Comment by hvm | Hacker News Reader

Comment by hvm | Hacker News Reader

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> You learn about Dijkstra, Turing, Fermat and Leibniz, but not Popescu or Iliescu

Andrei Alexandrescu pops into my head and I'm sure I could find a few more if I thought about it.

> And within those that do use it, the vast majority are on Facebook and Youtube

As opposed to the west where everyone is using the Internet for maximizing their productivity.

> There is a lot of impostors in our universities and plagiarism is high. The dean of the Technical University of Cluj plagiarized courses from Berkeley and presents them as his own.

That is true, I've also been at UT, hehe.

Overall I kinda agree with you though. We are poor and the government won't or can't help us increase innovation rate. The talent is here though, anyone looking to create products does have a good opportunity if they choose to start a business here. In the process the native folk might learn a thing or two about what it takes to create a product and sell it.

Yes, there are a few, like Alexandrescu or Mihai Pătrașcu. Don't get me wrong. They are exceptionally smart and hard working. I admire them. But their success, like that of most who participate in Olympiads, is the result of their exceptional hard work and that of a handful of dedicated teachers. It is not the merit of the education system. But you should also know that there are hundreds other like Pătrașcu, from all over the globe. We don't stand out from the crowd. And another thing. I know a single example of a person in Romania who grew up in Romania and became recognized for his work in Romania. Almost all of them had to flew to other universities in the West and there they managed to make great contributions. That is a great contrast as well. The educational environment is so corrupt and unfair that people of genuine value just don't want to work there. Most of them that stay are opportunists. Not all of them, but well over 80%.

:)), yes about the internet usage. The vast majority of people in the west also use it for Facebook or Youtube. Don't get me wrong; I doubt people in Holland skip Facebook and study Dijkstra work :) But a disproportionately higher number of people from those countries use the Internet for more noble purposes. Not just entertainment. As for companies there are a number of statistics that show how they use it for increased productivity. And Romania, as in most statistics, sits at the bottom.

But fair points, nonetheless.

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