A satirical piece about Silicon Valley tech culture has ignited passionate discussions about corporate wellness culture, AI development ethics, and the psychological toll of working in Big Tech. The fictional narrative, written in a stream-of-consciousness style, follows a tech worker's observations of colleagues like Brad the Company Man and captures the surreal atmosphere of modern tech workplaces.
Author Information
- Written by Tomas Bjartur
- Available on Substack: tomasbjartur.substack.com
- Previous notable works: "The Maker of MIND" and "The Liar and The Scold" (both from ~2021)
Writing Style Draws Comparisons to Literary Giants
The piece has garnered attention not just for its content but for its distinctive literary style. Community members have drawn comparisons to renowned authors including George Saunders, David Foster Wallace, and Scott Alexander's Bay Area House Party series. Some readers initially hesitated due to the familiar narrative voice, while others praised the exceptionally long sentences and vocabulary choices. The writing style itself became a point of debate, with some calling for more periods and others appreciating the stylistic difference.
Literary Comparisons Made by Readers
- George Saunders ("Liberation Day" titular story)
- David Foster Wallace
- Scott Alexander/Slate Star Codex Bay Area House Party series
- Hitchhiker's Guide style humor
- Krazam YouTube skits (long-form equivalent)
Tech Worker Alienation Resonates Widely
The satirical portrayal of corporate wellness culture and Company Man archetypes struck a nerve with many readers. The piece explores themes of workplace alienation, the emptiness of corporate buzzwords like impact and thought leadership, and the psychological disconnect between company missions and employee experiences. One reader shared their own experience as an AI engineer, describing feeling trapped between understanding the problems with their industry while being financially dependent on it.
I feel too much pain to feel any guilt. I can totally relate to the comment about 'nice colleagues' but I understand it's a very superficial concept, unfortunately.
AI Development Culture Under Scrutiny
The discussion expanded beyond general tech culture to focus specifically on AI development. Community members expressed concerns about the concentration of seemingly unstable personalities in AI research, comparing the current situation unfavorably to the more structured approach of historical projects like the Manhattan Project. Some questioned whether the open-minded Silicon Valley culture has limits when it comes to developing potentially dangerous technologies.
Debate Over Fiction Versus Reality
While presented as fiction, many readers questioned how much of the narrative reflects actual Silicon Valley experiences. The blurred line between satirical fiction and workplace reality became a discussion point, with some suggesting that most fiction contains elements of truth. Others noted the piece's effectiveness in exposing what they see as the psychological dysfunction of both the rationalist movement and Silicon Valley culture more broadly.
The piece has been praised as the type of nuanced, human writing that AI systems cannot replicate, highlighting the ongoing tension between human creativity and artificial intelligence in the very industry it satirizes.
Reference: The Company Man