[devmunchies]

My main criticism of this article and the article it references is that it refers to Marc Andreessen as a “not-so-bright billionaire” who “doesn’t build shit”. Do people forgot that he built the first popular web browser (mosaic) and then built Netscape? He is much more part of “hacker” culture than other names mentioned.

[mplewis]

Maybe thirty years ago. Today, his money is the most relevant thing about him.

[imiric]

I'm very much on the side of the hackers in this argument, but honestly, why is a hacker turned businessman seen as a bad thing? Most people on this forum and in this community are trying to do the same thing.

[j4coh]

It’s selling out. Trading in your idealism to work on spyware/ad tech or whatever.

[imiric]

Oh, please. "Selling out" is such an immature take.

Andreessen was one of the first people who saw the potential of the web in the early days, worked on the first graphical web browsers and built a highly influential business around it. Then he went on to create one of the most powerful VC firms in the industry, which in turn funded some of the most successful companies. His impact wouldn't have been anywhere near what it is today had he stayed working as a software developer. His ideals and goals were clearly much higher than that, and he got rich in the process. Sounds like a capitalist success story if I ever heard one.

[rpgbr]

>Then he went on to create one of the most powerful VC firms in the industry, which in turn funded some of the most successful companies.

Funding crypto nonsense, “apocalyptical” AI, and questionable politics. Meanwhile, writing “manifestos” that complain people don't recognize how great he and their peers are. I mean, thanks for Netscape and all, but Andreessen is as bad as the rotting VC culture can get.

[imiric]

So you only approve of VCs that fund companies you like? Or do you disapprove of the VC culture in general?

It's kind of ironic we're discussing this here, considering YC is following the same model, and has made similar investments. And yet both firms have also funded many companies outside of the sectors you dislike. Invoking ad hominems doesn't change the impact that both YC and a16z have had on the industry.

[j4coh]

Well, a capitalist success story isn’t necessarily incompatible with moving away from hacker beliefs like information should be free - in fact, you can probably make a lot of money by locking it up and selling access. And neither is getting rich intrinsically a hacker ideal.