Comment by codyZ | Hacker News Reader

Comment by codyZ | Hacker News Reader

Jared, I nearly cried at the end of reading. So many people, even those closest to me, never believed (and still do not) or understood what you have so beautifully and artfully articulated. Reading what you wrote, I could relate to your every sentiment. People think that just because of an age, we lack the ability to create and provide amazing things. It works against us, beyond the ‘cute’ factor, and it is seemingly a constant pressure and embarrassment that we have no hold over. Then, even in our best moments, people will question what we’ve done and dismiss it as nothing more than an ‘exercise’. It’s aggravating, frustrating and depressing. But then we’ll have those amazing experiences where we meet ‘adults’ that understand this and they treat us like equals. Our opinion, expertise, and passion weigh so much more than a number. The level of gratification from meeting these people, to know that there are others that accept the results we produce, is simply awe-inspiring.

Among my circle of friends back in High School, I can think of only a select few who I can confide with these thoughts. It’s so difficult trying to find someone that really understands these kinds of struggles- the dismissive remarks, the attitude of negativity and failure, etc that people give when they find out your ‘age’.

Thank You for sharing your post with HN. To know that someone else is out there who truly understands these trials and struggles makes me feel just a bit less lonely – to know that I’m not the only one who feels that way about entrepreneurship. Your post was inspiring and for all the articles I’ve read on HN, yours makes everything worth it.

These teenage angst posts are both a little amusing and a little disturbing.

I'll skip the amusement part which you'll realize as you become older and just give you a little warning on this one:

But then we’ll have those amazing experiences where we meet ‘adults’ that understand this and they treat us like equals.

Be aware that there's not a small number of people who will not hesitate to take advantage of young eagerness. Especially in the startup scene.

Learn to distinguish between people who treat you well because they respect you, and people who treat you well because you're running half their business for an intern-salary. It's more common than you, at your age, think.

Ahh, another one.

I appreciate the lesson and understand that wisdom also comes with age. I don't dismiss that - in fact I realize and acknowledge that. That's why people have mentors, people with decades of life experience to learn from.

"Learn to distinguish between people who treat you well because they respect you, and people who treat you well because you're running half their business for an intern-salary."

Perhaps that is something you did not learn in your youth, but you should know that does not mean that those of similar youth age don't realize that. Personally, this was a point I exploited when I ran my business. Having interns that were years older than me doing work for me. Quite "amusing", as you point out, now that I think back...

Nevertheless, I think your advice is true. Lots of people out to take advantage of young people. This is not new, though and anyone with the level of experience in business having done work previously in youth years would know this.

The pattern that I've noticed is most people will speak similar to you. Those that don't and truly appreciate it were once young entrepreneurs themselves and experienced their levels of 'success' so they understand it. Though perhaps I just choose to surround myself with mentors of that particular quality.

I was a young entrepreneur. I started a web hosting company in 1998 when I was 16. A real one, not just a white-label reseller.

Here's something I learned: It takes years--several years--to come close to mastering anything of sufficient complexity to be worth mastering. That is just not possible when you're young. We've all had to deal with that.

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once. But I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."

Be water, my friend.

> Here's something I learned: It takes years--several years--to come close to mastering anything of sufficient complexity to be worth mastering. That is just not possible when you're young. We've all had to deal with that.

Magnus Carlsen [1] became the highest rated chess player in the world at 19. This means that either it is possible to master very complex subjects while young, or chess is not very complex.

[1] - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Carlsen

The point above is not about age but time. Carlsen had been playing chess for at least 11 years before he turned 19.

Or it could mean Magnus Carlsen was excepcionally endowed with the traits that make great chess players, as Phelps is to swimming. And his 29 year old self, given the same discipline he must have applied pre-19, would be a much better chess player than himself 10 years back.

I don't understand why people, including the author, are completely disregarding experience here. I agree with the author's points that a young person, even a teen, could bring a lot to the table and has his own qualities, one of which is not great experience. But that doesn't disqualify him for any job, given a hunger to learn and a passion for his work. But to suggest that "the only difference is in music taste"--well, if you measure any one young person against any one older one, you could get that result, but I'd be hard pressed to expect the same when comparing you with yourself 10 years down.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com