Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
A thread about Silicon Valley types crawling up their own asses and chowing down on what they find.
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Silicon Valley assholes vow to put corner stores out of business by installing vending machines in apartment lobbies.
http://fortune.com/2017/09/13/two-ex-go ... -bodega-2/
And by explicitly marketing it as an effort to put corner stores out of business, I'm sure this will in no way inspire a backlash.
http://fortune.com/2017/09/13/two-ex-go ... -bodega-2/
And by explicitly marketing it as an effort to put corner stores out of business, I'm sure this will in no way inspire a backlash.
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Yeah, cause the country with the highest number of vending machines per capita doesn't have any local convenience stores around... oh wait, they have tons of those, too.
"Sharks do not go around challenging people to games of chance like dojo breakers."
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
I find basically all arguments of the form "blah blah local thing should not have to face competition" eyeroll inducing. I don't think there's anything great about the startup really, but I could not possibly care less about effect of competition on local stores. I only care if the product they offer has value to me.
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
The name is so poorly chosen it feels like an onion article.
"I do wear my New Balance tennis shoes when I'm wearing cargo shorts, though, because truth in advertising." - lunch
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
It's not about whether they should have to face competition. It's about whether competition I'd a zero sum thing where you announce that you will destroy everyone else for your own growth, or whether it is about growing your own business, which may or may not hurt others. In the second model, sometimes your growth hurts others but sometimes it spurs consumer interest in the product and spurs suppliers to innovate in ways that benefit other companies as well. Talking about crushing businesses that consumers are fond of does nothing to earn good will. And it sells too many people on the false idea that competition is always zero sum.
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
I'll accept that the marketing pitch is stupid. I just don't care one bit if someone actually has it in their heads to go after bodegas from a competitive standpoint.
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Yeah? That's what they said about the iPad.
THIS SPACE FOR RENT
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
People have lots of things in their heads. You earn more good will if you are selective about which ones you voice.JasonL wrote:I'll accept that the marketing pitch is stupid. I just don't care one bit if someone actually has it in their heads to go after bodegas from a competitive standpoint.
Especially if your grand plan for world domination is a glorified vending machine
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
The problem is that we see a lot of Silicon Valley Disruptor types with a pitch that amounts to:
"Hi. You know this thing that you like? Well I see it as a problem to be solved. By crushing it and everyone associated with it. And I will do it with a digital spin on an old idea. And you know it will work because I am a smart guy who wears sandals while working in a loft with a pinball machine. In fact, I am so smart that I dropped out of Stanford before I even got in. So watch me take over the world with a vending machine that will crush the guy down the street that you like. Because that Disruption is the best part of this!"
"Hi. You know this thing that you like? Well I see it as a problem to be solved. By crushing it and everyone associated with it. And I will do it with a digital spin on an old idea. And you know it will work because I am a smart guy who wears sandals while working in a loft with a pinball machine. In fact, I am so smart that I dropped out of Stanford before I even got in. So watch me take over the world with a vending machine that will crush the guy down the street that you like. Because that Disruption is the best part of this!"
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
That's one thing that's so vexing. Back in the day, the disruptors always wanted to disrupt things, but they never said that out loud - that's how they were able to get away with it. For instance, most famously, Microsoft getting one over on IBM.
These Kids Today are all monologuing supervillians. Probably with capes. (Say what you will about Peter Thiel, but at least he's doing to Ozymandias thing and revealing the plans after the missles have been launched)
These Kids Today are all monologuing supervillians. Probably with capes. (Say what you will about Peter Thiel, but at least he's doing to Ozymandias thing and revealing the plans after the missles have been launched)
when you wake up as the queen of the n=1 kingdom and mount your steed non sequiturius, do you look out upon all you survey and think “damn, it feels good to be a green idea sleeping furiously?" - dhex
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
My thing with this (and many other "disruptions") is that I never got the memo on what was wrong with bodegas that will be improved by this. Your most likely bodega problem is simply not having one.
Also, are these things not going to sell tobacco? Because lol.
Also, are these things not going to sell tobacco? Because lol.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
- the innominate one
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Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Are cigarette vending machines no longer a thing?
I wonder if tobacco in vending machines can be done by requiring a credit card, like internet porn.
I wonder if tobacco in vending machines can be done by requiring a credit card, like internet porn.
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." -E Benn
"No shit, Sherlock." -JsubD
"now is the time to go fuck yourself until you die." -dhex
"No shit, Sherlock." -JsubD
"now is the time to go fuck yourself until you die." -dhex
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
andKolohe wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 14:13That's one thing that's so vexing. Back in the day, the disruptors always wanted to disrupt things, but they never said that out loud - that's how they were able to get away with it. For instance, most famously, Microsoft getting one over on IBM.
These Kids Today are all monologuing supervillians. Probably with capes. (Say what you will about Peter Thiel, but at least he's doing to Ozymandias thing and revealing the plans after the missles have been launched)
Yeah, if you're going to go after something, don't tell people what's wrong with it. If you're fixing a problem, they should already know there's a problem. You shouldn't have to convince them that the thing you're "fixing" is actually a problem.nicole wrote:My thing with this (and many other "disruptions") is that I never got the memo on what was wrong with bodegas that will be improved by this. Your most likely bodega problem is simply not having one.
Also, are these things not going to sell tobacco? Because lol.
"Sharks do not go around challenging people to games of chance like dojo breakers."
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Facebook keeps showing me an ad for some company whose product is never specified. All the ad says is that these photogenic and diverse MIT grads are going to disrupt a large industry. That's nice, but I won't be one of their customers if they won't tell me what they offer and why it is so great for me. They can put anyone that they want out of business and bully for them, but they won't get my money until I know what they have to offer me.
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
And, yes, it is a shame if somebody somewhere has sympathy for a small business owner facing competition. Clearly they need to take an econ 101 class. But if you want to compete with them it would help to tell me what you will do for me, the customer.
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
They can only be located in places that only admit those over 18.the innominate one wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 14:19Are cigarette vending machines no longer a thing?
I wonder if tobacco in vending machines can be done by requiring a credit card, like internet porn.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
That ad is kind of a scam in terms of the photo is not of the founders of the company, which it's clearly trying to imply. This is a VERY friendly writeup, I can't find the one I read months ago that was NOT so friendly: https://digiday.com/marketing/mit-grads ... atic-fame/thoreau wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 14:31Facebook keeps showing me an ad for some company whose product is never specified. All the ad says is that these photogenic and diverse MIT grads are going to disrupt a large industry. That's nice, but I won't be one of their customers if they won't tell me what they offer and why it is so great for me. They can put anyone that they want out of business and bully for them, but they won't get my money until I know what they have to offer me.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Ahem. Human interaction?nicole wrote:My thing with this (and many other "disruptions") is that I never got the memo on what was wrong with bodegas that will be improved by this. Your most likely bodega problem is simply not having one.
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Bodega owners have worked long and hard to minimize human interaction. I've known some for years whom I've never spoken to.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
- Fin Fang Foom
- Posts: 9539
- Joined: 05 May 2010, 22:39
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Bodegas often make the best basic cold cut sandwiches.
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Even after reading that friendly write-up, all I know is that Everquote sells car insurance, was founded by MIT grads, and uses photogenic female employees for ads. That's nice. But what I'd really like to know is what makes their service worth using.nicole wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 15:08That ad is kind of a scam in terms of the photo is not of the founders of the company, which it's clearly trying to imply. This is a VERY friendly writeup, I can't find the one I read months ago that was NOT so friendly: https://digiday.com/marketing/mit-grads ... atic-fame/thoreau wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 14:31Facebook keeps showing me an ad for some company whose product is never specified. All the ad says is that these photogenic and diverse MIT grads are going to disrupt a large industry. That's nice, but I won't be one of their customers if they won't tell me what they offer and why it is so great for me. They can put anyone that they want out of business and bully for them, but they won't get my money until I know what they have to offer me.
Actually, on second thought, I don't want to know. Their disinterest in making useful information easy to obtain is itself a type of useful information.
"just build a quantum foam wall and make the tardigrades pay for it."
--Hugh
--Hugh
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
Yeah, and they also don't actually sell car insurance.thoreau wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 15:28Even after reading that friendly write-up, all I know is that Everquote sells car insurance, was founded by MIT grads, and uses photogenic female employees for ads. That's nice. But what I'd really like to know is what makes their service worth using.nicole wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 15:08That ad is kind of a scam in terms of the photo is not of the founders of the company, which it's clearly trying to imply. This is a VERY friendly writeup, I can't find the one I read months ago that was NOT so friendly: https://digiday.com/marketing/mit-grads ... atic-fame/thoreau wrote: ↑14 Sep 2017, 14:31Facebook keeps showing me an ad for some company whose product is never specified. All the ad says is that these photogenic and diverse MIT grads are going to disrupt a large industry. That's nice, but I won't be one of their customers if they won't tell me what they offer and why it is so great for me. They can put anyone that they want out of business and bully for them, but they won't get my money until I know what they have to offer me.
Actually, on second thought, I don't want to know. Their disinterest in making useful information easy to obtain is itself a type of useful information.
"Fucking qualia." -Hugh Akston
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
"This is why I carry a shoehorn.” -jadagul
- the innominate one
- Posts: 12356
- Joined: 17 May 2011, 16:17
- Location: hypertime continuum
Re: Silicon Valley Disrupts Its Own Ass
indubitably
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." -E Benn
"No shit, Sherlock." -JsubD
"now is the time to go fuck yourself until you die." -dhex
"No shit, Sherlock." -JsubD
"now is the time to go fuck yourself until you die." -dhex
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