[mwytock]

Wow this guy really needs to take it down a few notches. Yes, PG's articles present a magical fantasy world dominated by the masterful hacker and visionary entrepreneur. They are inspiring and fun to read. And they may have some truth to them.

Attacking these essays as an oversimplification while presenting a caricature of the introvert and disconnected programmer is borderline ridiculous.

[czep]

> this guy really needs to take it down a few notches

Author here. Man, if I took it down a few notches, I'd bury myself under my own hubris! I'm nobody, certainly not worth PG's time or perhaps yours, I'm trying to speak truth to power and won't apologize for stepping on anyone's hero worship. I absolutely agree with you that Graham's essays are inspiring and fun to read. I think I made that clear as well. The frustration which drove this essay was his casual observation that the best programmers are libertarians. I don't think that's true and have data to support it. I'm also frustrated to see a powerful man perpetuate self-serving ideologies without acknowledging the influences of power and luck.

> borderline ridiculous

Story of my life. But I think my caricature still stands as an illustration of how the introverted mindset can shut off more nuanced views of social and political structure and lead one to adopt a personal view that serves those in power.

[mrmaximus]

czep, even though I don't agree with much of what you wrote (in the article), I do appreciate you taking the time to so thoroughly expound on the ideas. Paul Graham most likely fell victim to projection of a Libertarian ideal when he viewed "best programmers" from his perspective.

> I'm also frustrated to see a powerful man perpetuate self-serving ideologies without acknowledging the influences of power and luck.

I agree with this above statement maybe or maybe not for the reasons you do.

The "Power Game", or even the lack of willingness or know-how to play it is the reason a lot of programmers think themselves superior to the sales guys who peddle the product of their labor.

The "Power Game" is also the same reason the good sales guys feel that despite being so technically smart, programmers can be damned idiotic fools.

As an introverted "programmer-type" myself, life would be way easier for me if there was no Power Game. But the Power Game is as human as eating, drinking and pissing.

Hell, I get irritated daily that I even have to eat, drink or piss. It feels like a waste of time when I am in the zone with something. Same thing with the Power Game.

Luck... hugely important. Heck, we've all played RPG's and know to fill up that skill bucket ASAP.

Maybe what would really be helpful to programmers is something that can stir inspiration like Paul Graham, but that covers something akin to "The 48 Laws of Power" for the introverted modern day employees.