According to a post by techcrunch around 20 or so tech “elites” decided to scamper off to Cyprus to have a little party, of course what tech party is complete without the making of an online video…
These folks posted a video of themselves drinking and having fun while the rest of the world is entering a recession. This begs the questions of “should we be upset about this?” or “should we even care?”
Here’s a snippet from techcrunch describing the party and those who were at it:
“A group of twenty or so tech elite were partying 1999-style in Cyprusthis last week, and posted a lip sync video of the Journey song “Don’t Stop Believing” a couple of days ago. Among the group were Brittany Bohnet of Google, Mike Hudack of Blip.tv, Dave Morin and Aaron Sittig of Facebook, Sam Lessin of Drop.io and Jessica Vascellaro, the Wall Street Journal’s Silicon Valley beat reporter.”
Of course it can be argued that there is nothing wrong with the video, after all it’s just a bunch of guys having fun on vacation in Cyprus, so what’s the big deal?
Well I think the issue here is not that they were having fun, the issue is that making the video public is a bit of a spit in the face of the struggling startups and tech companies that are barely surviving. They could have just as easily made the video private to share with friends and family. I can understand why several people are upset about the video but at the same time I can also understand why a lot of people out there are just saying “who the hell cares?”
So what’s your take on the video? Do you think it was a bad idea or do you not care?
thanks for reading
It's friends who are all part of a scene that digs lipdubs (see collegehumor's dub, or the thousands of knockoffs by searching for lipdub on vimeo). They are doing absolutely nothing wrong, nor spitting in the face of entrepreneurs less successful than them.
Are we really going to require people to hide when they become successful for fear of angering the people who aren't in the same position?
1) It's ridiculous that this made techcrunch, this is valleywag style commentary and does nothing but denigrate our space.
2) I'd be curious of your editorial. Can we afford to encourage jealousy in our space? You're free to disagree with me (on any front), but I really don't think this is/should be newsworthy.
hey tyler, im neutral on this one actually. i mean i can see how during tough times this video may seem a bit harsh for some techies who are either struggling or who have lost their jobs. and on the other hand i agree that it's not really anyone's business that these guys are having fun, if they're successful then more power to them. it seems that it's more a question of timing really, the video just came out during a time when things aren't going quite well in the economy, that still doesn't make it wrong though.
either way i definitely agree that this is not really that newsworthy and definitely should have not been on the front page of techmeme.
thanks for commenting and reading tyler, hope all is well!
The return of Tyco birthday party mentality proves a lack of grace and common sense still prevails in media monopolies. If ever there was an occasion to be sensitive to the Zeitgeist of our times this was it.
I think it’s fine and dandy that they had this party that they posted the video and made it public. To me it shows hope and what hard work can do when it pays off. They have all, presumably, worked hard to get to where they are and putting up a video like that of themselves having fun during a recession brings a little light to the gloom and doom of what’s going on right now. It inspires me to work hard now so that if we go through this again in the future I can be the one making that video.
It's friends who are all part of a scene that digs lipdubs (see collegehumor's dub, or the thousands of knockoffs by searching for lipdub on vimeo). They are doing absolutely nothing wrong, nor spitting in the face of entrepreneurs less successful than them.
Are we really going to require people to hide when they become successful for fear of angering the people who aren't in the same position?
1) It's ridiculous that this made techcrunch, this is valleywag style commentary and does nothing but denigrate our space.
2) I'd be curious of your editorial. Can we afford to encourage jealousy in our space? You're free to disagree with me (on any front), but I really don't think this is/should be newsworthy.
hey tyler, im neutral on this one actually. i mean i can see how during tough times this video may seem a bit harsh for some techies who are either struggling or who have lost their jobs. and on the other hand i agree that it's not really anyone's business that these guys are having fun, if they're successful then more power to them. it seems that it's more a question of timing really, the video just came out during a time when things aren't going quite well in the economy, that still doesn't make it wrong though.
either way i definitely agree that this is not really that newsworthy and definitely should have not been on the front page of techmeme.
thanks for commenting and reading tyler, hope all is well!
@michael
I definitely see your point here. it’s tough to take sides on this one because i dont think the folks who released the video intended for it to be take so harshly, they were just having a good time. however being sensitive to the overall startup situation is probably something that we should all consider.
thanks for reading and commenting
@josh
you do make a good point re: inspiration. there are multiple ways to look at the release of the video and an inspirational instrument is not one that many discuss. I’m glad it inspires you and I do hope that it inspires others as well.
definitely hope you will be in one of those videos soon 🙂
thanks for reading and commenting
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