[A_D_E_P_T]

Unjustified and unjustifiable.

It mocks -- in peak Millennial Humor fashion -- a major contributor to the tech industry and tech culture. If you don't like his opinions, the honorable response would be to debate those opinions, not attempt (poorly) to make a joke of the man over an inherited, immutable aspect of his physiognomy.

[jsrozner]

By making jokes about the physiognomy, we encourage future applications of eugenics to avoid this unappealing one. This is the right choice as long as the market votes in favor of this post.

There, I used Andreeson's ideas so you can understand it.

[tyleo]

There are political cartoons of kings, politicians, presidents, going back ages. I agree it’s low brow but it isn’t like some line has been crossed.

It’s good to chuckle every once in awhile and I hope even Marc Andreessen gets a laugh when he sees this.

[rexpop]

Bingo! Mocking the elite is a deeply rooted historical tool used to challenge the powerful. Historically, the "carnivalesque" tradition aimed to mock all customary kinds of social hierarchy. By donning masks or mocking those in power, ordinary people could temporarily dissolve the differences between the rich and the poor, challenging the legitimacy of the ruling class. Elites have always feared and suppressed these displays precisely because ridicule has a leveling effect that makes it impossible for them to retain their dignity and authority.

Over the last several decades, a tiny fraction of the wealthiest families in America—the top 0.1%—have effectively transformed the United States into a civil oligarchy, using their unfathomable fortunes to manipulate government policy and the legal system to serve their own financial interests.

Public mockery and collective joy are incredibly effective at forging unity among the powerless. In the face of overwhelming corporate and state power, achieving the immediate joy of solidarity is often a movement's sole source of strength.

[mlsu]

This comment is so not founder mode.

[ToucanLoucan]

Fuck that. All these rich assholes have Carte Blanche all but enshrined in law to make proven-to-be-harmful products free of any liability. The least we should be able to do is make fun of them.

This man and those like him will never have to work again in their fucking lives. They will want for nothing. The world is effectively their theme park. Surely they can bear the psychological weight of mild mockery.

[A_D_E_P_T]

Surely they can, but this particular kind of mockery reflects poorly on the man engaging in it. A person is known by what he does; there are real costs to spending your time engaged in elaborate mockery and vitriol.

If you've read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, think back to the character of the knight:

> And though that he were worthy, he was wys, And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde In al his lyf unto no maner wight.

He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde -- he has never said a villainous word -- in al his lyf unto no maner wight -- in all his life to any kind of person.

One should aspire to be more like a knight and less like a jester.

[rexpop]

You are unbelievably out-of-touch with the state of the world and social relations, although citing twelfth-century verse isn't in itself inexcusably outmoded.

The other poster is right about tit-for-tat. I'm afraid you're giving advice of the "let them eat cake" variety.

In other words, you don't seem to recognize that America not a society of equals.

Maybe I should read Canterbury Tales, though. Is the knight high-born?

[shermantanktop]

Sure. But if you’re going to take the piss, do it upward to those in power.

They will still sleep comfortably on their satin sheets and often badly need a reminder to be wise and meek themselves. Most of them started out like regular humans and can probably be prodded to recall what was like before they were raptured into places where their billions are normal.

[joshuahaglund]

IDK, jesters are running the world and I think Canterbury tales was written before "generous tit for tat" was determined to be the superior game strategy.

[anematode]

Relax, and enjoy drawing on some eggs.

[nutjob2]

I don't understand these simp style comments. Who cares what he's done (debatable itself), everything that he does is open to criticism in whatever way people choose, including mockery, ridicule and contempt. It's not about being honorable, it's about speaking freely.

People like you seem to think people earn some sort of 'indulgence' because of past achievements. They don't.

People like Andresseen, Musk, Thiel have all earned their infamy. It's up to them to change our minds, not us to moderate our opinions.

[pastel8739]

Is contributing to the tech industry and tech culture supposed to be a good thing?

[surgical_fire]

No. His ideas should be mocked and ridiculed, because they are dangerous to humanity.

And much like his ideas should be mocked and ridiculed, the man behind those should be mocked and ridiculed as well.

It's about time we stopped treating rich retards as visionaries just because they are rich.