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Comment by gogopuppygogo | Hacker News Reader

Gates also is known for having built a home that stood out. It's not about the era its about the person.

There was much fan fare over all the technology Bill Gates put into his house. It was interesting to read, especially in the context of home automation these days.

I worked with people who helped Jim Clark with some of his home automation in the early/mid 2000s.

My point in general was I think the Silicon Valley elders of old, Grove, Moore, Packards (I know multiple individuals who benefitted from the Packard Children's fund w/ pre-mes. (sp?), etc. were much more community and outward focused than that which we see today.

There are people here and there, but a lot of what gets glamorized or talked about tend to be more selfishly oriented individuals.

Gates, early on, stated his kids weren't getting a huge part of his fortune, I consider his works on par (via the Gates Foundation) as those of the Packards. That said, the Packards have been very local vs. Gates more international (maybe it's need, size of endowment, etc).

I think this is viewing the past with rose-tinted glasses. I recall the same exact complaints being leveled at the 1980's tech generation.

I'm being selective about comparisons, but it's a matter or proportion, and things then were way more subdued.

Ellison, Jobs (mainly on the woodside mansion and not being charity oriented), Clark, etc certainly contrast with those I mentioned.

I think 80s-90s had seriously strong personalities emerge that get to the core of what you mention. Yet around that was much more down to earth philanthropy, etc.

I don't see that same balance today.

I think it depends on the route they take up the mountain. You can be brilliant or you can be brilliant at taking shortcuts.

The shortcut takers are generally more insecure and that manifests in different behavior once they reach the top.

>My point in general was I think the Silicon Valley elders of old, Grove, Moore, Packards (I know multiple individuals who benefitted from the Packard Children's fund w/ pre-mes. (sp?), etc. were much more community and outward focused than that which we see today.

That is a fascinating observation. I was alive and in the biz back then, but I've burned an awful lot of brain cells between then and now and don't have a particularly objectiv eview of things.

Why do you think folks then were outward focused? Was there less competition so more focus on "doing something really cool", or leftover 60's 'free love' culture, or less shitty traffic in Silicon Valley, or...?

> That said, the Packards have been very local vs. Gates more international (maybe it's need, size of endowment, etc).

Given the international needs are fare more pressing, I'd say the Gates have the right objective.

In 1994 when I lived in Seattle I recall hearing how gates place in Medina was reviled by craftsman as he had hired some of the top of their field to do various things but was too picky. I recall that his entry way to the house was built by some master wood crafter, but gates was not happy with this mans work on several iterations; the guy was basically doing "once-in-a-lifetime" work and gates would have him tear it out and restart... More than twice.

I don't know how true that is, but that was the story at the time.

Other than that, I got a speeding ticket for going 26 in a 25 mph zone very near his house and was super upset at how lame that was.

It's Medina. You got a ticket for being in Medina and not being a resident. The speed was merely incidental.

Yeah, but since he's trying to give all his money away, it's kind of a boondoggle of the mid 90's. https://goo.gl/maps/jxsqBmwVBPD2

It is extravagant but hardly stands out. You can only see it by boat if you already know where to look.

I think there used to be some gangly red steel sculpture down by the lake that you could spot. I haven't sailed past there in years, though.

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