[lsc]

>they were part of a modern day ponzi scheme that would blow up once Facebook become uncool.

but isn't this like 80% of silicon valley, at this point? I mean even google is now trying to become facebook; and the rest of us are just trying to get acquired by one of the giants, or trying to sell something to the Engineers who are in one of those groups.

I mean, seriously, glass houses; be careful with them rocks.

[wutbrodo]

What? Even assuming that Google is trying to become Facebook and that everyone is "trying to get acquired", why do those situations preclude trying to create something that you believe has actual value (vs the complete, blatant ripoffs and spammy crap that Zynga pushes). You're free to disagree that Zynga's games _are_ spammy ripoffs, but you didn't seem to take issue with that part of the parent comment's post, and saying that the rest of the Valley is engaged in the same behavior is downright silly.

[lsc]

>Even assuming that Google is trying to become Facebook and that everyone is "trying to get acquired", why do those situations preclude trying to create something that you believe has actual value[?]

well, assuming you honestly believe that facebook creates enough real value to justify it's valuation, sure, you are right. My take on the matter is that it's myspace 2.0. I mean, no question, it's worth something, but not nearly what it's valued at right now. I personally have a very difficult time believing that anyone who was working in the industry during the first dot-com can honestly believe that facebook is a sustainable business.

The only people I know who honestly espouse the view that facebook is fairly valued are facebook employees. (Interestingly, I know no facebook employees who were working during the first dot com.)

I mean, maybe these people all really believe exactly what their paymasters want them to believe? Personally, I find that thought far more creepy than the idea that they are just faking it because that's what the employer requires. Certainly there is some selection effect; you are more likely to apply for a facebook job if you believe the company is going somewhere? but it's weird. I remember one guy who is probably the staunchest facebook advocate I know now, he was extremely cynical about facebook before he got the job. Of course, he's also pretty young, too young to have worked through the first dot-com.

The weird thing is that I know a bunch of people who work for defense contractors, too... a place where you'd expect a certain level of brainwashing. None of those people believe their companies are doing good things for the world. Not one. I mean, they generally think the work is really interesting, but they don't believe at all in the end goals. (and I do have some conservative friends... it's just that none of them work for defense contractors.)

But then, what do I know? I find that what I consider to be 'spammy crap' is a pretty good heuristic for what most people want. I don't use facebook because it consists almost entirely of what I would call spammy crap. Spammy crap and baby pictures.