I loved this retell. Brings back the old days, especially the Google and Yahoo parties of the late 2000's. Those were crazy. They literally carried one of my employees out of a basement rave who had passed out from drinking too much.
Somehow, even on the opposite side of the globe software company parties also were not very timid. I spent a whole morning in 2009 in an ambulance and then in hospital with my colleague who passed out in a bar after a full night of drinking.
For maybe different reasons or circumstances. Nevertheless cheers, mate.
VC backed passing out was way different and not in the somewhat elitist sense that prevails in Europe.
Play hard, party hard mixed with friendly and open nerd frat house mentality in California is one of a kind compared to then cold and dark winters in Europe. People forget that there is essentially always sun, a huge difference.
Some had a 17:00 party break every weekday, loud music and food 17:00 sharp no exceptions, a phenomenon what became after work parties in Europe, but were more or less barbecue parties for casual idea sharing and bonding.
Catering costs for a month alone would have killed every startup or company in EU.
And then imagine special occasions somewhere else. These people knew how to have a good time - to pass out one way or the other.
Europe is big. Some parts get almost as much sun as California, and get hotter in the Summer. And other parts, like Russia, where the described events took place, have deeply ingrained alcohol culture not that far from frat mentality.
