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dtby

dtby on Hacker News

Re:Wikileaks Founder: Facebook is the most appalling spy machine ever ... on Monday May 02, 2011 @11:10AM (#2506498)
It's exceptionally unclear why people executes their down votes. I consider it worth my while to point out: "No you're not crazy, this really is as pointless as you think."

If it seemed like I care about getting down voted, I assure that's only ancillary.

Re:Wikileaks Founder: Facebook is the most appalling spy machine ever ... on Monday May 02, 2011 @10:26AM (#2506352)
I didn't explain why it was (demonstrably) summarily unhelpful because I assumed it was clear to anyone with a basis in logic, without even a nod to the fact that I happen to know how it works in practice beyond the theory.

In case anyone happens to continue to be confused: see, also: No true Scotsman.

Re:Wikileaks Founder: Facebook is the most appalling spy machine ever ... on Monday May 02, 2011 @10:08AM (#2506306)
No worries. I thought the Planet without Laughter was particularly entertaining.

It's also amusing in its own way to watch my comments get voted down.

I have, undoubtedly played more +EV games versus a casino than anyone on this site. (And, yes, I will bet on that, too!) But some sort of egalitarian sense of correctness has driven the "value" of my comments below yours.

I cared enough to make a 2nd (and now third) comment about it, but really, I don't care. So that kinda sucks.

Re:Wikileaks Founder: Facebook is the most appalling spy machine ever ... on Monday May 02, 2011 @09:50AM (#2506252)
Hey, neat. Yet another comment where I am a demonstrable expert and I get voted to Hell like a moron. Feel free to get this one to -44, except that you can't tell any more where it lives. Best to down vote if you're unsure.
Re:Wikileaks Founder: Facebook is the most appalling spy machine ever ... on Monday May 02, 2011 @09:41AM (#2506213)
How clever. The intent was more than apparent.
Re:Hacker News Analysis on Monday May 02, 2011 @09:31AM (#2506168)
Also, in case it was unclear to any still reading, Democracy is for suckers.
Re:Wikileaks Founder: Facebook is the most appalling spy machine ever ... on Monday May 02, 2011 @09:27AM (#2506149)
This comment is completely unhelpful.
Re:The Dangers of Relying on Facebook on Wednesday April 20, 2011 @10:35AM (#2466749)
Like quanticle said, social networking.

My problem is that is not a real thing which can be monopolized. I promise I'm not being (intentionally) obtuse here. I don't understand which piece of an online offering requires Facebook. Maybe an example would help me.

Re:The Dangers of Relying on Facebook on Wednesday April 20, 2011 @09:20AM (#2466463)
possibly because they've got a de facto monopoly for the time being

On what?

Re:What was the code quality of the initial version of Google? on Friday April 15, 2011 @07:12PM (#2452562)
I just can't remember the name of it!

Sounds like you're talking about ThirdVoice, but I can't be certain.

Re:Poll HN: Is your startup equity split equally among founders? on Thursday April 14, 2011 @08:43AM (#2446568)
90% of startups fail, give or take.

You're going to need either a much firmer definition of startup or a much more defined range to make this have even the slightest bit of credibility.

Re:Show HN: Let's end the Programmer Salary Taboo on Wednesday April 13, 2011 @09:01PM (#2444954)
There are at least 4 different currencies being used to pay people in my office. Sometimes two different currencies to the same person. As each portion is (or can be) negotiated separately, this isn't merely a conversion question.

Also, our bonuses are denominated in USD and then converted (or not) into whichever currency we prefer.

Re:High Frequency Trading Development Kit on Friday April 08, 2011 @11:30AM (#2424188)
And to be perfectly clear. I will take all of your action, every day, in prediction of market movements.. You tell me what you want. I will set a price and we will play for as much money as you like [up to my assets of 20MM or so.] I have no fear that I will beat you [or any one else] before you get me broke.
Re:High Frequency Trading Development Kit on Friday April 08, 2011 @11:26AM (#2424170)
he cost of market data and a system equipped to process it are not inconsiderable.

Not even close, if you consider the alpha for generating value. I know it's awesome on HN to think that generating 10M over 2 years entitles one to a "50M exit."... but that's not the way things work in finance.

20K is nothing... if one thinks it is than one is playing the wrong game.

Re:High Frequency Trading Development Kit on Wednesday March 30, 2011 @11:47AM (#2387769)
Why would one even consider entering these markets without the ability to demonstrate alpha over historical results?

Yes, your alpha needs to include the ability to beat transaction costs... so if you can't pay for the [relatively exceptionally cheap] cost of several years of your chosen market's historical data, maybe you're not really serious.

It's fun to play at being a financier, but let's not pretend that access to market data is the significant barrier to entry which is preventing disruption in the world financial markets.

Re:Auto submission bots on Hacker News on Wednesday March 30, 2011 @11:24AM (#2387632)
Why, then, even bother checking their HN karma score, GitHub commits, WoW gear score or Stack Overflow reputation points?

Either their comment is useful to you where you live today or its not. You don't have to justify your judgement by yet another subjective.

(By a... checking... 3.4 karma/comment user who was sub-1.0/comment last week; not having changed his opinions or commenting style.)

Re:Patio11 says Hello Ladies on Saturday March 26, 2011 @12:45PM (#2372523)
It's all good. I've lived an odd life, but essentially every dollar I have made has come from someone thinking he is getting more value for his dollar than I am charging him for my software/service/whatever. Considering the businesses in which I have often found myself, that has often meant that they felt they were smarter than me. I doubt any of them felt an emotion beyond greed. If that counts, then I'm well and truly wrong.

Then, again, you managed to drag a huge thread out of me based on my emotional reaction to your (frankly offensive) "Bzzt" so maybe you're right for "most" markets.

Re:Patio11 says Hello Ladies on Saturday March 26, 2011 @12:18PM (#2372441)
Of course. But I don't believe that every sale I have lost for what I believe to be non-rational reasons is inherently an emotional decision. Sometimes I just don't understand the motivations of my customers.

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