Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations • Hacker News Board

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#231

Post by snarfy » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 1:56 AM UTC

Cyph0n wrote: post #97

hoorayimhelping wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"At this point, is it even feasible for anyone to enter the desktop computer market, or has Microsoft simply set the barrier to entry too high?" -Us, 1999 One thing I've observed in tech over the past 25 years is that change comes from unexpected places and often very quickly.

Uhhh how has the answer to that question changed though? Windows remains the undisputed king of the desktop.

Yes, but the desktop became irrelevant. They might as well be the king of England. They remained king and the rest of the world changed around them.

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#232

Post by gniv » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:03 AM UTC

fullshark wrote: post #230

gniv wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's why the responsibility was on the board to find somebody willing and capable of playing Extra Hard.

The money they paid out to Meyer was not a problem for yahoo, even from a opportunity cost perspective. Deciding to only pay someone willing to work for close to nothing would have been really foolish. Not sure what you are proposing other than like bringing back Jerry Yang.

Sorry, my comment was too short. I said nothing about money. I simply pointed out that they should have done more due diligence when choosing the CEO. (Based on what I read at the time though, sounds like they didn't even try -- they went for short-term gains based on her name recognition).

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#233

Post by nimchimpsky » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:03 AM UTC

Cyph0n wrote: post #123

CalChris wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course not, but then when I failed which would have been pre-ordained and actually entirely foreseeable, bashing me here would NOT be really, really pointless and sad . However, if you are respecting her for picking up a paycheck, that is your right.

I'm not "respecting" her; I'm just pointing out that the high pay is not as black and white as it was made out to be.

eh?

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#234

Post by BinaryIdiot » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:04 AM UTC

akjainaj wrote: post #34

stanleydrew wrote: post #22

Rather than the inevitable bashing of Marissa that will undoubtedly unfurl on this thread, I'd like to put in a little reminder that we usually celebrate taking on big projects and big risks and that we should commend her for taking on the immense challenge of steadying the Yahoo ship. Yes, she wasn't able to keep the ship from sinking. But I do think she put in a good-faith effort.

I think there is absolutely no indication that anybody, other than Jesus Christ himself descending from the skies mounted on a Harley Davidson in flames, could have saved Yahoo. So, bashing Marissa here would be really, really pointless and sad.

> absolutely no indication that anybody, other than Jesus Christ himself descending from the skies mounted on a Harley Davidson in flames, could have saved Yahoo.

I mean, Yahoo has essentially failed so there is no way to validate your or my claims, but I disagree very much with this. If Yahoo had focused on its core strengths versus its flipping and flopping between becoming a media company or not, I think it could have become great. They also lost quite a bit of their best talent due to policy changes, work changes, etc.

Honestly I still think there are ways to turn the ship around. It may never become as big as it was before but I see no reason it can't become profitable and stick around for a long time.

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#235

Post by joering2 » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:05 AM UTC

stanleydrew wrote: post #22

Rather than the inevitable bashing of Marissa that will undoubtedly unfurl on this thread, I'd like to put in a little reminder that we usually celebrate taking on big projects and big risks and that we should commend her for taking on the immense challenge of steadying the Yahoo ship. Yes, she wasn't able to keep the ship from sinking. But I do think she put in a good-faith effort.

Using your example, how much of a benefit is to have a "steady" ship while its still "sinking" ??

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#236

Post by nimchimpsky » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:07 AM UTC

fma wrote: post #215

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was a pretty major risk that her name would be tarred as "that loser who wrecked Yahoo". It might affect her ability to get any further C-level positions. That risk might not be something that a normal human being would want compensation to take on.

If you have $200 million in the bank, why do you need any further C-level position? Hell, give me $20 million and I'll take that risk.

$2 million

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#237

Post by nashashmi » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:07 AM UTC

nikcub wrote: post #222

akjainaj wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there is absolutely no indication that anybody, other than Jesus Christ himself descending from the skies mounted on a Harley Davidson in flames, could have saved Yahoo. So, bashing Marissa here would be really, really pointless and sad.

I don't think that is true. In 2012 Yahoo had $5B a year in revenue and was the second most visited property on the web. When Thompson stepped down the board were given two proposals. The first, revive Yahoo as a premium tech firm lead by someone like Mayer, or 2. admit that Yahoo is now a media co and double down on the verticals where Yahoo is winning - especially those where you can sell premium ads (Finance, Spor…

I agree with you, and would like to add that Yahoo was in denial of who it was and what strengths it had.

Still however, comparing it to a company like IAC is quite insulting. Yahoo was something more, it was a chance for a media company to rule the internet once again. It was how tech did media.

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#238

Post by BinaryIdiot » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:11 AM UTC

erickhill wrote: post #51

Changing a company name is one thing. Google did the same, essentially, with the formation of Alphabet. But please, dear God, don't tell me they are changing their domain. It's like the Eddie Murphy joke about falling down the stairs - for what seems like an eternity. ["My shoe!"] It's hard to believe what's become of the mighty Y! brand.

Yahoo will still be around. Essentially the assets / pieces sold to Verizon will be "Yahoo". The rest of this company will be under "Altaba".

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#239

Post by ACow_Adonis » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:13 AM UTC

stanleydrew wrote: post #22

Rather than the inevitable bashing of Marissa that will undoubtedly unfurl on this thread, I'd like to put in a little reminder that we usually celebrate taking on big projects and big risks and that we should commend her for taking on the immense challenge of steadying the Yahoo ship. Yes, she wasn't able to keep the ship from sinking. But I do think she put in a good-faith effort.

I can't speak for the rest of HN, but part of the "bashing" of Mayer is not just a personal attack on her, but a critique of our entire culture and economic system.

At the end of the day, she'll receive multiple millions of dollars for doing and achieving nothing.

Not a bad job of you can get it, but the phenomenon itself seems eminentl, judiciously and justifiably open to criticism to me.

She's just another caricature in the social pattern...

Re: Yahoo SEC Filing: Name change to Altaba Inc and director resignations

#240

Post by mmmBacon » Tue, Jan 10, 2017, 2:15 AM UTC

stanleydrew wrote: post #116

idlewords wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

She was very well compensated for her time sinking Yahoo. I think this kind of tone policing is unhealthy.

Upvoted since I think this discussion might be interesting. I'm wondering why people focus on financial compensation so much? Why does how much someone was paid justify more or less bashing, as the case might be? And what's unhealthy about tone policing? I'll leave aside the way you've negatively framed my attempt to steer the conversation in a more positive direction, and just say that I don't see what the purpose o…

>I'm wondering why people focus on financial compensation so much? Why does how much someone was paid justify more or less bashing, as the case might be?

It's simply the issue of gratuitous executive pay. If her pay hadn't been >>100x what a typical SV worker makes I think she'd get significantly less flak. The idea of someone being granted enough money so their great-grandchildren never have to work a day when that person did a poor job after only 4 years on the job just makes people sick. Don't forget some bad stuff happened on Mayer's watch; like 1B user accounts being compromised.