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A profound apology

newsroom.uber.com

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Re: A profound apology

#31

Post by rdtsc »

That is a good apology.

We've seen Uber discussed here and not just in context of this incident, but much worse stuff. It would be interesting to see what comes of that...

But taken it on its own, this is what apologies should be like and not the "I am so very sorry you all feel this way" type apologies which then usually also proceed to shift blame (circumstances, others, acts of God, bad mood, etc).

Now whether he actually feels this way or not or this is just good PR I am not sure. It remains to be seen.

Re: A profound apology

#32

Post by npkarnik »

smoyer wrote: post #25

The problem with SV's propensity for turning twenty-somethings into CXOs is that they are fundamentally NOT mature. Studies have shown that our brains aren't fully mature until we're 25 but it seems to take a long time for the feeling of entitlement you garner before that age to wear off after you've reached the quarter-century mark. I actually do hope he's sincere - I hope he's really going to get help - and I speci…

Travis is 40.

Re: A profound apology

#33

Post by M_Grey »

fullshark wrote: post #28
M_Grey wrote: post #10

Nothing like a mea culpa dragged from you by the threat of impending lawsuits and a truly vicious turn of public opinion. I'm sure that he's utterly sincere, and this is in no way just an empty reaction to external and internal pressures. Seriously. Right?

I'm pretty cynical but the language here seems more genuine than what you see in most crisis management firm written non-apology apologies. It's an actual apology for one.

Who cares? He's not a naughty boy who "done wrong", he's a negligent CEO who didn't give a fuck until someone lit his entire world ablaze. Now he's "genuine".

Riiiight.

Re: A profound apology

#34

Post by jamestimmins »

M_Grey wrote: post #29
jamestimmins wrote: post #26

I'm a bit unclear what is so negative about this. While there is an argument that a leader should be able to handle criticism without losing his/her temper, he appears to respond to the driver as an equal with whom he profoundly disagrees. He didn't write the man off or act as though he wasn't worth his time, he simply responded in a frustrated manner to an interaction that he clearly was not in the mood for. Does be…

For me, the issue is all of what he's done (or not done) leading up to this. The time for a fireside chat has long since passed, and it's only happening now because it's literally the least that can be done .

Agreed. I am simply referring to this video in isolation as the catalyst for an apology.

Re: A profound apology

#35

Post by smoyer »

npkarnik wrote: post #32
smoyer wrote: post #25

The problem with SV's propensity for turning twenty-somethings into CXOs is that they are fundamentally NOT mature. Studies have shown that our brains aren't fully mature until we're 25 but it seems to take a long time for the feeling of entitlement you garner before that age to wear off after you've reached the quarter-century mark. I actually do hope he's sincere - I hope he's really going to get help - and I speci…

Travis is 40.

Perhaps physically ... I think you just made my point!

Re: A profound apology

#36

Post by throwanem »

dokein wrote: post #19
M_Grey wrote: post #10

Nothing like a mea culpa dragged from you by the threat of impending lawsuits and a truly vicious turn of public opinion. I'm sure that he's utterly sincere, and this is in no way just an empty reaction to external and internal pressures. Seriously. Right?

I certainly do not intend to take Travis' side on anything, but sometimes genuine internal realizations are set off by external events (e.g. Spiderman and his Uncle getting shot, or in more seriousness, any number of reformed ex-cons). The problem is that it is largely impossible for an external observer to differentiate genuine internal realization and competency at public relations.

> ...it is largely impossible for an external observer to differentiate...

Not impossible at all. You do it by observing behavior before and after the supposed epiphany; time will reveal whether this particular leopard has truly managed to change his shorts.

It'll be interesting, in particular, to observe how he reacts when people directly challenge his fitness to discharge his role in ways he can't or won't ignore. I gather that in the past he's tended to react to such challenges precipitously and, where possible, punitively. If he's genuinely gained a new perspective on his behavior and its consequences, I would not expect that to continue.

Re: A profound apology

#38

Post by alphonsegaston »

dokein wrote: post #19
M_Grey wrote: post #10

Nothing like a mea culpa dragged from you by the threat of impending lawsuits and a truly vicious turn of public opinion. I'm sure that he's utterly sincere, and this is in no way just an empty reaction to external and internal pressures. Seriously. Right?

I certainly do not intend to take Travis' side on anything, but sometimes genuine internal realizations are set off by external events (e.g. Spiderman and his Uncle getting shot, or in more seriousness, any number of reformed ex-cons). The problem is that it is largely impossible for an external observer to differentiate genuine internal realization and competency at public relations.

The good news is that determining the truth of "internal realizations" is entirely irrelevant. Look at what people do, what they have done, not what they say.

On that account, Uber and Kalanick's track record is quite clear. We've gone through this apology ruse any number of times, and yet here we are again.

Re: A profound apology

#39

Post by [deleted] »

smoyer wrote: post #25

The problem with SV's propensity for turning twenty-somethings into CXOs is that they are fundamentally NOT mature. Studies have shown that our brains aren't fully mature until we're 25 but it seems to take a long time for the feeling of entitlement you garner before that age to wear off after you've reached the quarter-century mark. I actually do hope he's sincere - I hope he's really going to get help - and I speci…

[deleted]

Re: A profound apology

#40

Post by Alex3917 »

unityByFreedom wrote: post #12

> This is the first time I’ve been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it. That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this. Best of luck to Uber and their CEO.

> That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this.

It sounds more like the kind of apology one would make after getting caught diddling children and blaming it on an addiction to snorting horse tranquilizer.

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