pg's position was

"No one is even afraid of Microsoft anymore. They still make a lot of money—so does IBM, for that matter. But they're not dangerous."

Which I think remains largely true?

The only company that leaps to mind that acts like they are actively afraid of Microsoft is Valve. It's the only explanation for keeping the SteamOS alive I can think of (and developing it in the first place, for that matter), and the way it has neither been shut down, nor really given the push it needs to succeed. It's insurance, and as long as it's a half-viable insurance policy, it's doing its job.

Everywhere else, either Microsoft is still the underdog against some very strong incumbent or incumbents (Azure, mobile), or the competition is a decade-old corpse (Office).

Valve isn't afraid of Microsoft, they're just critical of their motives. Steam will always be the destination for digital PC games and there's nothing Microsoft can ever do to change that. Everytime Microsoft has tried to challenge Steam they've failed spectacularly. Microsoft and PC gaming just don't go together.

I'm assuming this was said because people tend to be afraid of growth (eg Uber eating taxis).

But there's something to be said for being scared of companies that have already grown and are stable too. Or at least wary.

Microsoft in the old days used to drive a lot of competitors out of business.

That was part of my point. If you're a 600 pound gorilla, then you don't always need finesse to beat a hundred pound competitor.

So, which companies are people afraid of today then?

The old Ballmer era Microsoft is dead; the Satya led Microsoft has risen.

There are two things that we know for sure:

- Microsoft is not dead.

- Paul Graham is a tedious windbag. (Look it up.)

> Paul Graham is a tedious windbag. (Look it up.)

Well, I think this is a bit rude. I myself am not a PG fan, but let's not be mean people about it (I come here because the decency high water mark is usually higher than other forums).

Some people have a track record, and you might trust them more because of it. They might still be wrong. Don't hold people up as demigods?

I politically disagree with pg, but that man is a genius no ifs and buts.

I'm not expressing an opinion about anyone with this; I would like to point out that being a genius is no bulwark against being a tedious windbag. Or heartbreakingly stupid. Or anything, really.