Crying about not being rich enough (NY Times)

Is it the NY Times article that "sucks," as you so graciously put it, or are you more bothered by the ugliness that the article uncovered? The reporter quoted the individuals in question, presumably properly attributing what was said and by whom, so who's to blame for the resulting impression you took away as a reader?

The article is merely a depiction of what the reporter found, albeit filtered through his own sensibilities and assumptions. From your comments above, I think you are projecting your disgust at the wrong target. Maybe you should be angry at the dissatisfied millionaires of Silicon Valley, not at the messenger who revealed their self-involved angst and envy.

@BradKC: Fair enough. I was just so annoyed that I didn't edit myself well. The article is lame for 2 reasons:
1. It depicts these guys as somewhat pathetic
2. They are not pathetic--both guys that I know are smart and very cool

The reporter chose to make the profiles unkind if ironic. I also find it disappointing that 2 guys whose recent careers have depended on the kindness of developers who do lots of work for free would have the audacity to complain.

Dave,
maybe because you know some of these guys you're sensitive to how they were portrayed. I don't know anyone in the article but I think Rivlin madea a pretty accurate assessment of Silicon Valley.

Remember this: "Only the rich can say they're not in it for the money." And in Silicon Valley a coupla million doesn't make you rich. That's just the reality of living in an expensive city. The same is true in New York or London.

Actually, a couple of friends of mine, both with an MD and Ph.D. are moving down there and shocked at the cost of living - they will be living in cramped conditions but luckily are still fresh out of post-grad at the UW so they don't expect much more.

My brother, an international lawyer in NYC, who earns maybe five times what I do, lives in a place that is the size of my living room.

Depends on where you are.

I've taken these kinds of profiles with a grain of salt ever since I was interviewed by a NY Times reporter about fifteen years ago. I was young, naive, and flattered to receive an interview request from such a prestigious paper. I spent twenty minutes giving a glowing review of a particular organization and about how terrific the people involved were. The reporter was very sympathetic and really seemed to understand my points. When the article came out, I was mortified to see that it was little more than a hatchet job against an institution that had helped me and many others. A one sentence quote of mine made it into the article, and it was taken so far out of context that it made it sound like I had a miserable experience with the organization, even though I spent the entire conversation talking about how terrific it was. The sentence was accurately transcribed, but the meaning was completely discarded. It was clear that the article was more or less written before anyone was interviewed, and that the reporter was merely trolling for quotes that fit her narrative. I learned that day that the imprimatur of a prestigious newspaper did not necessarily imply truth or journalistic integrity.

I've seen a few articles over the years in the Times and other publications that had similar characteristics, and I have a feeling that the folks interviewed for this one are not at all happy with the NY Times today.

There are a few handy interview guides out on the net -- if you are not experienced with the press, it is worth reading them before accepting an interview request!

It's only a rat race if you participate. Maybe the next issue will have Bill Gates lamenting his fall to #2--"I can't believe I only have $57 billion!".

Handkerchiefs all around, snif-snif.

Well, speaking for myself (since I can't speak for what the other folks said or the context in which they were quoted), I had a very cordial (if not long) converstation with Gary. It was a rather "matter of fact" discussion sprinkled with anecdotes, but certainly not lamenting anything.