>> People start thinking in terms of other people's perception of the business, for raising cash. Like prostitutes.<p>This. The only startup vitamin poster you will ever need.
Sorry, but Taleb just seems to have turned into a bitter old man. Yes, that's personal, but that's my point. A lot of his arguments really boil down to criticizing people's personal characteristics rather than challenging their arguments.<p>Earlier Taleb wasn't like this (although the seeds of bitterness were there). The works he is known for are pretty solid, interesting and thoughtful.<p>This is one of several blogs posts/comments/articles he's written lately where it really just serves as platform for criticizing all those people "who don't take risks", or "bureaucrats."<p>Bottom line: he's just not that interesting any more.
can't believe this has only 8 upvotes and largely ignored by people because it's the inconvenient truth about startups, largely founded by people who are empty suits, highly optmisic headless chickens who are against risk taking and juice behind the charisma.<p>I think it's great that HN is celebrating nassim taleb's black swan theory with the black bar at the top