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Kara Swisher Looks Back on a "Weird Time" in Silicon Valley

February 29, 2024 / 00:42

This episode discusses forced fun at corporate events, childhood nostalgia, and the absurdity of job titles in tech. Guests share personal experiences from their careers.

The conversation highlights the strange atmosphere of corporate parties, where activities resembled childhood games like slip and slides and pogo sticks. One guest recalls the overwhelming number of such events they attended.

Specific references include a slide called "excite" that was part of these gatherings, and the humorous job titles like "Chief Yahoo" and "Chief Experience Officer" that were prevalent during that time.

Mark Zuckerberg's title as CEO is mentioned as a contrast, illustrating the juvenile nature of some corporate cultures.

TLDR

Guests discuss the absurdity of corporate fun and job titles.

Episode

0:42

00:00:00

it was a weird time and so I wanted to sort of depict that in the in the book everything had to be forced fun I don't

00:00:04

know how many of those parties you went to but I had to go to Indescribable amount of them and they were always as

00:00:10

if we were 12 again slip and slides or you know pogo sticks or bouncy houses there's a scene with Ed excite remember

00:00:18

excite they had this slide between the floors and they were always like get on the slide car and I'm like I'm not

00:00:24

getting on your slide their titles were always silly like Chief Yahoo or chief experience officer the

00:00:29

only person had an honest card is Mark Zuckerberg's which was I'm the CEO which is also juvenile to do that but at

00:00:36

least you got what he was doing so anyway it was an interesting time

Episode Highlights

Forced Fun Parties
The author reflects on the bizarre nature of forced fun at parties.
“Everything had to be forced fun.”
@ 00m 03s
February 29, 2024
Juvenile Titles
Mark Zuckerberg's honest card stood out among silly titles like Chief Yahoo.
“The only person had an honest card is Mark Zuckerberg's.”
@ 00m 29s
February 29, 2024

Episode Quotes

Everything had to be forced fun.
Kara Swisher Looks Back on a "Weird Time" in Silicon Valley
I'm not getting on your slide there.
Kara Swisher Looks Back on a "Weird Time" in Silicon Valley
At least you got what he was doing.
Kara Swisher Looks Back on a "Weird Time" in Silicon Valley

Key Moments

Forced Fun00:03
Childlike Parties00:10
Silly Titles00:25
Honest Card00:29