[jordanpg]

Because it's Paul Graham, who's a very rich and wise venture capitalist, over whose musings people who also want to be very rich and wise venture capitalists someday, must fawn and nod their heads and agree with, as if he has said something very profound.

Is this tweet wise and profound? Obviously not. Is there a kernel of useful information buried in there? Barely. As you said, is the purpose really just to elicit a reaction? Obviously, yes.

These kinds of remarks remind me of people who used to brag about getting good grades despite not doing the reading or homework, as if that's a virtue.

They're not harmless, because plenty of people will take away from this the idea that you don't need to do research on things, in general. Because Paul Graham is very rich and wise and he said so.

It's dumb fortune cookie wisdom, like so many of his wise and profound edgy, contrarian viewpoints.