Comments on: Companies, Ethics, Agendas, Me http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/ Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:23:06 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Caudy http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1088 Michael Caudy Mon, 30 Jan 2006 06:28:07 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1088 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 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

]]> By: Mark Birbeck http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 Mark Birbeck Sun, 29 Jan 2006 09:51:37 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1077 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. 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.

]]> By: ShitCrunch http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1073 ShitCrunch Sat, 28 Jan 2006 08:30:34 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1073 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! 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!

]]> By: Sean Murphy http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1067 Sean Murphy Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:52:52 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1067 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 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

]]> By: Dimitar Vesselinov http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1065 Dimitar Vesselinov Thu, 26 Jan 2006 22:26:06 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1065 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... 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…

]]> By: Peter Caputa http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 Peter Caputa Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:34:10 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1063 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,

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!

]]> By: Still Smiling http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1049 Still Smiling Thu, 26 Jan 2006 08:15:48 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1049 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. 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.

]]> By: Jennifer Allen http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 Jennifer Allen Thu, 26 Jan 2006 02:55:03 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1045 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 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

]]> By: Craig http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1043 Craig Wed, 25 Jan 2006 23:47:08 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1043 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! 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!

]]> By: Horst Gutmann http://www.crunchnotes.com/2006/01/24/companies-ethics-agendas/comment-page-1/#comment-1042 Horst Gutmann Wed, 25 Jan 2006 23:24:44 +0000 http://www.crunchnotes.com/?p=128#comment-1042 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 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 :-?

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