[tptacek]

In 20 years in the industry, most spent in startups, much spent consulting with a pretty broad spectrum of other startups, I have never known anyone I've worked with to take modafanil.

That's just one data point. But: I don't think it's at all common.

[sampleofone]

I took modafanil while working for AWS and I never felt the need to bring it up - what makes you think everyone you interact with is listing all their medication to you?

[badcede]

All he said was that he hadn't known them to. If they were and didn't tell him, that explains that.

[sillysaurus3]

I've worked with you, and it was false for me. I concealed it because of social stigma. (Adderall, not modafanil.)

Perhaps you're referring to founders specifically though, rather than people you've worked with.

There's immense pressure to say nothing. And that translates into you not knowing.

But the leap to "It's therefore not common" would be mistaken.

[tptacek]

When did you work with me? I have in fact no idea who you are; I assume: under a different name?

(I assume lots of people take adderall, for what it's worth).

[tptacek]

Never mind, I think I worked it out.

[sillysaurus3]

Interesting. I'd be happy to verify if you email me.

[tptacek]

No, that won't be necessary. But you and I never worked together, and I'd appreciate it if you'd be clearer about that in the future.

[sillysaurus3]

I think generating money for you counts as working together.

Maybe your guess is mistaken, or you're trying to get me to reveal more about myself.

[pvg]

I don't think it's prevalent or universal but at the same time, how many people come up to their consultant (triply so for a security-related one) and say 'I just crushed and snorted a couple of adderall'. It seems like an even worse way to get such data than openly asking pseudonymous strangers on a message board.

[tptacek]

You're probably mostly right (I was closer to some of my clients than you'd expect from "security consultant", though). I'm just a data point.

I think there's an outsider perspective on the industry that is very invested in the notion that successful startup founders are generally chemically enhanced. I think that's false, and harmful for obvious reasons. When I ask startup people I know about it, I generally hear the same thing. But: limited visibility.

(I really don't care about adderall; I know a bunch of people with ADHD scripts, and they all seem to need it. I'm more concerned about stuff like modafanil.)

[pvg]

I was kind of not-all-that-seriously going for the 'known NSA shill tptacek is obviously also a narc' thing but now I'm curious why you find modafinil more potentially worrisome than adderall?