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by pg 6508 days ago
I think the explanation usually is more emotional and less analytical. People start to dislike anything that gets a lot of publicity. Everyone is susceptible to this to some degree, but some people more than others.

As for the question of whether we help people or not, I don't think many people who know what goes on inside YC would argue that we didn't improve startups' prospects by 6.4%, which is what we have to do to earn our keep. Considering the amount of effort we put into it, we'd have to be pretty ineffective not to manage that.
3 comments
robg 6507 days ago
Do you think these folks understand the math behind improve startups' prospects by 6.4%? It seems the emotional reaction is usually driven by a basic misunderstanding - "$5k per founder for 10%!? OMG!" even when they're wrong on the basic facts. MA does a nice job clearing up the valuation "paradox" but it seems it's worth repeating over and over again, esp for newbies to investment equity who encounter YC and shudder at the "terms".

EDIT: Just reading the TC comments, it amazes me how often this basic misunderstanding comes up, even after an article that explains it.

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shafqat 6508 days ago
PG - I think no matter how well or how often you try to explain this point, the real haters don't understand the derivation nor the impact of the 6.4% figure. If they did, it would be a moot point!
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bootload 6507 days ago
"... I think the explanation usually is more emotional and less analytical. People start to dislike anything that gets a lot of publicity ..."

No but explaining this might help HN readers to resist posting these types of stories.

Competition of any sort generates "trash-talk" from competitors and the like. Joel has a nice explanation in "Fire & motion" ~ http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog0000000339.html why competitors might do this. HN readers are ( "unnecessarily" ) getting caught up in the cross-fire.

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volida 6508 days ago
"People start to dislike anything"

In the case when journalists are those who "dislike" and not people, someone could think that their motives to write something bad are not so innocent, if not directed by someone who pays to create a bad impression.

Although to be honest the majority of press I see about YC is really positive.

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