What is with all these jerkoffs who think a handful of examples of overcoming adversity invalidate everyone else's struggle against futility? Jesus, get some perspective.
I think it's about ego. Most people who overcome adversity tend to have a strong desire to tell everyone about it, because the subtext is "I'm awesome!" And the logical extension is, "If people aren't able to overcome adversity like I did, they aren't as awesome as me!"
You're also witnessing survivorship bias. Those who struggle against futility and don't make it through are unlikely to come to places like HN and tell their stories. Indeed, the only failure stories we see here are from entrepreneurs, and that's only because entrepreneurship as a whole is worshipped among hackers and failing at it is therefore seen as noble and applauded as another step on the way to inevitable success.
enraged_camel|10 years ago
You're also witnessing survivorship bias. Those who struggle against futility and don't make it through are unlikely to come to places like HN and tell their stories. Indeed, the only failure stories we see here are from entrepreneurs, and that's only because entrepreneurship as a whole is worshipped among hackers and failing at it is therefore seen as noble and applauded as another step on the way to inevitable success.