Also:
“The defining quality of an ideologue, whether on the left or the right, is to acquire one's opinions in bulk. You don't get to pick and choose.”
PG has clearly never encountered two leftists in the same room together. We argue on critical issues more than a thanksgiving dinner table.
paul graham has a phd in computer science. he is a successful startup founder and vc. that is the extent of what i'm interested in his opinion on.
if a famous political theorist started opining on the organization of software or product/market fit or angel investing how many people here would take them seriously?
Smart people are much more likely to believe that they have intelligent and well-informed opinions on areas outside their expertise. PG himself is no exception.
intelligence doesn't guarantee insights in areas outside expertise, but it's certainly more promising in that regard.
what's baffling are the high expectations in the populace for the general opinions of famous but not demonstrably intelligent people, e.g., many actors, tv personalities, singers, etc. (comedians are a notable exception, as insight is integral to their craft).