At one point the potential must have seemed endless. Imagine being in California in the early 80s, studying Math or Computing at Stanford – what possibilities! The world ready throw billions at you and your contemporaries! Who wouldn’t start a company? Who wouldn’t invest in friends? Who wouldn’t risk just a little in their own future?
No, play it safe. Rise above the crass entrepreneurialism. Teach. Head back to a salary, with a pension. You could have done well, of course, if you’d wanted to, but the guiding, year after year, of smiling young faces was its own reward.
And now, another tech revolution unfolds in front of you. You have the understanding and the ability to invest time or money into the idea. But wait – actual involvement? Wet feet? Action? No, no, no. Not me. That would just emphasise all my other missed chances.
No, I’ll snipe from the safety of my tenure. I could have partaken, honestly, but I’m better than that. I’m aware of it, but above it, because, well, I’m an academic.
You have the talent, the time and resources. But you won’t even buy one coin to see what it’s about. You’re wasting your time and ours in a desperate bid to show some kind of superiority. You’ve taken enough advice and explanation with nothing of interest coming back. You’ve had your moment in this thread, presumably because it’s the busiest, but you should have the decency to set up your own and see if anyone will follow and care there.