So you were dishonest and bragged about it in a blog post with your name and picture. Some of the very people you tricked may even be reading it now that it made the front page of Hacker News.
You'd think that you would have learned something after spending so much time with so many successful people. Apparently not.
After reading this article, I sat for some time and pondered whether I should come to the same conclusion. It's not as if he didn't leave that as a possible reaction and one he was aware many would adopt.
I concluded that he is a hacker who is eternally curious and likes to figure out the dynamics of unknown systems by jumping in to them and doing experiments on the systems in real time. This is an effective and efficient method of developing understanding through the use of the scientific method.
If he used this attribute of curiosity, analysis, and control over fear to make a career of defrauding people then I would conclude he was a criminal, such as the folks who are using the trust people place in software developers to steal people's address books. But he is not at that point, this is not a career, but rather an experiment. At this point.
On the other hand, I am certain though that if these practices become widespread at all there will be a crackdown that will make events less pleasant for all. Therefore, although I enjoyed this article I believe his most significant sin here is publicizing these methods as something for others to emulate. There can be no outcome to this except to increase the amount of surveillance and suspicion in the world. Better to keep such youthful escapades as a story told to friends and family.
I have to disagree, kindly of course. Since I don't know the gentleman, anything I say has to be taken with that in mind.
Most of us come here to laud and admire our fellows that are tenacious and ingenious enough to invent, create, market, sell, or hack their way to success. This fellow has done no different.
As he says near the beginning of the article, he knew where he wanted to be but didn't have the resources or connections to get there. So he figured out a way to achieve those goals. This is the epitome of what I love about hackers.
I also don't see a problem with his talking about it publicly. His intention wasn't to spend his entire life sneaking into parties. It was to make connections with people that would let him do things he'd be unable to otherwise. Assuming that he's done that, then talking about how he got to where he is now is perfectly fine.
I'll say that his style of writing does come off with a certain tone of braggadocio, but otherwise its an interesting and well written account.
I don't think this party crashing has brought him significantly closer to his success goals. Not once did he give an example of a time he was able to successfully leverage a new connection to his benefit. He basically name dropped a handful of famous people that he met one time, but that's it.
The only benefit I see is that he's actively stepping out of his comfort zone. This is valuable, however, it's at the cost of charity. There are better ways to go about exercising this character trait.
I've seen it work for him in person in Austin about 7 years ago. I think (some) local entrepreneurs value his gusto. His reasons seem different than party crashers from DC, he just does extraordinary things to be able to talk to successful people.
That said, most people will not be able to replicate.
> he knew where he wanted to be but didn't have the resources or connections to get there. So he figured out a way to achieve those goals.
I want to have a hundred million dollars. I think I can figure out a way to achieve that goal easily…
That's an absurd stretch of course, but the analogy holds. The end does not justify the means. Crashing a party for fun is harmless (and pointless), but basing your professional life on deceit won't do you any good.
> Most of us come here to laud and admire our fellows that are tenacious and ingenious enough to invent, create, market, sell, or hack their way to success. This fellow has done no different.
The overwhelming difference is: the real hackers who are actually successful actually created something while he got to talk to some people he religiously admires (creepy) and he found a way to get free booze. Wow, what a success story!
That got me right off the bat. He spends all this time crashing parties to rub elbows with who he wants to be and he didn't talk about anything he accomplished as a result, save for the rush of going where he wasn't supposed to be and the free drinks.
I was really confused that he'd state this and provide his real name. I can see him crashing for the lolz or general social practice, but I can't believe, in light of the post, that he is doing this to build connections.
Then again, there is something to be said just for getting your name out there. Plenty of people won't care about the ethical considerations.
I kind of agree, i felt a little weird about him sayong all that stuff with his full name behind it, but then i think back to all the clubs i snuck into as a teen and talked my way into once i was of age. In the clubs once security or the doorman vouches for you you're golden so the trick is to know the staff well. Then when there's a pr company flack managing a tight ass door you've got support of the bouncers if you're not waved in by pr. I'd hate to see door crashing involve breaking any laws or hurting charities when it is so easy to attend a list events via befriending every doorman /bouncer in town on a text message basis. Cant say i have the energy for much of that anymore however. Once i hit 25 i started wanting to workin the day and party for my own enjoyment at night. Schmoozing 24/7 while also working on a project is exhausting
I actually admire the author's determination to try/test/throw himself at his crazy ideas! Just browsing his blog I can see that he has done a few experiments and I wish I could do the same with my ideas.
In the end it is just a guy who is hacking his way through life. Mistakes are part of the process.
You'd think that you would have learned something after spending so much time with so many successful people. Apparently not.