Accidental Tech Podcast596: A New Foundation for Progress
https://atp.fm/596
The big Overcast rewrite is finally here on the app's tenth birthday.
Joe Lion@atpfm I don’t think John's somewhat dismissive reaction to the considerate and heartfelt response about TSMC‘s work ethic, and its literal connection to the preservation of the country, was very fair. Obviously every country’s norms and standards are on a spectrum and some may be plainly exploitative or objectively bad. 1/5
@atpfm But you can’t pick your own arbitrary line in the sand as the standard, then declare every thing below that as unacceptable without leaving room for self-determination and accommodations for externalities that some locales uniquely face. 2/5
@atpfm Working for the semiconductor industry in Taiwan does contribute significantly to the countries self preservation and independence from China due to the “Silicon Shield“. It’s not a scare tactic that bosses used to dangle over peoples heads. It is quite literal life and death, not on an individual level, but indeed to the continuing relative independence of the country from a controlling, autocratic regime. 3/5
@atpfm Please don't dismiss individual's reasonings or motivations for how they choose to work just because it doesn't align with yours. The semiconductor industry in Taiwan is extremely competitive. Implying "TSMC's bosses" are either manipulating people into wanting to work there or taking advantage of existing employees by using faux-patriotism tactics is patronizing to those workers who are, by all accounts, the best in the world. 4/5
@atpfm If John was referring primarily to TSMCs ventures in the US instead of Taiwan, then there certainly should be more of an expectation that when entering a JV in another country, one must be willing to better align with the host country's norms. I think it's very unclear at this point, though, who to believe, and if each side is just blaming the other to cover for inevitable delays and hiccups. 5/5
John Siracusa@joelion These things are not mutually exclusive.
@siracusa maybe so, but nevertheless I feel the response to Ryan’s lived experience and his heartfelt personal reasoning for what Taiwanese people are prideful for working for TSMC was a bit dismissive and amounted to “Well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man” or “you’re doing it wrong”. I try not to take offense on other people’s behalf, so hopefully Ryan didn’t take it that way. I have lived in Asia for seven years, including two in Taiwan, so I think I feel where he’s coming from a bit