Saturday, September 24, 2016

Billionaire tech superstar revealed to be Trump supporting "shitposter."

Courtesy of the Daily Beast: 

A Silicon Valley titan is putting money behind an unofficial Donald Trump group dedicated to “shitposting” and circulating internet memes maligning Hillary Clinton. 

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey financially backed a pro-Trump political organization called Nimble America, a self-described “social welfare 501(c)4 non-profit” in support of the Republican nominee. 

Luckey sold his virtual reality company Oculus to Facebook for $2 billion in 2014, and Forbes estimates his current net worth to be $700 million. The 24-year-old told The Daily Beast that he had used the pseudonym “NimbleRichMan” on Reddit with a password given to him by the organization’s founders. 

Nimble America says it’s dedicated to proving that “shitposting is powerful and meme magic is real,” according to the company’s introductory statement, and has taken credit for a billboard its founders say was posted outside of Pittsburgh with a cartoonishly large image of Clinton’s face alongside the words “Too Big to Jail.”

So I have a confession to make. I don't only think about politics 24 hours a day.

And one of the things that really attracts my attention outside of the world of politics, are new technologies.

And virtual reality has been extremely interesting to me.

Because of that interest I have been following Palmer Luckey and his work on the Oculus Rift for years now.

And now those two interests are colliding in a very uncomfortable manner.

Courtesy of the Guardian: 

“We know Hillary Clinton is corrupt, a warmonger, a freedom-stripper. Not the good kind you see dancing in bikinis on Independence Day, the bad kind that strips freedom from citizens and grants it to donors,” Luckey wrote on a Reddit thread introducing his initiative, using the pseudonym NimbleRichMan. 

Luckey’s support for Trump may be unusual in a tech industry that has a tendency to support Democrats, but it is his embrace of the dark side of Trump’s internet army that is so alarming. We may be used to the incredibly wealthy supporting pro-business politicians by writing checks to the Republican party, but the full-on embrace of “shitposting” and the bigoted online harassment that so often comes with it is something else entirely. 

Shitposting is not intended to add to an online discussion but to shut it down with, well, shit. It is the opposite of the ideals of good faith, open discussion made possible by the internet.

So yeah it's not just that Luckey supports a highly divisive candidate, who attracts support from some of the most hate filled people in the country, but that he also financially supports, and participates in shitposting, which is essentially the kind of uber trolling that most of us here have seen frequently.

And it is made worse by the fact that Luckey at first tried to minimize his participation in the group by going on Facebook and saying this:  

I am deeply sorry that my actions are negatively impacting the perception of Oculus and its partners.The recent news stories about me do not accurately represent my views. 

Here’s more background: I contributed $10,000 to Nimble America because I thought the organization had fresh ideas on how to communicate with young voters through the use of several billboards. 

I am a libertarian who has publicly supported Ron Paul and Gary Johnson in the past, and I plan on voting for Gary in this election as well. I am committed to the principles of fair play and equal treatment. I did not write the "NimbleRichMan" posts, nor did I delete the account. Reports that I am a founder or employee of Nimble America are false. I don’t have any plans to donate beyond what I have already given to Nimble America. 

Still, my actions were my own and do not represent Oculus. I’m sorry for the impact my actions are having on the community.

Unfortunately for Luckey one of the Daily Beast reporters tweeted this e-mail exchange where Lucky admits that he is "NimbleRichMan" and that he did indeed write those posts on Reddit.
Ouch, that means Luckey has just been caught lying to his many, many supporters.

And that is not good because Luckey is the cherubic face of one of the hottest pieces of technology to come along in a decade or more, and there are literally billions and billions on the line.

What's more there are many competitors on the horizon, including Sony, who are more than likely going to take advantage of this news to pull consumers away from the Oculus Rift, which could cost investors, including Facebook,  hundreds of millions of dollars in the long run.

If that happens this could be yet another case of an association with Donald Trump negatively impacting a company, and literally destroying a young man's career.

Though to be honest it is a little hard to feel too much sympathy for a guy in his twenties who made 2 billion on a device that he started building in his garage.

28 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:07 PM

    What's the connection (if any) between Palmer Unluckey the shitposter funder and the Palins?

    How about the possible connection (if any) between the notorious IM shitposting trolls and this Palmer Unluckey fool?

    Inquiring minds want to now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your little blog here isn't even on their radar. You put way to much importance on IM. We know why Gryphon's enjoys virtual reality, all his girlfriend's originate there.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:48 PM

      DGM, this unimportant little blog sure does take a lot of your attention. I for one don't have time for websites where things clearly annoy me or for engaging people just to antagonize them. Why don't you have a life?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:56 AM

      4:36; what language was that? Please learn English, then come back and tell us your thoughts.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous3:55 PM

      What's a "Gryphon"?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2:16 PM

    At 24 with that much cash, he could retire to an island and live out his life drinking pina coladas and never work another day. I think he should...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:35 PM

      He *could*.

      But he went from $2 BILLION to $700 MILLION in a matter of two years.

      This guy is gonna be broke in another two years.

      I'm thinking he's a one trick pony and will never have another billion dollar idea again. Even if he did, who is going to do business with this lying piece of shit after he poisoned the well for Facebook for Oculus?

      Delete
  3. Anonymous2:28 PM

    The only thing I know about the Oculus thing is from a South Park episode "Oculus rift". This stuff isn't even real, right?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I thought this was a very informative post in that it kind of puts to rest the theory that many trolls are paid to be assholes on the internet.

    Here is a guy with more money than he probably knows what to do with, and plenty of interesting distractions with which to occupy himself, and he devotes time (And money) to engage in what is decidedly one of the lowest forms of expression that we can imagine.

    That tells me at least that there is some visceral thrill from trolling, which I simply cannot comprehend.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous2:38 PM

    OT but any thoughts on the lesser PFD? It seems that most don't care that it's only $1000 as we end up having to pay less tax than on a $2000 PFD.

    A few seem to be butthurt, any feelings from fellow Alaskans?

    We always put half towards APRN thru pick-click-give to lower taxes but this year means that our favorite charity is getting less. Does anyone really even care except for a few that PFD is only half what it should be?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous2:40 PM

    O/T: Gryphen, you may have already seen this, but was just on Instagram and Bristol's obnoxious Family Leave post is gone. Wonder why...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous3:06 PM

    Trump will forever be known as the Fake on the Take

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous3:15 PM

    I just got back from a week overseas. No mention of US elections (I was at a conference) except for when the young lady from Malawi asked how I will like having a female president. Yep these (mostly young) international students don't even consider Trump a contender.

    It was so nice to have a break from politics I think I'll unfollow all the political tweeters, skip the debates, and try to recreate a peaceful week in the African bush.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:38 PM

      I was in Italy in June and they thought Hillary was already elected the next president.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous3:32 PM

    A 501(c)(4) can't exist only to support a candidate. IRS restricts 501(c)(4)'s to less than half their expenditures on political activities. So the IRS might like to know what Nimble America's up to.

    But frankly, I don't see how Luckey's doing anything different from what David Brock's doing in support of Clinton. Brock is a guy with more money than he probably knows what to do with and plenty of interesting distractions with which to occupy himself, too and he also devotes his time and energy to engage in and pay others to engage in some pretty low forms of expression against anyone who opposes or criticizes Clinton. You didn't object to Brock's smears against Sanders in the primary. Is it despicable for Luckey because Luckey's doing it for the candidate you oppose?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:45 PM

      Nobody gives a fuck about your fake Democrat. He was never going to be president. Get the fuck over it and get a fucking life!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:27 PM

      Clinton supporters are as charming as Trump supporters.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous6:24 PM

      Clinton supports don't like convenient Democrats.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous7:05 PM

      Bernie is no better than Trump running as a Republican. Same manipulation, to get where they want to be.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous3:55 PM

    He looks like the type of kid that no one would play with so he created his own virtual friends and turned to evil.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous6:19 PM

    Did everyone here get their daily dose of spam and junk mail today? ya know.. Russian singles, life insurance, match.com, you know? the usually trump hackers agenda. Glad the FBI is chasing down the trump hackers. I always send mine in. The tiny fingers cult is paying for and bringing genifer flowers to the debate. How very manly of him. ugly pos slob ape. He cannot debate just hate. Trump is buying America with other peoples money. Are we gonna let that happen?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous6:23 PM

    So many people being paid for virtual reality nothing. Our world is in bad health. Need more good guys and gals right now. Teach your children to be honest, compassionate, and respectful to everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous6:33 PM

    He will be investigated like the rest of the cult, well, unless rumpt is fraudly elected. There are the paid trolls. The mentally ill trolls. Mr Trump has used the last 10 yrs preparing. Lots of bribes, extortion, and threats to thousands of people and families. His criminal tactic to buy America is the biggest scandal to hit the Courts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous6:39 PM

    In Germany:
    http://www.politicususa.com/2016/09/24/anti-trump-campaigners-tear-cardboard-wall-brandenburg-gate.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous8:19 PM

    I could have sworn I heard in testimony by the head of the IRS that a 501 c 4 couldn't do politics. Perhaps I have it mixed up with 501 c 3.

    I have the IRS paperwork for creating a nonprofit as I filled it out and submitted it for our PTA. I'll have to look up the rules.

    Too bad Anonymous can't take them out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:28 AM

      You are mixed up. And not sure what you mean by "do politics", but 501(c)(4)'s may engage in political activities as long as they're not they're primary activity and the money they spend on political activities may be subject to tax. If you want to dig into the rules:
      https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopicl03.pdf

      But the main point was that Luckey says his Nimble America is a 501(c)(4) organized to support Trump. So he's saying the primary activity is political: not allowed.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous8:30 PM

    OT. I can't believe Trump went through on his earlier retaliatory idea to invite Gennifer Flowers to the debate. Geez, there is absolutely nothing left in Trump that isn't purely trashy. A presidential candidate personally inviting the alleged mistress of a former president to a debate? This is not the equivalent to Cuban being there. This Trump really should create a backlash. Hopefully. At least we know just how intimidated Trump feels and that he's anticipating feeling like a fool up there on stage as he concocts answers to things he knows nothing about.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous8:34 PM

    I just posted about Gennifer flowers and referred to her as an alleged mistress. She was that, but by alleged I meant that she claimed to be a mistress for many years, twenty.

    ReplyDelete

Don't feed the trolls!
It just goes directly to their thighs.