The man who monetizes data • Hacker News Board

Re: The man who monetizes data

#21

Post by Psyonic » Fri, Dec 18, 2009, 5:45 PM UTC

vaksel wrote: post #6

kw_ wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate your summary. I just can't take anybody seriously once they mention payday loans.

I think every big company has done "unethical" things like this in their past. Then once they get big, they clean up their image. It's like Google first few years of adwords they pretty much let anything go, then once they became a big player they cleaned up their image and banned all those ads.

If you think Google has really banned "all those ads," you're not looking close enough. They've made some effort, but plenty gets through.

Re: The man who monetizes data

#22

Post by Psyonic » Fri, Dec 18, 2009, 5:47 PM UTC

vaksel wrote: post #6

kw_ wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate your summary. I just can't take anybody seriously once they mention payday loans.

I think every big company has done "unethical" things like this in their past. Then once they get big, they clean up their image. It's like Google first few years of adwords they pretty much let anything go, then once they became a big player they cleaned up their image and banned all those ads.

Also, an interesting question: Are you citing the fact that nearly ever big company has done it to basically give it an ethical pass? i.e. It's the cost of doing business?

Re: The man who monetizes data

#23

Post by vaksel » Fri, Dec 18, 2009, 7:14 PM UTC

Psyonic wrote: post #22

vaksel wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think every big company has done "unethical" things like this in their past. Then once they get big, they clean up their image. It's like Google first few years of adwords they pretty much let anything go, then once they became a big player they cleaned up their image and banned all those ads.

Also, an interesting question: Are you citing the fact that nearly ever big company has done it to basically give it an ethical pass? i.e. It's the cost of doing business?

no I mean that there is a lot of unethical things for most companies, early in their history.

Whether it's using scrapers to steal content and spam competitor's users, or using high monetizing scammy offers to cash in.

Early on, when starting out, a lot of the companies we admire today, have resorted to doing anything in order to survive.

Re: The man who monetizes data

#24

Post by Psyonic » Fri, Dec 18, 2009, 8:35 PM UTC

vaksel wrote: post #23

Psyonic wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, an interesting question: Are you citing the fact that nearly ever big company has done it to basically give it an ethical pass? i.e. It's the cost of doing business?

no I mean that there is a lot of unethical things for most companies, early in their history. Whether it's using scrapers to steal content and spam competitor's users, or using high monetizing scammy offers to cash in. Early on, when starting out, a lot of the companies we admire today, have resorted to doing anything in order to survive.

Right, but what is the lesson here? Do whatever it takes to succeed? I'm not picking on you, just wondering what to take from that fact.

Re: The man who monetizes data

#25

Post by thechangelog » Sat, Dec 19, 2009, 7:27 AM UTC

thechangelog wrote: post #10

kw_ wrote: post #3

I couldn't get past the point where he's going on about doing lead-gen for payday loans. I care about creating value far more than I care about making money. In my eyes, $500k earned by creating value is far sweeter than $5m acquired by helping loan sharks. I'm not sure if this guy had anything interesting to say, but I'm canceling my wife's shopify account based on this interview. I'd recommended them on the basis t…

"I'm canceling my wife's shopify account" ?! I don't know your wife, but I'd certainly ask mine before closing her (hypothetical) business.

I'd be grateful if a mod could delete this exchange; it caused some distress to kw_ and certainly didn't add anything to the discussion. I can't seem to find a delete or edit link anymore.