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The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

businessinsider.com

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Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#41

Post by jacquesm »

crazypyro wrote: post #11
johnpowell wrote: post #10

If true.. >One childhood friend recalled a time when Sherman committed insurance fraud. He described driving on a highway with Sherman when they were 16. Suddenly, Sherman told his friend to "buckle up." He slammed on the brakes and caused an accident. Later, the friend says, Sherman would collect thousands of dollars from insurance companies for the self-inflicted injuries. Fuck the dude.

I don't think its really okay to post "Fuck the dude." in a story about his suicide and failed tech startup. The guy was 16 at the time. It even says he had a rough childhood. Are you really going to post "Fuck the dude" when you know nothing of the situation or what actually happened? Clearly, he was immature at the time, but I don't think judging a person by what they did at 16 years of age is very appropriate.

It could have easily killed a number of innocent others.

A rough childhood is not an excuse, if you're old enough to have a driving license then you're old enough to think through the consequences of slamming on your brakes at highway speeds.

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#42

Post by Udo »

jacquesm wrote: post #41
crazypyro wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think its really okay to post "Fuck the dude." in a story about his suicide and failed tech startup. The guy was 16 at the time. It even says he had a rough childhood. Are you really going to post "Fuck the dude" when you know nothing of the situation or what actually happened? Clearly, he was immature at the time, but I don't think judging a person by what they did at 16 years of age is very appropriate.

It could have easily killed a number of innocent others. A rough childhood is not an excuse, if you're old enough to have a driving license then you're old enough to think through the consequences of slamming on your brakes at highway speeds.

In any case, we're talking about something he did when he was 16. Sure, it's in the story because it definitely fits with the overall "bad decisions" theme, but I'm sure most people did stupid stuff at that age.

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#43

Post by chris_wot »

ChrisNorstrom wrote: post #33
chris_wot wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh that's right. Downvote something you don't like to read. My comment is no more objectionable than the one talking about Exit Bags - devices to enable suicide.

Why are you talking as me? I think you replied to the wrong comment.

I got downvoted on the first comment, which I thought was entirely ridiculous. So I responded, the first comment is now a +7 and the second at -4. Go figure.

I thought your comment was enlightening, though not in a good way so I upvoted it, btw.

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#44

Post by jacquesm »

Udo wrote: post #42
jacquesm wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It could have easily killed a number of innocent others. A rough childhood is not an excuse, if you're old enough to have a driving license then you're old enough to think through the consequences of slamming on your brakes at highway speeds.

In any case, we're talking about something he did when he was 16. Sure, it's in the story because it definitely fits with the overall "bad decisions" theme, but I'm sure most people did stupid stuff at that age.

I'm pretty sure most people did not do reckless stuff endangering people going about their daily business by purposefully creating a car accident.

There is stupid and there is malicious, this is way beyond stupid. After all, he did tell his friend to buckle up which indicates he was aware of the risk, did he tell the people in the car behind him to buckle up as well?

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#45

Post by Udo »

jacquesm wrote: post #44
Udo wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In any case, we're talking about something he did when he was 16. Sure, it's in the story because it definitely fits with the overall "bad decisions" theme, but I'm sure most people did stupid stuff at that age.

I'm pretty sure most people did not do reckless stuff endangering people going about their daily business by purposefully creating a car accident. There is stupid and there is malicious, this is way beyond stupid. After all, he did tell his friend to buckle up which indicates he was aware of the risk, did he tell the people in the car behind him to buckle up as well?

> There is stupid and there is malicious, this is way beyond stupid.

No argument there. But I think it's not inconceivable that people who behaved like utter assholes in their youth can still turn out OK in adulthood - especially when "troubled" teenagers are involved who come from screwed-up backgrounds. I believe there are still opportunities to turn your life around at that point, and if that's the case something you did when you were 16 shouldn't really matter by the time you turn 40. We were all different people a few years ago.

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#46

Post by tomwalker »

If anyone reading this thread ever has suicidal thoughts then please talk to someone.

If you cannot talk to anyone that is close to you, or if you are more comfortable with it, then please find your local phone line such as www.samaritans.org in the UK or www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org in the US

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#47

Post by [deleted] »

hncommenter13 wrote: post #17

I didn't know Jody, so I won't comment on him personally. Speaking as a former investor regarding the financial situation though...never ever ever ever. Financial controls aren't important just because VCs are greedy: they keep companies alive and keep you out of court (or jail). I've seen situations in which cash didn't quite reconcile to what was expected; in some, the people involved made restitution and were fire…

[deleted]

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#48

Post by ilamont »

What a sad story. I know it's easy to say "in retrospect, if we knew x, y, z, it never would have gone this far," but I have to ask:

Where was the board before the last round of funding?

There is no mention of the CFO or company accountant. Did the company have either?

What did he tell investors who asked about who was overseeing the accounts?

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#49

Post by epochwolf »

Udo wrote: post #42
jacquesm wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It could have easily killed a number of innocent others. A rough childhood is not an excuse, if you're old enough to have a driving license then you're old enough to think through the consequences of slamming on your brakes at highway speeds.

In any case, we're talking about something he did when he was 16. Sure, it's in the story because it definitely fits with the overall "bad decisions" theme, but I'm sure most people did stupid stuff at that age.

Purposefully causing an accident is an order of magnitude or two beyond "stupid stuff" that can be excused by youth. It is despicable and criminal and suggests the person needed immediate intervention (medical or judicial) that they never got. This is not something you laugh off, this is equal to firing a gun in a crowded room.

Re: The Story Of A Failed Startup And A Founder Driven To Suicide

#50

Post by epochwolf »

adhd wrote: post #23
johnpowell wrote: post #10

If true.. >One childhood friend recalled a time when Sherman committed insurance fraud. He described driving on a highway with Sherman when they were 16. Suddenly, Sherman told his friend to "buckle up." He slammed on the brakes and caused an accident. Later, the friend says, Sherman would collect thousands of dollars from insurance companies for the self-inflicted injuries. Fuck the dude.

The original story was told by his best friend at Jody's memorial, in a lighthearted way. And it happened when he was a teenager. I'm a little shocked that the writer used this as evidence of fraud. Of course, the same friend told a story about Jody giving boxes and boxes of clothing to homeless people during Christmas. Yet this tale didn't make the cut.

> I'm a little shocked that the writer used this as evidence of fraud.

I think it's evidence that he needed help long before he committed suicide.

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