50M exit."... but that's not the way things work in finance.

20K is nothing... if one thinks it is than one is playing the wrong game.

Why would one even consider entering these markets without the ability to demonstrate alpha over historical results?

Yes, your alpha needs to include the ability to beat transaction costs... so if you can't pay for the [relatively exceptionally cheap] cost of several years of your chosen market's historical data, maybe you're not really serious.

It's fun to play at being a financier, but let's not pretend that access to market data is the significant barrier to entry which is preventing disruption in the world financial markets.

Why, then, even bother checking their HN karma score, GitHub commits, WoW gear score or Stack Overflow reputation points?

Either their comment is useful to you where you live today or its not. You don't have to justify your judgement by yet another subjective.

(By a... checking... 3.4 karma/comment user who was sub-1.0/comment last week; not having changed his opinions or commenting style.)

It's all good. I've lived an odd life, but essentially every dollar I have made has come from someone thinking he is getting more value for his dollar than I am charging him for my software/service/whatever. Considering the businesses in which I have often found myself, that has often meant that they felt they were smarter than me. I doubt any of them felt an emotion beyond greed. If that counts, then I'm well and truly wrong.

Then, again, you managed to drag a huge thread out of me based on my emotional reaction to your (frankly offensive) "Bzzt" so maybe you're right for "most" markets.

Of course. But I don't believe that every sale I have lost for what I believe to be non-rational reasons is inherently an emotional decision. Sometimes I just don't understand the motivations of my customers.

And as someone who has sold software and services to huge companies with gun-totin' Ron Swansons for over 15 years, let me assure you that this is untrue.

So, yeah, it's a question of approach. Which was my entire point.

I do wonder on what basis I must _love_ his writings.

I'm not a Linux guy, so I am out of the loop. What makes these writings so lovable?

2. Sell an emotional experience, not features.

Eh, that works for your market.

3. Tell stories because software is boring.

Now we're getting somewhere, this is universally applicable.

I do wish we could get rid of the "poaching" term for at-will employees. Either it's easier to bag trophy talent on the Google reserve than in the open field (in which case, good on those employees for improving their lot) or it's harder (in which case, good on Facebook and others for figuring out how to compete for them.) Either way, it's hardly a situation for which an external observer needs a judgmental descriptor.

More to the point, people lack any domain experience.

Don't get me wrong: it's cool to be an awesome hacker... but if you don't know about anything outside of hacking.. chances are some neck-beard somewhere has already solved all of the problems of which you are aware.

I'd start by not worrying about what it might say about you. You've already lost if you're worrying about validation from Joe Random Internet User.

I suspect that if you think this article was "amazing" you still have a huge misconception of what it means to be rich.

The answer is obviously and indisputely, "Yes."

So it would be better to frame your question in a way which got the results in which you are actually interested.

Do you want to know which niches are being served by HN users? Ask. Do you want to know how to use SEO to turn your 10k net profit business into a 50k net profit business? Ask. Do you want to know if the majority of HN is starving wanna-bes? Ask.

This question in an exceptionally poor proxy for your real question.

Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining a gaming license in an appropriate jurisdiction is likely to outweigh the revenue stream from such an enterprise.

For whatever it's worth, there probably does not exist a way to say "I don't know if you are important enough to heed" without coming off like a jerk. If you want to avoid that impression, it's probably best just not to say anything.

And now what? They get 30% less? A nice problem to have.

No, it's not. Ever.

Based on, and including no more than my original message: "my experience."

I flagged with abandon many months ago including not believing that YC-funded "startups" had a special place in the world.

Don't get me wrong... if people want to participate here,, I think it might be one of the best places for tech people on the internet. Just don't think that your HN account gives you carte banche to participate in the discussion.

I'm completely disinterested in the SV startup scene so HN still works for me as Yet Another News Aggregator, but it's not what I expected... so that's all.