Dev criticizes 'Tall Poppy' mindset after publishing AI research within months of starting
menhguin · x · 2026-10-29
Developer menhguin criticized the "Tall Poppy" sentiment: people used to wasting their own time are eager to waste other people's time because it feels "fair." He says it was especially common in Singapore (citing national service) and everywhere outside the SF/NYC bubble.
He contrasts his own experience — knowing people who "got rich" in months and publishing AI research within months of starting — with a 40-year-old university admin in Singapore calling a mandatory 1-2 year course not a long time to waste. "A person is only in their 20s once," he adds — better spent on work you care about, risk-taking, travel, and love.
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