Columnist Scott Herhold wrote an article in today's edition of The San Jose Mercury News which really struck a nerve. The piece notes that our nation's de facto caste system, using Hollywood and the Hamptons as its avatars, has come full force to Silicon Valley. The provocative story notes how Silicon Valley's stars, such as Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg (who, according to a report in Fortune, recently killed a bison on a hunting trip), have made a fetish of exclusivity. One form this takes is the cultivation of "cool," as defined by the interests and passions of elite, uber-wealthy geeks.
Herhold contrasts this off-putting behavior with Bill Hewlett and Steve Wozniak, both of whom had their phone numbers listed in local phone books. However, such self-effacing behavior just won't do for Silicon Valley's current crop of new, instant zillionaires. That just wouldn't be cool.
The image shows an old edition of Castes Old & New by Indian sociologist Andre Beteille.
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