Hackathons Are So Rigged It's Actually Hilarious at This Point

[Jason Voorhees]

I can't believe I haven't made a thread about this but hackathons most of them unless they are independent are waste of time. I wasted so too many all-nighters on hackathons that are nothing but a rigged circus designed to stroke egos and pad college resumes.

These aren't events for innovation or skill they're beauty contests for buzzwords like "Al" and "blockchain" where the real winners are pre-decided based on which teams are from the host college and who can woo the judges wor flashing the flashiest PPT.

A Berkeley undergrad on r/CsMajors just last week was ranted about how their technically superior Al project bombed because judges favored flashy demos from host teams with a prepped pitches corporate sponsor buzzwords, while outsiders got rushed 3 minute slots and this has been my experience too. Hackathon season is just code word for Internal trophy season that's why I stopped going to these things after my 3rd year. Dont bother going unless it's conducted by an independent neutral party.

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@AuraMaxxing @Glorious King @User28823

 

[Rayryan]

I can't believe I haven't made a thread about this but hackathons most of them unless they are independent are waste of time. I wasted so too many all-nighters on hackathons that are nothing but a rigged circus designed to stroke egos and pad college resumes.

These aren't events for innovation or skill they're beauty contests for buzzwords like "Al" and "blockchain" where the real winners are pre-decided based on which teams are from the host college and who can woo the judges wor flashing the flashiest PPT.

A Berkeley undergrad on r/CsMajors just last week was ranted about how their technically superior Al project bombed because judges favored flashy demos from host teams with a prepped pitches corporate sponsor buzzwords, while outsiders got rushed 3 minute slots and this has been my experience too. Hackathon season is just code word for Internal trophy season that's why I stopped going to these things after my 3rd year. Dont bother going unless it's conducted by an independent neutral party.

how about the one that has no inside team?

 

[Jason Voorhees]

how about the one that has no inside team?

the ones without an inside team are even worse.At least when the winners are the organizer's friends you know the game is rigged but when there's no "inside team" they just hand the prize to whatever random group gives them the best corporate buzzwords.

 

[Rayryan]

the ones without an inside team are even worse.At least when the winners are the organizer's friends you know the game is rigged but when there's no "inside team" they just hand the prize to whatever random group gives them the best corporate buzzwords.

i was invited to join one what do you think brah?

 

[Jason Voorhees]

i was invited to join one what do you think brah?

I mean go there with your friends and have you fun. But don't go there with huge expectations

 

[Rayryan]

I mean go there with your friends and have you fun. But don't go there with huge expectations

tbh i dont know much bout the details they just nvited me

 

[Sprinkles]

I can't believe I haven't made a thread about this but hackathons most of them unless they are independent are waste of time. I wasted so too many all-nighters on hackathons that are nothing but a rigged circus designed to stroke egos and pad college resumes.

These aren't events for innovation or skill they're beauty contests for buzzwords like "Al" and "blockchain" where the real winners are pre-decided based on which teams are from the host college and who can woo the judges wor flashing the flashiest PPT.

A Berkeley undergrad on r/CsMajors just last week was ranted about how their technically superior Al project bombed because judges favored flashy demos from host teams with a prepped pitches corporate sponsor buzzwords, while outsiders got rushed 3 minute slots and this has been my experience too. Hackathon season is just code word for Internal trophy season that's why I stopped going to these things after my 3rd year. Dont bother going unless it's conducted by an independent neutral party.

welcome to the real world

 

[takethewhitepill]

What else is new. These things have long been a scam as is everything else that you arent being paid per hour to do by a company that wants you.

 

[ChrisFletcher]

I can't believe I haven't made a thread about this but hackathons most of them unless they are independent are waste of time. I wasted so too many all-nighters on hackathons that are nothing but a rigged circus designed to stroke egos and pad college resumes.

These aren't events for innovation or skill they're beauty contests for buzzwords like "Al" and "blockchain" where the real winners are pre-decided based on which teams are from the host college and who can woo the judges wor flashing the flashiest PPT.

A Berkeley undergrad on r/CsMajors just last week was ranted about how their technically superior Al project bombed because judges favored flashy demos from host teams with a prepped pitches corporate sponsor buzzwords, while outsiders got rushed 3 minute slots and this has been my experience too. Hackathon season is just code word for Internal trophy season that's why I stopped going to these things after my 3rd year. Dont bother going unless it's conducted by an independent neutral party.

Idk how, but foids are to blame for this

 

[Jason Voorhees]

@HowToBasic @Lightskin Ethnic @browncurrycel @amp

 

[Lightskin Ethnic]

@HowToBasic @Lightskin Ethnic @browncurrycel @amp

i've forget everything related to coding brah
i need to revisit

i am a CATcel now

 

[Glorious King]

I can't believe I haven't made a thread about this but hackathons most of them unless they are independent are waste of time. I wasted so too many all-nighters on hackathons that are nothing but a rigged circus designed to stroke egos and pad college resumes.

These aren't events for innovation or skill they're beauty contests for buzzwords like "Al" and "blockchain" where the real winners are pre-decided based on which teams are from the host college and who can woo the judges wor flashing the flashiest PPT.

A Berkeley undergrad on r/CsMajors just last week was ranted about how their technically superior Al project bombed because judges favored flashy demos from host teams with a prepped pitches corporate sponsor buzzwords, while outsiders got rushed 3 minute slots and this has been my experience too. Hackathon season is just code word for Internal trophy season that's why I stopped going to these things after my 3rd year. Dont bother going unless it's conducted by an independent neutral party.

Tbh they're like supermarket for actual builders

Can legit pick and choose any idea and add a gpt wrapper

Viola u got a 1mil valu worth company

 

[Deleted member 261019]

W

I can't believe I haven't made a thread about this but hackathons most of them unless they are independent are waste of time. I wasted so too many all-nighters on hackathons that are nothing but a rigged circus designed to stroke egos and pad college resumes.

These aren't events for innovation or skill they're beauty contests for buzzwords like "Al" and "blockchain" where the real winners are pre-decided based on which teams are from the host college and who can woo the judges wor flashing the flashiest PPT.

A Berkeley undergrad on r/CsMajors just last week was ranted about how their technically superior Al project bombed because judges favored flashy demos from host teams with a prepped pitches corporate sponsor buzzwords, while outsiders got rushed 3 minute slots and this has been my experience too. Hackathon season is just code word for Internal trophy season that's why I stopped going to these things after my 3rd year. Dont bother going unless it's conducted by an independent neutral party.

Definitely not worth driving hours to but it’s an experience many won’t regret. Still gives you an opportunity test your knowledge.

 

[AuraMaxxing]

Yeah that’s kinda what happened at my hackathon, two of the top 5 projects were just shitty wrappers yet they somehow made it.

Whereas there was some guy who made a literal drone and he didn’t get in, albeit I guess the judges probably thought they started early which they for sure did.

It was still fun to go though, they had a lot of workshops, free food, and I got to meet some cool people.

 

[Jason Voorhees]

Yeah that’s kinda what happened at my hackathon, two of the top 5 projects were just shitty wrappers yet they somehow made it.

Whereas there was some guy who made a literal drone and he didn’t get in, albeit I guess the judges probably thought they started early which they for sure did.

It was still fun to go though, they had a lot of workshops, free food, and I got to meet some cool people.

See this is what happens. This is why I tell people to go to hackathons to have a good time not to break your head like I did. Learn from my mistakes @HowToBasic @Rayryan @Glorious King

 

[Jason Voorhees]

See this is what happens. This is why I tell people to go to hackathons to have a good time not to break your head like I did. Learn from my mistakes @HowToBasic @Rayryan @Glorious King

@amp @takethewhitepill

 

[Glorious King]

See this is what happens. This is why I tell people to go to hackathons to have a good time not to break your head like I did. Learn from my mistakes @HowToBasic @Rayryan @Glorious King

tbh valid point

but if we're not gonna win

then what's going there brainstorming, sacrificing sleep

could've enjoyed some bowling nd shit

 

[Deleted member 245103]

See this is what happens. This is why I tell people to go to hackathons to have a good time not to break your head like I did. Learn from my mistakes @HowToBasic @Rayryan @Glorious King

time could be better spent elsewhere ngl