Re:Paul Graham is too arrogant
by nostrademons on Wednesday May 16, 2007 @09:08AM
(#22509)
"While we sit out here watching through the window."
There's nothing that stops you from making cool stuff while sitting outside on the grass. I was rejected by YC, but I just figure I need to work a little harder. YC is not the ultimate verdict on the success of your startup.
YC make it clear that those that aren't picked may have the best ideas, or be the best people; i.e. that YC are perfect at picking.
It seems like you depend too much on YC's verdict as a judgement on yourself. If you had more deserved confidence in your own ability perhaps you'd see their actions differently?
pg's articles talk to "normal" people all the time.
You ignore your public. You write technical essays about engineering or social things, but you never address the people you want working with you. You never write a blog entry that makes you (or any of the other founders) like real people who also care about those that are not as clever as the ones you pick.
So we sit out here on the curb and think - ah, the cool kids are in this lovely clubhouse with their mentor making cool stuff and going to become millionares. While we sit out here watching through the window.
All we see now is the business poker face of ycomb. It's no longer Paul giving money to kids to startup, it's a money making entity with a stern - you don't belong here, go away attitude.
That's why there is the minor backlash. You are too busy to talk straight to the normal people, and they resent being left out.
What can you do to change this? Try to be less perfect. Appearing vulnerable makes you human, and it makes people empathize with you. Then they make an effort to understand the why of your decisions.