An upcoming story about Coinbase • Hacker News Board

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#31

Post by markdown » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:47 AM UTC

dmix wrote: post #21

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #10

It's really really hard to prove your not racist. If anyone has any clue as how to do so, please share. They could have waited until the story was published I guess to share this statement, but publishing it preemptively makes sense too I believe (it's an always open entity that is incredibly easy to switch away from). But truly, when you get accused of racism, what can you even do?

Being as transparent as possible and investigating complaints as they come up. > three of these people filed complaints during their time at Coinbase. All of those complaints were thoroughly investigated, one through an internal investigation and two by separate third-party investigators Using third parties sounds like a good idea here.

You don't pay a third party to find damaging stuff about your company. Do you really think this third party would ever find something that made Coinbase look bad?

Arthur Andersen taught us that two decades ago.

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#32

Post by peteretep » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:48 AM UTC

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #10

It's really really hard to prove your not racist. If anyone has any clue as how to do so, please share. They could have waited until the story was published I guess to share this statement, but publishing it preemptively makes sense too I believe (it's an always open entity that is incredibly easy to switch away from). But truly, when you get accused of racism, what can you even do?

> when you get accused of racism, what can you even do?

Make sure nobody has any examples of you being racist

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#33

Post by hnracer » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:48 AM UTC

ntsplnkv2 wrote: post #22

> Let’s keep focused on building an amazing company together; we are hitting amazing new records on users, volume and revenue, and we have so much great work to do together. Ignore any potential negativity, everything we do is great, all that matters is revenue, nothing bad ever happens hear, blah blah blah. Don't focus on the bad part, those are all lies! The NYTimes article isn't released so I can't comment on the…

Let's assume that CB is really the entirely innocent and maligned party here. In such a world, how would their response have differed?

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#34

Post by rlt » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:49 AM UTC

Seems like someone at NYT wasn’t happy with Coinbase’s recent rejection of the politicization of the workplace (https://blog.coinbase.com/coinbase-is-a-mission-focused-comp...)

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#35

Post by ve55 » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:49 AM UTC

goldenManatee wrote: post #24

ve55 wrote: post #9

>Overall, we expect the story will paint an inaccurate picture that lacks complete information and context, despite our best efforts to fact-check details of the story with the reporter. Probably the most important line from this; those that have been through it before know it better than anyone. Likely best to apply healthy levels of skepticism to both parties.

Hard to judge without the story published, but it also sounds like the company is frustrated it didn’t get line-editing power. This is in contrast to even showing gratefulness for being alerted about the story’s imminent publishing and probably being contacted for sources from all views. The company has invited more scrutiny; like a kid running up to parents saying, “Whatever my brother says, it’s not true.”

I don't think any service was done as far as alerting them something would be published because it's generally obvious: anyone even slightly-relevant to the story is contacted by a journalist and asked to share information beforehand, and of course some fraction will share this occurrence with others.

But it's also true that they'd like to do as you claim, I think it's only fair skepticism is applied equally to both sides.

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#36

Post by throwlastone » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:49 AM UTC

Lies are countered with facts, not generic dismissals. The post is textbook PR pointing to some unspecified inaccuracy which is supposed to cast doubt on the substance of the story. Then self-investigation and self-exoneration. Every company trying to cover up wrong doing writes the same thing.

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#37

Post by kingnight » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:49 AM UTC

Disappointed as a customer to see this nyt-is-bad preemptive pr defense and no substance action, as I guess as fits their mission statement, than a critical assessment of flaws etc. and description of improvements they’ll make going forward.

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#38

Post by nlh » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:50 AM UTC

gpm wrote: post #20

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #10

It's really really hard to prove your not racist. If anyone has any clue as how to do so, please share. They could have waited until the story was published I guess to share this statement, but publishing it preemptively makes sense too I believe (it's an always open entity that is incredibly easy to switch away from). But truly, when you get accused of racism, what can you even do?

I wonder how the nyt feels about them posting it publicly? Is that something that's going to make them reconsider sharing details in future stories? (I think it was probably the right choice either way given how serious the allegations appear to be, so this is just idle curiosity on my part).

> Is that something that's going to make them reconsider sharing details in future stories?

It's a fair question, but I doubt it. While getting a hot scoop and dropping it with a bang is something that feels good (and sells papers, so to speak), it's not the driving force behind how a professional news org works. The NYT is a professional news org. One of the things a professional news orgs does is fact check, get statements, and give its sources a chance to respond.

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#39

Post by farrarstan » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:50 AM UTC

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #10

It's really really hard to prove your not racist. If anyone has any clue as how to do so, please share. They could have waited until the story was published I guess to share this statement, but publishing it preemptively makes sense too I believe (it's an always open entity that is incredibly easy to switch away from). But truly, when you get accused of racism, what can you even do?

It’s super easy for most people

Re: An upcoming story about Coinbase

#40

Post by farrarstan » Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 4:50 AM UTC

peteretep wrote: post #32

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #10

It's really really hard to prove your not racist. If anyone has any clue as how to do so, please share. They could have waited until the story was published I guess to share this statement, but publishing it preemptively makes sense too I believe (it's an always open entity that is incredibly easy to switch away from). But truly, when you get accused of racism, what can you even do?

> when you get accused of racism, what can you even do? Make sure nobody has any examples of you being racist

Ya be sneaky