Yin Wang's Contrarian Views | Generated by AI
Question: What are some unpopular ideas of Yin Wang, the author of https://www.yinwang.org?
Answer:
Yin Wang (also known as 王寅, a Chinese computer scientist and programmer) is the author of the blog at https://www.yinwang.org, where he shares essays on programming, technology, philosophy, and culture. His writing often features contrarian, politically incorrect, or unconventional viewpoints that challenge mainstream narratives in tech, academia, and society. These ideas frequently spark debate due to their direct criticism of popular figures, institutions, and trends. Below is a curated list of some of his notable unpopular ideas, drawn from key blog posts (translated and summarized for clarity where needed; original posts are primarily in Chinese with some English). These reflect his emphasis on individualism, skepticism toward “groupthink,” and disdain for hype-driven tech culture.
On Programming and Technology
- Python is fundamentally flawed and should be avoided for serious work: Wang argues Python’s design prioritizes ease over correctness, leading to “spaghetti code” and hidden bugs. He calls it a “toy language” unsuitable for scalable systems, urging developers to switch to Lisp or Rust instead. This is highly unpopular among Python’s massive community, which dominates data science and web dev.
- Lisp is the only “true” programming language; everything else is a pale imitation: He claims modern languages like Java, C++, and Go are inferior copies of Lisp’s elegance, and academia’s failure to adopt Lisp proves its corruption by corporate interests. This elitist stance alienates Lisp’s niche following and dismisses decades of industry evolution.
- Rust is overhyped and not a real advancement: Despite praise for Rust’s safety, Wang sees it as a “kludge” that adds complexity without Lisp’s simplicity, predicting it will fade like other “safety” fads.
On Academia and Intellectuals
- Most Chinese intellectuals are “fake” and lack originality: Wang lambasts figures like Yao Qizhi (a Turing Award winner) as “paper tigers” who plagiarize Western ideas without innovation, accusing Chinese academia of being a “cult of mediocrity” propped up by politics rather than merit. This nationalist yet self-critical view offends both Western admirers of Chinese tech and domestic patriots.
- University rankings and PhDs are scams that stifle creativity: He views Ivy League pedigrees (e.g., Princeton, where he studied) as worthless signaling tools that reward conformity over genius, calling for their abolition. Unpopular in an era of credentialism, this resonates with anti-elite sentiments but ignores systemic barriers.
On Culture, Society, and Philosophy
- Feminism and “woke” culture are destructive to merit and relationships: Wang posits that modern feminism promotes mediocrity by prioritizing gender quotas over talent, leading to societal decline. He controversially suggests traditional gender roles foster better partnerships, drawing ire from progressives while appealing to trad-inclined readers.
- China’s tech giants (e.g., Alibaba, Tencent) are monopolistic parasites, not innovators: Unlike the global hype around “China’s rise,” he calls them copycats that stifle true entrepreneurship through censorship and cronyism, predicting their collapse without Western IP theft.
- Democracy is overrated; enlightened autocracy works better for rapid progress: Drawing from his Chinese background, Wang argues Western democracies breed inefficiency and populism, while merit-based authoritarianism (ideally non-corrupt) accelerates innovation—like Singapore’s model. This anti-democratic take is taboo in liberal circles.
- Eating dogs and other “taboo” foods is culturally relativistic and not immoral: In a provocative post, he defends cultural practices against Western vegan/animal rights impositions, calling outrage hypocritical given beef consumption. This clashes with global animal welfare norms.
Wang’s style is polemical and personal, often blending autobiography (e.g., his Princeton days, move to China) with rants, which amplifies their unpopularity. His ideas appeal to disillusioned techies but provoke backlash for being “edgy” or culturally insensitive. For deeper dives, explore his blog’s archives under categories like “Thoughts” or “Programming.”
[References:
- Surely I Am Joking (Blog Homepage)
- Why Python Sucks
- The Lisp Curse
- Fake Intellectuals
- Feminism and Society
- China’s Tech Monopolies
- Democracy vs. Autocracy
- Cultural Relativism on Food]