Peter Thiel talks about Apple's demise, politics, and Silicon Valley sex lives in NYT interview

[midian182]

During Donald Trump’s presidential run, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel was one of the Republican’s few supporters from the tech world, donating $1.25 million to the President-elect’s campaign. Now, the Facebook board member has spoken to The New York Times’ Maureen Dows about a subjects such as the Muslim registry, Apple’s demise, and Silicon Valley’s lack of sex.

Talking about the infamous Billy Bush tape, Thiel said: “On the one hand, the tape was clearly offensive and inappropriate. At the same time, I worry there’s a part of Silicon Valley that is hyper-politically correct about sex. One of my friends has a theory that the rest of the country tolerates Silicon Valley because people there just don’t have that much sex. They’re not having that much fun.”

Thiel’s views on the sex lives of Silicon Valley workers could be accurate. A 2012 survey of 10 major US cities by condom maker Trojan showed that Bay Area residents have the least amount of sex per year and the shortest sessions.

In a “confirm or deny” piece, Dows asked Thiel if the age of Apple was over. Despite remaining the biggest tech firm in the world, it’s a question other people have asked in the wake of the good-but-familiar iPhone 7.

"Confirm. We know what a smartphone looks like and does. It's not the fault of Tim Cook, but it's not an area where there will be any more innovation," he replied.

Back in December, tech workers from a number of large firms pledged that they would never help build one Donald Trump’s most controversial proposals: a Muslim registry. It was suspected that data-mining company Palantir, where Thiel is chairman, would be one firm that co-operated - but it seems this isn’t the case. Asked if the company would be involved in the registry’s construction, Thiel said: “We would not do that.”

Thiel also took the opportunity to speak about Trump, saying the incoming president was "very good on gay rights" Adding: "I don’t think he will reverse anything. I would obviously be concerned if I thought otherwise." 

Thiel also revealed he prefers capitalist Star Wars to communist Star Trek, talked about his quest to live forever (“Why is everyone else so indifferent about their mortality?”), and, when asked about Obama and political corruption, said: “[T]here’s a point where no corruption can be a bad thing. It can mean that things are too boring.”

But Thiel’s most memorable quote came when he was asked about Facebook being a political echo chamber. “There’s nobody you know who knows anybody. There’s nobody you know who knows anybody who knows anybody, ad infinitum.” Indeed.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/67753-peter-thiel-talks-about-apple-demise-politics-silicon.html

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

There's nothing like a bit of controversy get ones blood boiling and I hope he's right about a lot of them.

 

[MonsterZero]

"There’s nobody you know who knows anybody" - Really? Now he's stealing movie quotes and trying to use them as his own?

 

[wiyosaya]

As I see it, what Thiel has expressed is an opinion. It reminds me of the opinion of a grade or high school student specifically in that he equates sex with fun. While many see sex as fun, it is not the only source of fun, and in his opinion on sex, I see a lack of humility and maturity.

I once worked with a person who was a philanderer. While I am sure there are some who are TS members that will argue that he was living the life, I viewed him as one of the most shallow people I ever knew. In many cases, he deceived his targets to hit the bull's eye and has been an enabler in trashing some lives along the way.

Seems to me that it is a common trait among tech company leaders that have made it "big" to think that they know it all and they can predict the future. What I have observed is that several of those leaders tend to take simple problems and devise solutions for those problems that are way more complex than necessary. When those leaders start to extol those signs, then I start taking everything they say with the proverbial grain of salt. Some of those leaders will state exactly the opposite of what they really think because not doing so would tarnish their image. They claim to not care about being "politically correct," but fail to mention that they, themselves, could care less about being brutally honest and will be dishonest when it suits them.

These days, it is a difficult endeavor to be on the top and to be humble. In my eyes, humility is an absolute necessity for clear vision of the world. IMO, I have seen true humility from very few who are among the world's current leaders.

 

[Beerfloat]

He sounds like a confused contrarian-for-contrarianism's-sake.

As for his Trump support, while I have no illusions I can affect his bottom line in the slightest, Paypal has joined Oculus Rift on my list of companies that I can't ethically justify using as long as alternatives are available.

 

[Kunming]

He's such a disgusting person. Also, come on, there already IS a muslim registry. It's called facebook!

 

[Bluescreendeath]

He sounds like a confused contrarian-for-contrarianism's-sake.

As for his Trump support, while I have no illusions I can affect his bottom line in the slightest, Paypal has joined Oculus Rift on my list of companies that I can't ethically justify using as long as alternatives are available.

Ah, you're another one of those "boycott everything from the political opposition" types.

Boycott Hollywood/Star Wars for being left wing! Boycott LL Bean/Chik a Filet/energy companies/Wallstreet/etc for being right wing! Boycott Paypal, Mobile Exxon, Banks, Amazon, Tesla, etc! Did you know that the farming/agricultural counties in California voted for Donald Trump? Are you going to start boycotting avocadoes and nuts now? Not to mention the red states that went for Trump produces most of the crops (eg. corn, wheat, etc), manufactured goods, cars, machinery, etc.

Boycotts from both sides of the political spectrum always seem to be display a good deal of selective hypocrisy if not ignorance.

 

[Beerfloat]

Boycotts from both sides of the political spectrum always seem to be display a good deal of selective hypocrisy if not ignorance.

This is no ordinary political spectrum and these are not just voters. Key figures from these companies actively sought to bring about our current predicament. I will most certainly factor that in when choosing where to send my money.

 

[risc32]

As I see it, what Thiel has expressed is an opinion. It reminds me of the opinion of a grade or high school student specifically in that he equates sex with fun. While many see sex as fun, it is not the only source of fun, and in his opinion on sex, I see a lack of humility and maturity.

I once worked with a person who was a philanderer. While I am sure there are some who are TS members that will argue that he was living the life, I viewed him as one of the most shallow people I ever knew. In many cases, he deceived his targets to hit the bull's eye and has been an enabler in trashing some lives along the way.

Seems to me that it is a common trait among tech company leaders that have made it "big" to think that they know it all and they can predict the future. What I have observed is that several of those leaders tend to take simple problems and devise solutions for those problems that are way more complex than necessary. When those leaders start to extol those signs, then I start taking everything they say with the proverbial grain of salt. Some of those leaders will state exactly the opposite of what they really think because not doing so would tarnish their image. They claim to not care about being "politically correct," but fail to mention that they, themselves, could care less about being brutally honest and will be dishonest when it suits them.

These days, it is a difficult endeavor to be on the top and to be humble. In my eyes, humility is an absolute necessity for clear vision of the world. IMO, I have seen true humility from very few who are among the world's current leaders.

the article stated that this lack of sex idea was from a friend of his.. so, good try...?
"true humanity from very few world leaders"? duh, most are socialist toilets unfortunately

beerfloat, if you are referring to our current predicament as the coming trump admin or the disaster that our soon to be diparted admin has leveled on the planet? I'm guessing the former. just take solace knowing that you aren't alone in your thinking. most of the planet is probably with you. see what I typed just above this as reference....

 

[ekg84]

Thiel is a very intelligent guy and contributed a lot to tech industry.

Someone, however, needs to explain to Peter the difference between talking about sex and bragging about grabbing women by their vaginas against their will, you know the stuff that normal people consider sexual harassment at least and sexual assault at most.

And then, too little corruption is a bad thing now cause it's boring? Are you effing serious? It's like saying that low murder rates are a bad thing cause it makes life too boring. It's just an insane thing to say.