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A profound apology

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Re: A profound apology

#151

Post by unityByFreedom »

DanHulton wrote: post #106
unityByFreedom wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If social media wants his head, I'm sure they can get it. I think it's bad for tech and the country when we don't support people who say they made a mistake and are seeking help. If you do that, you only end up with really good liars in charge. Allow someone, somewhere, to admit a mistake and correct it in a leadership position.

Actions, not words. We need clear and concrete proof that the myriad issues at Uber will be addressed, and a vague, handwavey "I'll do better" is not that. He could have announced an advisory team being brought on board to help steer the company back on track, or a cleaning house of managers with abusive track records, or drastic new internal guidelines with harsh penalties for bullshit sexist/racist/intolerant behav…

> He could have announced an advisory team being brought on board to help steer the company back on track, or a cleaning house of managers with abusive track records, or drastic new internal guidelines with harsh penalties for bullshit sexist/racist/intolerant behaviour.

It's been like 12 hours since the video came out, and only a couple since the CEO publicly admitted he needs leadership help... I'm not sure he's had time to seek an advisory team

I'd give them a week. I bet there will be more news from Uber.

Re: A profound apology

#152

Post by argonaut »

smcmurtry wrote: post #65
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…

>Kalanick: You know what? >Kamel: What? >Kalanick: Some people don't like to take responsibility for their own shit. They blame everything in their life on somebody else. I think that is a very insulting and superior thing to say to someone.

Something that struck me is: almost half of the country would disagree with you (the more conservative half). A lot of the American public believes what Kalanick said to be very true when it comes to low-ish income people complaining about what wealthier people do to them.

Re: A profound apology

#153

Post by _xhok »

_xhok wrote: post #124

Here's the conversation that took place: Travis: So we are reducing the number of black cars in the next few months. Fawzi: It’s good. Travis: You probably saw some email. Fawzi: I saw the email [that says] it starts in May. But you’re raising the standards and dropping the prices. Travis: We’re not dropping the prices on Black. Fawzi: But in general. Travis: In general, but we have competitors. Otherwise we’d be out…

Personally, I didn't find this disproportionately disrespectful. The driver makes a couple unsubstantiated claims (perfectly ok--it's a car discussion). Travis does the same. The driver starts making accusations ("you keep changing every day"). Travis asks for clarification. The driver keeps up his attack ("You changed the whole business! You dropped the prices.")

If someone accused me in such a fashion, and persisted despite me asking for clarification and trying to actually explain my view to them, I'd probably be a lot more vitriolic than Travis was. (It's a character flaw of mine.) And saying that some people don't like to take responsibility for their own shit is, well, true?

I don't like that billionaires are held to a different standard. People say, "they don't need protection; they're rich." Ok, but if you discount something a billionaire says for no reason other than that they're rich and have easy lives, you're not a dispassionate truthseeker.

Re: A profound apology

#154

Post by unityByFreedom »

habitue wrote: post #102
throwanem wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think that's because he has experienced a genuine change of heart and intends on doing all in his power to repair at least some of his myriad grievous failures in the exercise of his responsibilities? Or do you think it's because, this time, he's actually in the video, and really has no options beyond a) try to seem sincerely humbled and intent on improving, or b) do literally anything else , and look like suc…

> has no options beyond a) try to seem sincerely humbled and intent on improving, or b) do literally anything else You know, a year ago I would have nodded along to your reply. But after seeing Trump choose B every time and repeatedly get away with it, I have to give Travis at least a modicum of credit for not going full Trump on this one. Not a lot of credit, but the decision was his.

Yes, thank you, that is what I have been trying to say.

Travis removed himself from Trump's team and admitted his faults here. These are two signs he seeks internal change, in my opinion.

Re: A profound apology

#155

Post by codr4life »

noobermin wrote: post #143
humanrebar wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brother J?

Jesus Christ[0]? I hate to digress from this topic, so I won't in depth, but this whole "good tree, bad tree" philosophy is central to protestant theology and has had an impact on Western culture, while it is often not true, in my opinion. Another variant is the "bitter water, sweet water" parable from Jude. [0] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A15-...

I have a different experience. If people were actually trying to change, they would. People who don't change, don't want to change. Being the kind of asshole that Travis is gradually proving to be, at the age of 40; is a pretty lousy indicator.

Re: A profound apology

#156

Post by dmode »

The key question is how many people will stop using Uber based on this video. I for one will still continue using their services. I know Travis is an asshole and I hate Uber, but I hate cabs even more. And I can't depend just on Lyft every time

Re: A profound apology

#157

Post by oconnore »

stouset wrote: post #112
oconnore wrote: post #37

It takes a certain kind of person to declare that their own apology is "profound".

Profound has two meanings. You're confusing one meaning ("having great knowledge or insight") with the other ("very great or intense"). "He has profound insights on the topic of healthcare" vs. "Please accept my profound sorrow for your loss".

No. The profound in "please accept my sorrow" is a comment on the depth of your sorrow, something that you are uniquely equipped to describe. "A profound apology follows:" is a comment on how I expect my reader to interpret this message, something I am not at all equipped to describe.

Re: A profound apology

#158

Post by orblivion »

ddispaltro wrote: post #125

Honestly, most of the conversation is a lot more genuine than most interactions as seen on the internet. Most execs would have shut up and avoided any discussion. I am not saying that I agree with everything, but of all the Uber news, this is the least worrying.

I'm rarely one to defend Uber, but I agree. I didn't see the big deal. He was a little rude, callous, and aloof. Not great, but meh.

Re: A profound apology

#159

Post by chasing »

crimsonalucard wrote: post #137
remarkEon wrote: post #111

I would like to hear an argument for why Travis should remain as CEO. In my mind there's simply been too many colossal failures as a leader, and while I don't consider this video in particular to be resignation worthy, I feel like it's just another datapoint in a growing dataset showing that he's not mature enough (at 40 no less) to handle his role. A straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. This letter seems…

Being an ass hole is sometimes an effective form of leadership. This event may be a datapoint FOR keeping him as a leader. Steve Jobs was an ass hole.

Don't confuse someone being successful because they're an asshole with someone being successful despite being an asshole.

Re: A profound apology

#160

Post by xapata »

throwanem wrote: post #91
sjtgraham wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not defending Kalanick's behavior, although I do think it is regretful he ended the interaction in the way he did. Public figure or not I think it's unreasonable to expect anyone to completely waive their expectation of privacy. There are right and wrong ways to pursue a grievance, IMO this was not the right way and two wrongs do not make a right.

I think it's remarkable to suggest that the CEO of a company, when speaking in that role in a public place , has an expectation of privacy.

The interaction with the driver, that's fine to film. The long section before their conversation, watching that made me feel uncomfortable, like a voyeur. I suppose that's what makes me cringe when watching "reality TV".
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