Re:SEC fines Zenefits and former CEO for misleading investors
by shimon on Friday October 27, 2017 @02:05PM
(#15570786)
The reason to be skeptical of the "shining success story" ideal is the underlying, incorrect assumption that success is about being free of faults.
Success is about achievement far in excess of the average. When a change is massive, it usually hurts someone. Sometimes things that seem really positive, like facebook helping kids stay in touch, contain massive negatives, like amplifying polarization in society.
That's why we need to evaluate these things with more nuance. Just because Google's search engine is a massive boon to internet users doesn't mean none of their businesses should ever be regulated. Just because Uber's culture is misogynist doesn't mean taxi licensing is great policy.
And if you succeed in doing something massive, remember that it isn't permanently good, and doesn't make you permanently good.
Success is about achievement far in excess of the average. When a change is massive, it usually hurts someone. Sometimes things that seem really positive, like facebook helping kids stay in touch, contain massive negatives, like amplifying polarization in society.
That's why we need to evaluate these things with more nuance. Just because Google's search engine is a massive boon to internet users doesn't mean none of their businesses should ever be regulated. Just because Uber's culture is misogynist doesn't mean taxi licensing is great policy.
And if you succeed in doing something massive, remember that it isn't permanently good, and doesn't make you permanently good.