https://youtu.be/DL-kwZdkiOA?si=yEfezcfmBTxUgt9z Paulina Borsook is an American writer, journalist, and cultural critic who gained prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s for her sharp, early, and prescient observations of the emerging tech industry culture, particularly in Silicon Valley. She is best known for her book "Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp Through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High-Tech." Her background as a former editor at Wired magazine in its early days gave her an insider's perspective, which she used not to celebrate the industry, but to deliver one of its first and most scathing cultural critiques. --- The Core of Her Critique: "Cyberselfish" and Beyond Borsook's critique, primarily articulated in Cyberselfish (2000), was groundbreaking because it arrived at the peak of the first dot-com boom, when mainstream media was largely uncritical and celebratory of the "new economy." She challenged the very heart of the tech world's self-image. Here are the key pillars of her critique: 1. Libertarian Ideology and Social Irresponsibility This is the central thesis of Cyberselfish. Borsook argued that the tech elite of the 1990s were overwhelmingly and dogmatically libertarian. · Ayn Rand's Influence: She pointed to the profound influence of Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, which champions radical [[Individualism]], self-interest, and a rejection of collectivism and altruism. · Contempt for Government and the Public Sector: This libertarian mindset bred a deep-seated contempt for government, taxation, and public institutions like public schools, libraries, and social welfare programs. The tech elite saw these as inefficient, parasitic, and impediments to [[progress]]. · The "Cyberselfish" Mentality: The title itself is a play on "cyberspace" and "selfish." She argued that this ideology resulted in a lack of social conscience. Having benefited from public infrastructure (e.g., the internet itself, which sprang from DARPA), they were now pulling the ladder up behind them, resisting taxes that would fund the society that enabled their success. 2. Lack of Empathy and Social Grace Borsook described the culture of Silicon Valley as emotionally stunted and socially inept. · Engineering Mindset: She critiqued the dominance of the engineering worldview, which prioritizes logic, efficiency, and quantifiable data above all else. This, she argued, led to a devaluation of "soft" skills like empathy, emotional intelligence, and the humanities. · Arrogance and Elitism: The belief that they were building the future created a culture of immense arrogance. Tech entrepreneurs saw themselves as a new meritocratic elite, smarter and more visionary than those in "old" industries or government, and therefore not bound by traditional social contracts. 3. Political Naiveté and Ahistoricism She accused the tech elite of being politically naive and ignorant of history. · Belief in Technological Solutionism: They held a utopian belief that [[Technology]] alone could solve complex social and political problems, a concept now widely known as "solutionism." This ignored the deep-rooted, human nature of these issues. · Disregard for History: Their focus on the "new" and the "next" meant they had little interest in or respect for historical context, leading them to repeat old mistakes and believe their challenges were entirely unprecedented. 4. Hostility to Femininity and the Arts In a famous essay, "The Memoirs of a Token: An Aging Berkeley Feminist Examines Wired," she detailed the misogyny and sexism she experienced at Wired. · Bro Culture: Long before the term "brogrammer" was coined, Borsook identified a deeply ingrained, boyish, and often exclusionary culture that was hostile to women, femininity, and feminist perspectives. · Disdain for the Humanities: She noted a general disdain for artists, writers, and anyone working outside the STEM fields. Culture, unless it could be "disrupted" or monetized, was seen as irrelevant. --- Why Her Critique Was Prescient and Influential Paulina Borsook was a voice in the wilderness, but her critiques have proven remarkably durable and foresighted. · She Predicted the Backlash: At a time when tech was universally praised, she accurately forecast the growing public resentment toward the arrogance and wealth of the tech elite. · A Blueprint for Later Criticism: Many of the issues she identified in 2000 have become central to the mainstream critique of Big Tech today: · Tech Billionaires and Philanthropy: Her critique of "cyberselfishness" foreshadowed debates about whether billionaire philanthropy is a responsible substitute for a well-funded public sector funded by fair taxation. · The "Gig Economy" and Deregulation: The libertarian drive to dismantle regulation is at the heart of controversies surrounding companies like Uber and Airbnb. · Silicon Valley's "Brotopia": Her early writings on sexism in tech were a precursor to the #MeToo revelations and broader discussions about the industry's toxic "bro culture." · Algorithmic Bias: Her warning about the engineering mindset's lack of empathy connects directly to modern concerns about AI and algorithms that encode human [[Biases]] because their creators failed to consider diverse perspectives. Summary In essence, Paulina Borsook provided the first coherent and deeply-researched cultural critique of the Silicon Valley mindset. She moved beyond the hype to analyze the underlying philosophy—a toxic blend of libertarianism, arrogance, and emotional immaturity—that she believed was driving the industry. While her tone was often biting and polemical, her work has stood the test of time, serving as a crucial early warning about the social and ethical challenges that would later define the relationship between Big Tech and the rest of society. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`