What the fuck happened to nerds

Competition, Culture, and “Nerd” Archetype

• Some see a generational shift toward hypercompetitive CS programs and workplaces: extreme selectivity, resume arms races, “win by any means” attitudes.
• Supporters liken it to high-intensity cultures that “built” other countries; critics call it sociopathic, self-defeating, and corrosive to both ethics and innovation.
• Disagreement over hiring: one side treats ruthless competition as natural law; others point to arbitrary, pedigree‑driven screening that ignores real talent.
• Several argue the discussion isn’t really about “competition” or “nerds” but about a specific type of founder and leadership culture.

Money, MBAs, and Ideology

• Strong theme: tech shifted from “solve problems” to “maximize money via network effects,” unicorns, and financialization.
• Some blame MBAs, bankers, and boards; others counter that most big tech leaders are engineers and the profit‑maximizing mindset has been present since early VC days.
• A complementary view: deeper ideological commitment to efficiency and “value” leads to treating people and institutions as expendable if they don’t optimize metrics.
• Ads, surveillance, and acquisition of ad companies are cited as inflection points that turned users into the product.

Power, Politics, and the State

• Commenters argue giant tech firms now resemble defense contractors: deeply intertwined with government, policy, and military contracts.
• Once companies reach that scale, countercultural or “don’t be evil” posturing becomes incompatible with their role.
• Some blame technologists for avoiding politics and thus losing control over how technology is used.

Nostalgia, Morality, and “Real Nerds”

• Multiple posts challenge nostalgia: past “nerds” were constrained by fewer options, not necessarily more virtuous; given today’s tools and incentives, they might behave similarly.
• Others insist there is a real difference between principled nerds (obsessed with craft, humble, uninterested in status) and mercenary “nerdface” grifters.
• Some claim principled nerds still exist but have been displaced from mainstream leadership into smaller, independent spaces.

Broader Society and Attention

• Tech is seen as performing at the same moral baseline as the rest of society, where principles are often liabilities and lying can be rewarded.
• Attention economy and social media are blamed for incentivizing everyone—including nerds and even non‑tech professions—to chase visibility over substance.