this post was submitted on 08 Feb 2024
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TBH I don't get why people criticize selling out as if they wouldn't do it, too. I don't want to sit and amass wealth indefinitely, if I have a company and someone comes along and offers "retire rich forever" money, I'm taking it and fucking off to somewhere fun. Especially if we're talking billions, no one will ever hear my name again.
It seems as though you underestimate the appeal of billions of dollars. It's not just the ability to never have to work again. Or power, prestige or any other nonsense. Or even just having tons of money. It's not greed that makes it appealing.
It's the security. The safety if knowing you'll never have to worry about food or housing. That your parents and family will be well taken care of. Your children will be able to have it all, that you've set them up for success and they won't have to struggle. It's knowing that your best friend who was diagnosed with cancer will have the best care available, wherever that may be in the world, and won't have to worry about food or housing or anything else while getting better.
You're either too young to understand or are lacking in empathy.
I'm not saying being a billionaire isn't inherently immoral. But the reason people take payouts like that are not solely down to greed.
I don't quite understand. Are you saying it's immoral to sell a business? Is it retiring that's immoral? I didn't say that everyone secretly anything, I just don't understand why the hate.
Look, there's no such thing as an ethical billionaire. I get that, and fully believe it. But I don't get why people think "selling out" is a thing when it's often basically short hand for "retiring and letting someone else make the money."
It's not immoral to sell a business but anybody who actually has or even founded one and has an intact moral compass would not sell in a way you described.
You have a responsibility for your customers and employees and you don't just throw it into the dumpster like that because money isn't everything.
You're kinda right but is there really a way to tell if someone who's buying your business is going to do good or bad (except when selling to M$)?