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My Time at Snap

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Re: My Time at Snap

#151

Post by radlad »

ordinaryperson wrote: post #107
paxys wrote: post #47

We have all worked for a "John" in the industry. The big systematic problem is that after being fired from Snap (probably after already collecting massive paychecks and a hefty chunk of equity), he will go to another big tech company and impress them with his resume and bullshitting skills. They will hire him and deal with his antics for a few years, while he ruins more people's careers, then he will move on. Rinse a…

> We have all worked for a "John" in the industry. Agreed. But since so many middle managers are twits isn't it incumbent on the employee to learn a set of skills to deal with Johns? Managing people is hard. Being a good manager is really hard, which is why there are so few of them. Rather than rail against how terrible Person X is as a manager I feel like it's more productive to say, "Unless I start my own company t…

> Agreed. But since so many middle managers are twits isn't it incumbent on the employee to learn a set of skills to deal with Johns?

It's much easier to simply find a better job without a John, or where you're shielded from John.

(My name breaks this analogy a bit.)

Re: My Time at Snap

#152

Post by nwsm »

elbrian wrote: post #140
somishere wrote: post #130

Wow, nothing like a massive whinge to start the day! Don't take a lot of pleasure in saying it, but am highly suspicious of the author's role in all this. While there's no doubt John plagued our friend's life (as are Johns' wont); how said friend played everything else, the relationship handling, the motivation (!) ... culminating in this ego-driven, embittered rant. I mean, the situation definitely sucks. But my big…

I'm just amazed that developers have the confidence to lambaste former employers in such a public, toxic and hostile manner. If I was hiring for a developer position and Google'd Marko Tupper's name, I wouldn't even agree to meet with him based on this article alone. Why would I want someone so ego and drama-driven on my team? I won't even leave negative reviews on Yelp or Google Maps out of fear of reprisal or futur…

"out of fear of reprisal"

You say this like the reprisal is unfair immediately after admitting you would do the same.

Re: My Time at Snap

#153

Post by derwiki »

Timberwolf wrote: post #39
librish wrote: post #10

There seems to be a valuable lesson for OP about the cost of not playing ball here. Assuming OPs side of things is mostly true it sounds like: - OP was working for a bad director, one so bad that they eventually got fired - Instead of placating this director and pretending to take their concerns into consideration, OP fights back more than other teammates (reading between the lines of the quote "However, given that I…

I worked with a "John", with the added bonus that I was expected to be the hatchet man telling developers that they couldn't use any language features introduced post Java 5 or that they had to restructure all of their solutions in line with the latest edict. Thankfully we had some very good teams who saw exactly what was happening, and were able to schedule a round table so we could talk about how this was both demo…

I haven’t worked with Java in over a decade. What is the rationale for not allowing newer language features? Thanks in advance!

Re: My Time at Snap

#154

Post by golergka »

neuronic wrote: post #110
golergka wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm on the same team as you - that's why I can't really work remotely - but let's acknowledge that it's a personal preference. People are different, much more than we can usually imagine. You can't tell another person, whom you really don't know that well, what she can or cannot do; and different projects require different people and different models of communication.

I acknowledge it, yes. And I should be more thoughtful of people with. for example, heavier levels of introversion than me. A really good setup would likely be something that respects all sides on the spectrum - people who prefer to be quiet and working in solitude should not be judged for it. Neither should people with more social approaches be dreaded by the introverts. That would be ideal. In essence, we need a sy…

It think that we already have this system, it's called capitalism. Different companies have different internal cultures, some are for lone hackers in individual cabinets or remote locations, some favour giant open floor plans with constant communication. That's what culture fit is mostly about for me: most aren't better or worse, they're just different.

Re: My Time at Snap

#155

Post by nwsm »

I have not worked at a startup but I love the juxtaposition so many seem to have of very developed culture practices (council) and otherwise very undeveloped HR/facilities practices.

Re: My Time at Snap

#156

Post by astura »

duxup wrote: post #55

>you could walk around miles of Venice Beach streets pointing out unmarked office after unmarked office as you went along. A seemingly empty storefront here, a nondescript house there, the top level of an apartment building over that way. Is that legal in that area? I lived in a townhouse association where someone started the company out of his house. Eventually he started hiring and it didn't take long for everyone…

No, they said the company was keeping a bed in the conference room to "comply" with zoning regulations, essentially pretending the office was also someone's house.

Re: My Time at Snap

#157

Post by vemv »

Touche wrote: post #135

There are many types of "John"s out there. I worked for a John who was a highly accomplished engineer. It doesn't make it any better to have someone constantly micromanage you knowing that they are technical, it only makes it worse because you have to think to yourself "he might be right". But the thing about micromanagement is that it doesn't matter if the micromanager is right or not, it simply kills employee motiv…

> it only makes it worse because you have to think to yourself "he might be right"

Seems a self-defeating statement. Thinking isn't wrong. Neither it is that someone else is right.

Re: My Time at Snap

#158

Post by duxup »

simonhfrost wrote: post #69
duxup wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure it is fair to link to someone's LinkedIn profile when we have one side of the story here and even that author did not identity him and wished to remain anonymous.

It also feels like a mild form of doxing. Not sure I'm ok with this.

Agreed. Looks like it was removed, good choice.

It is a bit disturbing to see a new account just drop a linked in profile like that.

Anonymous stores like this are great, but I really don't want to see the IRL profiles and etc for folks who don't have a voice or wish to stay anonymous.

Re: My Time at Snap

#159

Post by throwaway713 »

I find it interesting how split the HN comments on this story are. Half seem to think this guy is an entitled low performer chasing high compensation, and the other half relate to him and feel that he was treated unfairly by Snap.

I’m not sure what that means.

Re: My Time at Snap

#160

Post by tomp »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #89
tomp wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We make buildings accessible because it's the right thing to do, and because society has decided that excluding people (who are already greatly disadvantaged) is wrong. Is it the right solution though? Does it make sense to spend 1% of GDP on something that helps 0.5% of the population (I'm making up numbers here)? Is this really the most cost effective solution? Wouldn't it make more sense to e.g. give disabled pe…

Does it make sense to spend 1% of GDP on something that helps 0.5% of the population (I'm making up numbers here)? Some not made up numbers for you: Roughly 15-20% of people self-identify as handicapped. At least one study suggests that up to 60% of the population has some degree of impairment and would benefit from more accessible design in the world generally. This fits with my observations. Most people who are onl…

I'm all for "more accessible design" as it also correlates with "easier to use", but otherwise I think you're making my point for me. Do your family members with dysgraphia (difficulty writing) benefit from ramps, larger phone booths and hearing-impaired accessibility features?
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