The Toughest Adversity I've Ever Faced
I think it is funny that the YC crowd points to "naughty" when it benefits them and says things like "Am I supposed to feel sorry for someone that got caught exploiting online games?" when it doesn't.<p>When someone will take apart a game for fun, for better or for worse and often both, it is intrinsic. We praise capncrunch and damn this guy?<p>I'm sorry you lost your parents Scott. Congratulations on your child and marriage. YC is a mixed bag but I feel home here too.<p>There are a lot of ways to hack the world. I'm not sure if you've picked inconsistent/risky ones because of personality type/thrill or because it is where you landed. If its where you landed, move toward the center.<p>Sounds like you've got the basic small business skills to sell many things and you don't require permission or motivation to do so.<p>Consider hacking on your life instead of the games. What do you know that's inefficient where you are and could be interesting?<p>I hear heavy equipment auctions are big and profitable in rural areas and I know from experience it is a space software hasn't touched.<p>Pick a product or set of products (wave energy harvesting equipment?) and niche it via PPC. See what the market is like for them on eBay.<p>Go with the black hat and get picked up by a security consulting firm. I've rarely seen them be degree choosy with people who have the chops.<p>Don't make the mistake of thinking the only interesting things are on the fringes.<p>Lastly, ignore the rest of the noise of this thread. Keep your head up. Stay interested. Stay playful.