Thread

1. delis-thumbs-7e · 1790681167 · focus · HN ↗

   In an old Simpsons episode Lisa gets to visit the Teachers room, where all the staff are making fun of the children. Groundskeeper Willie is pantomiming Milhouse “Oh I am Milhouse, I tell all my secrets to Willie since I have no friends!” and the teachers laugh. Later something embarrassing happens to Milhouse and he immediately runs away crying “I have to tell this to Willie!”.

   We have all become Milhouse now.

   1. Avicebron · 1790682164 · focus · HN ↗

      Inequality has eroded trust in society in ~50 years, a lot of the old models (heh) of how we see the world aren't relevant. It's hard to exist when everything around us is adversarial.

      1. kevin_thibedeau · 1790689226 · focus · HN ↗

         Data brokers were around 50 years ago. They just had more limited sources to draw from.

         1. buellerbueller · 1790689679 · focus · HN ↗

            That's like saying my 1980s casio calculator watch and an apple watch are the same. they're not the same.

            1. walt_grata · 1790691496 · focus · HN ↗

               I love how some people think the scale of a problem doesnt matter. Like yeah we has data brokerw 50 years ago, way less of them and the scope they could collect data about was significantly more limited. That matters a lot

               1. buellerbueller · 1790692001 · focus · HN ↗

                  Most of YC and VC (and the internet) is built on the math of network effects, but you are correct, so many people here don't think scale differentiates things. It might not always be a distinction with a difference, but in some cases, it clearly is. That's why we have the whole darn concept of network effects lol.
               2. dataflow · 1790692181 · focus · HN ↗

                  "A difference in degree becomes a difference in kind" seems to escape too many people when it comes to negative social impact, especially those making money in the scaling business.
            2. TeMPOraL · 1790691565 · focus · HN ↗

               Indeed. The Casio calculator watch was a reliable, ergonomic watch, with a reliable, ergonomic (for its size) calculator.

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