I’ve had a few random, semi-connected, somewhat emotional things happen over the last few days. It’s all jumbled up in my head, but tomorrow I fly to Seattle for the Microsoft Search Champs event, and the time “offline” will hopefully allow me to bake everything and settle down. But for now, it’s 2:30 in the morning, I’m exhausted but I can’t sleep. Here’s some of it:
1. A good friend today told me that someone told him to “watch out for Arrington” because “he clearly has an agenda”. I normally have a pretty thick skin (ok that’s a lie), but this really hit home. I’ve also gotten a few nasty comments thrown my way on techcrunch lately that suggest the same thing.
It seems that people don’t understand why someone could just write a blog about companies and leave it at that. They assume I have some outside influence that affects what I write about or what I say.
All I can say is: I love companies and the people who start them. I am passionate about them in a way I can’t describe. I love it. I have no agenda other than that.
2. I have a bit of a problem around a company I’ve gotten to know recently. I like their product a lot and think that they are doing something that’s interesting and good for the web. But one of their founders is a really bad person. I know this person from years ago and witnessed him doing some incredibly evil stuff. Not go-to-jail kind of stuff, but seriously deranged, selfish behavior and I suspect that there is a lot of ugliness and potential violence just beneath the surface. The other founders seem great. For now, I am not writing about the company, but its really bothering me.
3. On a happier note, I had lunch today with a whole bunch of really smart people. Dave Winer, Steve Gillmor, Sylvia Paull, Carleen Hawn (who I’ve run into twice in the last two weeks), Laurence Toney, Ted Cho and Tom Maddox. There was some incredible brainpower there and an interesting discussion around blogging/journalism. Steve wrote some really nice things about me. And this got me thinking – just a year ago most of the people at that table were celebrities to me – people who I knew through their writing but never really thought I’d “know”. They are my friends now, they include me in their conversations and occasionally ask for my advice. It’s thrilling, and I still feel a bit overwhelmed by it. It’s like, when are they going to find out I’m a total nobody and stop talking to me?
4. TechCrunch has taken a bit of a turn to the dark side recently with some fairly harsh posts on companies like Ning and Tello. In the past I’d just not write about stuff like that, and focus more on the positive. I don’t know if this is making me a more balanced writer, or if it’s an unhealthy trend that needs to be addressed.
5. Edgeio is almost ready for private testing. It’s exciting but stressful. Also, I am trying to figure out what role TechCrunch should play in getting the message out about edgeio. The conflict is obvious, but edgeio is something I would write about if I weren’t a founder. I need to figure this out soon, and make sure I’m very clear on the conflict.
6. There is someone new and incredibly important in my life and I’ve been smiling more than usual.
7. I hung out with Steve and Dave after the lunch today, and then drove Steve home and spent more time with him. He’s so smart he makes my head hurt. And he talked about some self-defeating tendencies people we know have…and I realized I also have every one of these bad habits. More stuff to fix…
1. People take the weirdest things the wrong way. I’ve apparently got all sorts of agendas against various drivers and companies (I’m a motorsport journalist/blogger) and when it gets back to me it’s the first I’ve heard of it. As long as the readers, editors and most of the parties I write about are happy, I’m happy.
2. That’s difficult. I’ve had to write about people I know to be dishonest (I haven’t had to deal with people who are violent though) and in the most recent case it was someone I really couldn’t get away with ignoring. I stuck to the basic facts and stayed away from opinion, comment etc. You have to go with your gut though.
4. You can’t be all pixies and butterflies all the time, as long as you didn’t wake up thinking “I’m going to blast Ning today” there’s no problem
5. Could you get a guest writer in to cover Edgio? Obviously some people will be cynical and just think you wrote it anyway, but you’d have done your best.
6. Hope you keep smiling!
Well, I can’t really relate to all of your fun things, watching startups at progress does not sounds that enthusiastic to me, However – about this 6th thing – if a person makes you smile, well that’s a bigi. I think that those 2 short lines means a lot… keep investigate this “startup 
Mike,
I do criticize the overall Web 2.0 thing on my blog today (Tue) but no one knew about beforehand it except me. I’m not really involved socially with any of you guys and this is what I see overall with the Web 2.0 blogging.
Personally, I love your blog and you motivated me to start a blog this year – I hated blogs until I start reading yours. Yeah, I don’t agree with everything you do or say or review but that’s what I like about your blog and read it everyday. It’s interesting.
Most of all, you are no Google hypster like the rest of the clowns in Web 2.0 blogosphere – rehashing a Google press release as exciting news. You give small unknown web startups a chance to publicize the innovation they have to offer and pursuing, which you did for my firm back in the fall when I only had a presentation and screen shots. The stuff you cover is the exciting news in the tech world, not Google releasing some lame crap that already been commoditized by everyone else.
The other thing is you stand from the pack on Techcrunch. Look at all the wannabees that use the comments on Techcrunch to piggyback to their blog, only rehashing your story. If that doesn’t convince you that you are a leader and setting the standard for reporting new web innovation, I don’t know what will convince you.
I hope me writing this will help you understand that your web server logs are more than data, but people like me who do read and appreciate what you are doing. Be yourself and keep up the good work.
I must be honest, I don’t read the comments much – well never actually – since I just read feeds in my reader. So I could care less what others have to say. You could turn off comments as far as I’m concerned.
I read your Blogs because you are informative and not afraid to be honest. I don’t necessarily always agree, but that doesn’t mean I unsubscribe. It is YOUR Blog. I have my Blog for my own opinions. I think too many people are missing the point of Blogs. If I want corporate speak, I’ll read the press releases. I read Blogs for the personal insight of the writer.
Don’t stop what you’re doing. Do what is ethically and morally right (which I think you are) on those other issues and move on. Life is short, time is valuable and don’t waste your energy on people you don’t like or respect. Take care of number 6 more than anything.
1.I spent some time with Steve Gillmor last week at Vaultstock. He is brilliant and he did make my head hurt.
2. Don’t let the turkeys get you down. There’s a tendency in the blogopshere to try and take down whomever is perceived as numero uno. Just take it as a compliment that some folks think of you as numero uno.
3. As long as you disclose your relationship with Edgeio, upfront and clearly, you should be able to write about it on TechCrunch.
4. Number 6 – interesting.. nice…
Michael, two things:
1) I love your blog, I love how you write it, and I think you provide an extremely important service to our community of emerging web companies. Your opinions are fair, well-argued and helpful. And your openness and concern about your growing influence over this market is well-taken.
2) You’ll need thick skin if you want to keep this up (please do!). Very thick. You’ve entered a sphere that is filled with talented, young, fiery, innovative people that aren’t all nice. Alot of people have alot at stake in their work, and if you’re going to remain opinionated (please do!), you’ll step on some toes and hear about it on the rebound.
My suggestion — get a partner on your side. Personally (which you mentioned – great!)and professionally. Maybe bring someone else onboard TechCrunch? I think that could help alot.
Mike,
As cheesy as it sounds – the most important thing is to stay true to yourself. If you’re motivated to tell people about companies/products bad and good, you shouldn’t filter yourself. You know how to talk about the negative aspects of a product/company without bashing. And if you want to talk about Edgeio here, I say go for it. You earned this pulpit. Some people will accuse you of hyping, but most will appreciate it if you tell us honestly why you feel it’s great. Most people can discern honest enthusiasm from bloated hype, and those who can’t can get over it or go elsewhere.
Finally – can you tell those of us with a penchant for self-improvement what self-defeating tendencies Steve talked about?
Mike,
Regarding your Edgeio conflict:
Why don’t you create a 3rd blog (Edgeio and other self-interested things), blog once about it in TechCrunch (and link from your sidebar to it). Then blog about it like crazy there?
Alternatively, just do it in CrunchNotes.
BTW: I agree, Steve is incredibly smart . . .
Mike,
You should definitely keep posting negative reviews if you think the companies have taken a wrong turning – after all, it was way more productive to highlight the problems with Ning (and hence, how it could be made better) than to stay quiet. In the end, honest opinions make your blog more trustworthy and help the startups to make better choices.
Mike, I am using your numbers to reference some points.
1. It comes with celebrity status, and you’ve become one, see your own point 3.
2. You mostly focus on products, so if you think it really is cool, you should write about it, focusing strictly on the product and not the company,or it’s management team.
4. Negative reviews are part of life, without that you’d just be a cheerleader.
5. I think the fair solution is to write ONE review only, disclosing the relationship.
6. Congrat’s
Mike,
Your blog is an essential part of my everyday reading to keep up with what’s going on. More importantly it is really a fun stop on my daily cruise through my reading list. Actually on my Sage sidebar it starts my list. I concur with everyone’s comments that with popularity and status comes the detractors. Stand up strong and if you know you are doing the right thing, keep on doing it. As someone who is working on a small startup right now, we love how you give the little guys a chance to see the light. Web 2.0 is about the edges and you help shine a nice light on those of us sitting out there trying to push out to new frontiers. Aloha.
Hey its your right to write about Edgeio. You build Techcrunch so you can talk about whatever you want, and that should include Edgeio. Take Seth Godin as an example. He truly understands the power of a blog. He is a great writer, and has written books and articles for magazines. He doesn’t write about his upcomming projects on his blog on a daily basis, but he does mention them, and its totally ok. After all people reading his blog may be marketing mavens, but they are interested in him to. So I say write about Edgeio, and let everyone know how proud you are of the company you helped create. Also be open to discussion of what can make Edgeio better on Techcrunch. Most of your readers are not going to think that it is a big deal.
hi mike,
1. at least looking at your blog (not referring to personal relationships) i would not think, having an agenda, would be a problem. of course even you know that you have an agenda like supporting the web 2.0 community and business growth. showing good examples and criticising bad one ist part of that. one of the best swiss news papers considers itself as a publication to spread liberal thinking. and even though i do not always agree with them, they still are one of the best news papers and i like them to have an agenda.
2. and 5. that is a bit of a problem. and actually i think it is related to no5. it can always happen that you arerelated to a start up in a more than usual way or different than usual way. now of course you can argue, it is my blog and i will do as i like. this would be one fair solution, but maybe not the best. the other option would be to invite guest writers from time to time. these guest writers could also cover companies you do not feel comfartable with to cover yourself. additionally to that you can post more personal comments on edgeio on crunchnotes, which is a more personal blog.
3. and 6. (especially 6.) congrats. good to hear. enjoy both as long as you can and do enjoy it. in case of 3) web 20 is about social networking and having meetings analog is always nicer than meeting on IM.
last but not least on 4. i already thought about commenting on this in techcrunch itself. let me do it here and now as you feel unsure how to handle the issue.
I) there is so many people reading your blog that there will always be some unhappy (if you ever follow what readers reply to newsletters, you will see rants on the articles you liked best)
II) one criticism (and often valid) on web20 is that people are too positive about everything. that is why the web 10 bubble happened. for that reason people suddenly believed selling dog food online could be profitable. (petstore.com or so was the greatest failiure in that area if i remember correctly.) therefore i believe that developments in the web 20 scene need to be monitored and criticized constructively. i am not sure if i actually agree with your newest article completely, but it would be a good starting point for a discussion. though the discussion good a bit out of hand. nevertheless i do think it is good to see your positive and your negative opinions, because, even if not everyone agrees fully, as an intelligent observer you offer enough insight to the reader, that he may consider the issue himself.
now i am not sure if i got everything i wanted to say. sorry for the long (german-like) sentences in the last paragraph.
all the best,
don’t let them get you down,
moritz
1. Mike it is your agenda and you have stated what it is and keep it the way it is. Others agenda will want your agenda to fit within their agenda and if they already know it won’t blend then they will attack you before you have a chance to say anything.
2. Tough one, this is probably best tackled as Mary-Ann put it above. Just the facts from a 3rd person perspective in a journalistic way and try to show some enthusiasm with the parts that you do like as to not attract attention that THIS is the company you referred to in CrunchNotes.
3. These people like you for who you are and that is great, so stay yourself and you will have some long lasting friends.
4. I agree that there has been some harsh criticism handed around in the Ning field, what has happened since that post was some blogging by Ning = a good thing. Then an e-mail from Ning that pointed me to a feature I did not realize was ever being offered and that was to be able to have your own domain name on an application. I created my own application there shortly after. So it got Ning moving again, and I got keen to create, in the time between my Ninging I had been thinking if I could create an app I would use this and that to make a thisthat from ideas and wishlists of other products that TechCrunch has reviewed and that would be my little app for me. I am now creating that app and having a great time doing it. Ning needed that prompting to get me excited again. What did the negative post about Ning do for me, it actually got me Ninging again. Would Ning care to give some idea on if this sparked more than just my interest?
5. A third party reviewer is one option, a Techcrunch reader submission by your peers on your own product after a week of testers have had access to the site in a tinywiki style combined submission from these testers is my other idea.
6. WooHoo!
7. I hope your headspace was in RSS leach mode for that….
Keep doing what you have been doing and maybe add some more post’s about others that are slacking of as once potential and are now leaving users disinterested because no one knows what is happening in that space. A good example is a site that I would have to search for and try and find because I cannot remember their name. I got disinterested when they criticised my choice of browser on the site, maybe they have some new stuff that may turn my head if I revisit because currently they do not have my attention.
Remember it is only a few of your 22,000 subscribers having a shot at you and we would all love to be liked by everyone and that just doesn’t happen. That’s a pretty good ration in my opinion.
I wanna be ‘Just like Mike’
Hey Mike;
I’m with Brett, above, in that I typically don’t see the comments at all. I saw the ones about Telleo since you mentioned them in your post and it seemed like you wanted feedback on this post, so I hopped on over.
I don’t think you should turn them off, though. Some folk might get a lot from them, you might ocasionally find out you were in error about some fact, and I think it closes the loop. No comments would be a pretty non-Web2.0 thing. You definitely should write what you feel positive or negative. In fact, from one standpoint not doing so would be a disservice to your readers, at least some of whom regard you as authoritative.
Regarding Edgeio, I personally think you’d be better off blogging about your personal involvement in it and excitement about it either here or on a new Edgeio blog, but leave the company reviewing aspect of it for someone else. Putting a ton of Edgeio info on TechCrunch would inevitably dilute the TechCrunch content, because you’re sure to have a lot to say about Edgeio. But do write about it somewhere, because I want to hear about it, and I’m sure others do too.
Mike,
You were unfairly flamed on TechCrunch. You provide a phenomenal resource for so many readers who share your interests and passion and I hope childish attacks from a small minority don’t dissuade you from continuing the great work. I like seeing people thinking for themselves, disagreeing with you, and the like, but to wrap those criticisms in personal attacks is just off-base and rather tasteless. I, personally, have never seen you as a self-promoter. In response to the harsh posts about these new companies and their approach, keep them coming – examining these companies critically is tremendously valuable (generally, I would argue, more valuable than the companies receiving praise because it reminds us what not to do) for entrepreneurs. Lastly, in regards to Edgeio, promote it with TechCrunch – you have certainly earned that right and good work deserves to be rewarded (but, make sure that you make your involvement with Edgeio clear in every posting that mentions it – that will let you off the hook in my book at least).
Keep it up.
hey, There are already great comments on the other number. I’m interested in #7. What are some self-defeating qualities that limit people from success?
Hi Mike,
I really like your blog. I do not always agree with your posts – but I always find them interesting! So please keep it up, try to grow a thicker skin
and do not worry – your readers can make their own opinions about the value of comments, or lack thereof…
Best regards,
patrick
Good perspective check, Mike, but you’re doing the right stuff. Don’t spend your time on the ankle-biters.
Keep it up.
Glad to hear you’re getting a bit of rumpy-pumpy, Mike. Just remember: we’re all nobodies.
I think you’ve been at this game long enough to know how to handle publicising Edgeio. No qualitative statements, just present the facts and let others judge.
The “dark” stuff you write, Mike, is just honesty and clarity. For me, it makes the rest of your reviews more interesting. If all you wrote was happy-talk, that wouldn’t make you a discerning observer.
Keep it up! Thanks for the good work.
John Demayo = Jdishonest = http://www.johndemayo.com/about.html
1. Your writings are great. Keep it up.
John everything you say has an agenda as you are attempting to spearhead your own ventures and companies. I think it is very misleading to try and say that you are being a online journalist and simply stating the facts. Shame on you.
Mike,
As I mentioned earlier, it was a pleasure to meet you at lunch yesterday – I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation.
Please keep up the great work with your coverage on the Web 2.0 space. I look forward to each and every post and have never felt that you “have an agenda.†In fact, I appreciate your honest approach in Techcrunch and think that entrepreneurs that receive a less than glowing report should view it as free consulting.
Think about it – you never post a review that just plain criticizes an offering. Typically, you provide specific details about concerns with the model and offer your thoughts on how the model can be improved. This is valuable information to an entrepreneur living inside the box. That said, each entrepreneur needs to evaluate your comments and make a decision on whether or not to act on them.
My philosophy has always been to run ideas past the smartest, most critical people that I know so that I can eliminate the obvious holes prior to a broader distribution. The only way to receive that feedback is to go to people that have opinions and are not afraid to express them. You are one of those people that have insightful opinions – do not change and everyone will benefit in the long run.
The troubling thing about your role in edgeio is not that you’ll give it weekly glowing reviews on t’crunch… It’s that the edgeio take on the world may color your writing on other companies.
I urge you to place a disclosure at the beginning of any post that covers a company with any potential overlap of edgeio.
On the issue of arrogance and agendas, I’d imagine that you have some of each. It’s pretty hard to be an interesting person in our industry and escape those traits. They’re not terrible character flaws, in moderation. Yes, you will get called on them; the most disarming reponse is a sheepish “Well, what can I say?”
You better hope you edge feeder or whatever it is hits or you might get burned.
Mike,
Keep doing whatever you do cause you’r doing a great job in it.
Just think positive thought and you’ll get positive results.
oRLi
Mike,
I read your blogs everyday & I really like it. Everyone who read your blog find something interesting & useful for them & that is why they are coming to Techcrunch.
I don’t think there is any wrong in you utilizing the community you built in Techcrunch to promote Edgeio. You have helped many start-ups with your reviews & you should do the same for Edgeio.
Keep up the great work & good luck for the Edgeio release.
Mani.
TechCrunch is essentially maturing (8 months into its life), and as such it will have its detractors, its trolls and like long time bloggers such as Dan Gillmor or my friend Loic le Meur, you will suffer personal attacks for the positions you take – positive or negative. You’ll just grow a thicker skin.
On Edgeio, you will just have to remind people of your conflict (and so will I
and be very careful when you review/blog about companies that are competing or overlapping.
Can’t wait to meet #6
.
Mike, you and some other great bloggers have done many of us a huge service in really having your pulse on the innovation and dynamics in the marketplace, particularly as it relates to Web 2.0 in your case. I suppose as you become more successful and due to the growing appeal of your work, you’ll be more exposed to folks out there that are always ready to hurl stones. It’s far easier to post anonymous notes than invest time, learn what companies are doing, write about it intelligently and balanced like you have done with your blog. Too bad if some people don’t like your position or perspective! Let them get their own blog and let’s monitor their Alexa numbers; but since it’s far easier for them to post salvos at you from the bushes, we can hardly expect them to go out on a limb publicly like you do each day. It’s your prerogative as a blogger to call it as you see it. As far as I’m concerned TechCrunch has vaulted to my must read list of stuff so keep up the great work.
Mike,
Something must be in the water. I just wrote a very similar piece in my personal blog about fear.
http://livingtrends.blogspot.com
after being in Australia over 3 years and on this trip back to the USA I have been meeting people and having beers with guys I too never thought I’d meet.
It is humbling. It is wonderful, lets keep building we have enough people telling us how it is and trying to SHAME us, let us tell them HOW IT CAN BE.
Honk your own horn, its yours.
Kevin
Hi Michael
Don’t let such things get into your way. You’re doing a great job here. If they don’t like your work, perhaps they should try it themselves before wasting your time and their own on thinking about the big conspiracy that is basically behind every minor, medium and big decision made in whole world
About edgeio: Perhaps not reviewing it at all on TechCrunch and just introducing it here could help keep some people from running down your doors. But this definitely won’t keep them from doing exactly the same when you review another company that is trying a remotely similiar thing
Hi Mike,
I enjoy your posts very much. It’s one of the first sites I read in the morning and the last at night. You post so often and you never know when your going to post something. I work late and am surprised at some of the times I’ve seen a post come up from you. You’re working like I dog
Anyways you need to keep doing what you are doing. That is how you got so popular in such a short time. These guys need to realize who you are and what your background is and be happy that they are getting free advice from someone that knows his stuff!
Keep it up!
Mike,
I have to agree with oRLi completely. Stay postitive and good things will happen…and if they don’t, just go skiing (the snow is really good right now).
Jenn
Forget all the other stuff.
Enjoy every minute of #6 and don’t take it for granted. I was in a similar situation a few years ago and they turned out to be the love of my life.
Michael,
Thanks for being real and honest and transparent.
You’re doing a great job. I love what you do. And so do a bunch of others, obviously. Keep it up.
As for edgio, I am looking forward to hearing about it and seeing it. I hope you write about it. I don’t have the audience you have, but it certainly reaches beyond who I know (and could ever know), and I blog about my company all of the time. I think people actually appreciate it, as I am being very transparent about what I am doing. And they are learning from all of my mistakes, lessons and triumphs.
Rock on, Dude!
Michael,
1. Techcrunch rocks!
2. Keep up the good work!
3. Don’t pay attention to the trolls.
4. Feel free to write about Edgeio, but disclosure the fact you are involved with it.
5. Enjoy life…
You might compare notes with Rafe Needleman if you haven’t already. He did a great column/blog/website during the last boom called http://www.catchoday.com/ and he has had to face many of the same issues that you are wrestling with in your post. He currently blogs at http://www.rafeneedleman.com/ He is a bright low key guy who would be worth talking to about a “code of ethics” or an “operators manual” or something that would help you spell out your agenda, biases, standards that you aspire to, etc… You might think about adding another person you trust (or two or three) to act as a publicly available sounding board. Even someone like Walter Mossberg has editors and other folks to assist him in maintaining perspective. Abraham Lincoln observed that “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power” and that is the test you now face. What you write is starting to have significant financial impact. And it’s not even the folks who are angry or flaming you who are the most dangerous, it’s much harder to be on guard against flattery. Anyway, free advice from an irregular reader of your blog.
Abraham Lincoln
We like TechCrunch but think you should write more about companies, products that already work rather than constantly presenting “yet-to-launch” apps.
You should also post negative comments about them, sure…and not focus too much on rumors.
It gets a bit boring when reading about the 11th Ajax homepage or the 5th beta landing page.
For the rest, keep up the good work!
Hey Mike,
Good to hear that there is a ’someone’ that is making you ’smile more’, since my only comment was going to be lighten up!
It is *absolutely* inevitable that the larger your audience is, the greater the number of people there will be who disagree with you or don’t like what you are doing. They’re not necessarily malicious or stupid…they are what they are, doing their jobs, believing that something else is the best thing since sliced bread, and fair play to them.
So you will always get flack from some quarter; those criticisms that are valid you should of course take up, but those that aren’t, just ignore. (I know from my experience on standards organisations that there are a *lot* of people out there who have a lot more time on their hands than you do, so you can’t possibly respond to everything, trying to explain this and justify that.) But I’m not saying don’t keep an open mind…sometimes that guy who has raised the most annoying points for the last year suddenly raises a question that makes you go “ah…never thought of that”.
And if this doesn’t sound contradictory given my previous point, trust your audience. If you really genuinely believe “xyz” about edgeio, then write “xyz”. People will see through any BS a mile off anyway, so as long as you don’t write any, you needn’t worry about a conflict of interest. Of course, the moment you do you’ll lose your readers! But which writer with integrity would want it any other way–not you, I’m sure.
Good luck!
Mark
Mark Birbeck
CEO
x-port.net Ltd.
Hi Mike,
I suggest that you do not call your own writing about Edgio on this blog a “review”. Many people might think that is inappropriate because they associate the word “review” with a neutral reviewer. Call it a press release or news statement, or something. Also, rather than “reviewing” related products on this blog, give a clear, objective “feature comparison” rather than an evaluation. It would be OK to say why you think your feature set is more important or more useful, but leave it up to your readers to make the evaluations.
This should help to avoid unnecessary criticism.
I enjoy reading your blog, even the negative evaluations such as for Ning. You made some useful comments about why it seemed that they were missing the mark, so they should actually benefit from your comments, if they are willing to listen.
Mike