Speaking about politics and business, Laurel Papworth has posted a fascinating piece on The Philosophy behind the Men behind Facebook. Venture capitalist and “futurist philosopher” (whatever that is) Peter Thiel is an anti-multicultural neocon who sounds like a complete arsehole.
Is it really so wrong to mix business and politics (and religion)?
So last week Apple announced new products. Yawn. The Cult of Apple worshipped their God, and millions of words were written praising His Wisdom. However the most interesting comment I’ve read so far was about the political content of Steve Jobs’ presentation.
Alastair Rankine writes that the Macworld Keynote has moved from slick-but-reality-distorted marketing into the realms of straight-out entertainment, and then criticises Randy Newman’s performance. Not because it was crap (which, being Randy Newman, is inevitable), but because it was political.
Criticism of the Bush administration is something I obviously have a lot of time for. But is it suitable for a consumer product launch? …
Mix politics with business and you take a risk with a relatively small upside but a big downside. If your politics match mine, we are no more likely to do business together than before we knew each other’s positions. But if our politics disagree, this difference becomes a barrier that we each have to overcome in order to do business together.
I’m not arguing for censorship or anything. I’m just saying that the separation of politics and business is crucial for the success of both.
I disagree.
Business is about making money, yes, but sometimes I think it’s wrong to “leave politics at the doorâ€. In fact, is it even possible?
Continue reading “Is it really so wrong to mix business and politics (and religion)?”
Melbourne’s best cocktail bars?
Which are the best cocktail bars in Melbourne? My friend Jay is touring Melbourne bars in late March and is looking for suggestions.
Prussia.Net versus Skank Media: my new business structure
I think I’ve figured out how to explain my business plans for 2008. I’ve written about this previously, but while running errands today I had a brainflash. How does this sound…?
In my new About Stilgherrian page, I wrote:
I’m particularly interested in how new social networking and communication technologies are changing the way we work, play, socialise and organise our societies. Yes, I’m a geek… But I’m not that interested in technology itself. I’m more interested in the social questions.
What does it all mean for your life? Your family? Your business? Your community? For the law and politics? How will it change the very core of what it means to be human?
Well, my brainflash is about how this translates into what the two businesses actually do.
Continue reading “Prussia.Net versus Skank Media: my new business structure”
Sometimes stereotypes are actually right
Just now, in the next street, I saw a very tall, lean black guy wearing Sydney Kings shorts and a singlet. “Gawd,” I thought, “Let’s follow the ghetto basketball stereotype, eh?” Then a Sydney Kings courtesy car, with two of his team-mates inside, pulled up to collect him. Oh. Oops.
Sometimes the very tall, lean black man is a professional basket-player.
Now I’m Twittering
For those that haven’t noticed, I’ve finally caved in and started using Twitter. Twitterings at twitter.com/stilgherrian and in the sidebar of the website. I now have the joy of figuring out how this new data feed will be useful for me (and you). Stand by.