Maybe in the wake of a failed startup I deluded myself into thinking great teams are predicated on great friendships, a truism that no longer holds absolute truth.
Perhaps there's a misunderstanding of what a friendship is in a business context. The cofounders have to have been friends for quite awhile, otherwise the stress will tear them apart. But they probably don't have to be dear friends, or the kind of friend you hug. It's just business.
to those like me who held the institution on a pedestal
This seems the central issue. YC is ultimately about business. It's awesome, it's changed the world and my life, but having expectations that it's going to be fun and that you're there with dear friends seems off the mark. But I've never done YC, so this is just speculation on my part.
Airbnb provides a lot of help for people without a lot of money. I would've been in a bad position if not for Airbnb.
Dropbox has made my life a lot less stressful.
HN gives us all so many opportunities. For example, the monthly "who is hiring?" threads. If anyone is suddenly stricken with a run of bad luck, then they can make a post about it and the community will come together to at least offer them work. People here like talent, and can find ways to use it. Most other places aren't like that. And imagine a world with only Reddit.
Also, imagine a world with no HN and no Reddit.
YC has made seed funding more accessible, and given founders more power. The VC's had the upper hand before YC. Now the VCs seem to be closer to servants than masters. If I decide to do a startup, that will impact me.
Probably some other things I haven't thought of off hand.
Nothing important in life is easy. That being said, this is also figure of speech. I don't think it's overly enlightening to be literal in reading this. Things don't become fun when they are or become chores; like dirty laundry. {etc}. But who knows.
Is YC fun? Not the dinners. The work you're there to do.
It seems like doing a successful startup is closer to this than to fun: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7222850
Maybe in the wake of a failed startup I deluded myself into thinking great teams are predicated on great friendships, a truism that no longer holds absolute truth.
Perhaps there's a misunderstanding of what a friendship is in a business context. The cofounders have to have been friends for quite awhile, otherwise the stress will tear them apart. But they probably don't have to be dear friends, or the kind of friend you hug. It's just business.
to those like me who held the institution on a pedestal
This seems the central issue. YC is ultimately about business. It's awesome, it's changed the world and my life, but having expectations that it's going to be fun and that you're there with dear friends seems off the mark. But I've never done YC, so this is just speculation on my part.