I'm wrong? I've got into this conversation - about how the business climate here is actually excellent - at MetaLab, with MetaLab members, after viennajs more than once, and they sure didn't want to hear it.

And as for preaching to the choir, no. If I were only interested in preaching to the choir, why would I bother to create a fairly controversial conference?

After all, the "accepted" startup model is building, growing huge, and hoping for an acquisition, rather than charging.

But preaching to people who really don't want to hear it - that's another story, and a total waste of time.

No, you're wrong about Metalab - there are plenty of people in the Metalab scene who would respond to your ideas if you were to make the effort to present them .. metalab is a hotbed of new-startup activity and some of the hackers there are really trying to make money, rather than just get it from their parents, as so many "smart kids in Vienna" do these days ..

What you might be interpreting as disinterest in the subject of startups is more like to be a disinterest in the means by which you are preaching to the converted .. sure you're not just getting a negative personal response and broadly generalizing it to avoid discomfort?

I didn't say they were disinterested in startups, I said they were disinterested in talking about charging money for products and how the business climate in Austria is actually superior to that in the US.

Not everyone - but enough that I wouldn't bother trying to force my unwelcome ideas on people by giving a talk.

And yes, I'm positive it's not "a negative personal response." The people I have connected with clearly enjoy my company. 

Regardless of MetaLab, I'm still interested in buying you that coffee if the offer still stands :)