Hacker News Reader

Comment by d--b | Hacker News Reader

The whole thing is just weird.

This man is clearly delusional, and knowing that he uses his fortune to sway things one way or another based on his twisted perception of the world is scary.

View on HN

Jobless and drowning in cash is rough.. it takes a toll on the strongest of minds.. meandering through the day, aimless, chasing the next high. Realizing that being handed a mic wherever you go is now your life. Cursed to be incapable of achievement because what else remains to be achieved. Minimizing your taxes?

> Cursed to be incapable of achievement because what else remains to be achieved

He could do some good for a change...

At least the guilded-age wealthy had some sort of shame which fed into an interest in bettering society

> At least the guilded-age wealthy had some sort of shame which fed into an interest in bettering society

No they didn’t. That’s a ridiculously romantic view of the Gilded Age that has absolutely no bearing on reality.

Perhaps because they didn't have literal police states guard and defend their wealth. If the town mob showed up at their house they knew the game was over. Trillionaires or social cohesion.. choose 1.

> incapable of achievement because what else remains to be achieved

What a shameful lack of imagination. There is a million ways you could help others.

Right? Curious how someone could be so imaginative in all the wrong ways.. it's almost like globalized markets breed a certain type of successful man.

> There is a million ways you could help others.

Thiel contributes to a wide range of organizations, primarily through his private foundation, the Thiel Foundation. His giving focuses on scientific research, technology, and projects that explore new political or social ideas.

Prominent recipients have included: SENS Research Foundation, Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI), The Seasteading Institute, The Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Foundation, etc.

You bring up politics? That’s like saying western state depts helps others with politics in the Middle East. His political stuff is the same as western state depts. Western chauvinism knows no bounds.

> Western chauvinism knows no bounds

That seems uncharitable. Since your lead-in is about politics, I suspect you have a particular political ideology or maybe process in mind that you feel "Western" countries should not advocate for?

I wonder what you have in mind.

I thought he was well busy trying to be young forever

I get this sense often when the "famous" tech CEOs talk, they sorta come across like that uncle that you humor at Thanksgiving dinner. My best guess is there's a selection bias in that the more grounded ones are less likely to speak publicly and be in the news.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com