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Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

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Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#201
post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's not "professional", where that word has the common meaning of avoiding saying hard truths on the grounds that someone's feelings and/or political position might be hurt. This significantly elevates Reddit, IMO. Their CEO acts like a fucking human being instead of a politicized, sanitized, pretentious, weasel-wording sock puppet like so many other CEOs. You have no idea how much respect I have for this.

Being human doesn't mean you have to be an asshole though. ysihan is really on the side of politicized, sanitized, pretentious, weasel-wording sock puppet; minus the sanitized part. Consider his posts about the celeb nude photos leaks http://www.redditblog.com/2014/09/every-man-is-responsible-f... and http://www.reddit.com/r/yishan/comments/2frlxb/and_now_to_ma... compared to somebody who's actually speaking like a h…

You mean he realized that the PR-speak version (which judging by the comments in this thread, people want for some reason) went over like a turd in a punch bowl, and then he reverted to plain English?

Am I supposed to see that as a negative or something?

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's adding fuel to the fire. This was a childish move on his part and certainly not leadership material.

Maybe the fire needs to burn. Maybe Reddit's definition of leadership and company culture is different from that of Goldman Sachs.

Sorry, are you saying someone needs to burn (metaphorically) Reddit down? Because that's what this fire is doing..

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"because I pissed off management with my feedback" Umm -- did he say that, in the words you are using (and took the trouble to put in quotes)? If so, where? It doesn't seem to appear anywhere in the comment thread.

I was paraphrasing: "Officially: no reason. And I get this; I vaguely know how CA employment law works and that you limit your liability by not stating a reason. It's also really hard to work through in your mind. The best theory I have is that, two weeks earlier, I raised concerns about donating 10% of ad revenue to charity. Some management likes getting feedback, some doesn't. ..." When you make a statement like "S…

That combined with Yishan's reply makes it LOOK more retaliatory.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#204
post #25

Aw man. This is totally gonna get taken down by YC management/altman...

It's so much easier to casually fling things like this out there than it is to answer them, but FWIW, what you're insinuating is false. We penalize stories less, not more, when they're anti-YC, and every moderator is strictly instructed about it.

Now this is a good rebuttal[1]. Factual, straight to the point while not being excessive.

[1] Or response, or whatever the best term for it is.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#205

I really don't like this. The problem is that Yishan never explicitly states that there was an exit interview, and the reason for the termination was clearly explained. He could have a half assed HR person that gave some bullshit reason like "you are not a good fit", and the ex-employee is legitimately confused about why he was terminated. The other potential issue is that employees go into shock when they are told t…

In California, a termination conversation usually begins and ends like this: "Thank you for your time, your services are no longer required. Please collect your belongings." Anything else opens the company up to liability.

Do you think this former employee was planning on this kind of a reaction from Yishan?

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#206
I read a lot of comments on HN about his response being unprofessional and harsh, and on the latter of those counts, I do agree, it definitely had a negative tone. What I want to know, though, is _why_ so many consider it unprofessional. To me, and I'm making the assumption that Yishan isn't lying, any pleasantries owed this man ended the moment he decided to not only publicly broadcast his employment, but also falsify details regarding his termination.

Regardless of what I think, what actually makes this whole exchange unprofessional to others? Why should these details be protected, and why should companies and individual remain silent on these issues? I'm lumping this into the "political correctness" category until someone tells me it's about something more than someone having their feelings hurt (that they may have been asking for, even). Putting on my future-employment-perspective goggles, I can kinda-sorta see why this wouldn't be good, but I'd also be the type of person to argue that the current state of PR is particularly dismal when employers can't give any kind of factual details about a former employee's work record beyond whether or not they were fired. Why not just report details of employment and follow-up with the employee on any questionable/negative remarks? My guess is that a bad apple ruins the bunch when companies didn't/don't investigate those details with the employee and just pass them up altogether, creating an unfair situation for the prospective employee.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And some potential employees will look at it and go "Well, I am not going to risk working there" as a result either way.

His allegations were a mix of the implausible and the cliché. It would take a remarkably naïve candidate to both take these allegations at face value, and think Reddit is somehow unusual in being on the wrong end of them. If not having this stain is the criteria by which they judge potential employers, they will find no employment. Now, however, potential experienced employees who actually live in the real world will…

> His allegations were a mix of the implausible and the cliché. It would take a remarkably naïve candidate to both take these allegations at face value, and think Reddit is somehow unusual in being on the wrong end of them. If not having this stain is the criteria by which they judge potential employers, they will find no employment.

1) Well, that is demonstrably false. I'm employed just fine.

2) I've encountered a similar situation before that was a real toxic mess where I took the view you espouse and I regret it. So I think you are the one who is naive.

But hey, whatever. I must be lying since your absolutist view is 100% correct to you.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#210
post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

where are the proofs that ex-employee is lying? It can be CEO is covering up. Is it not?

Is this probable given how much risk he would be taking on himself in this situation? It could be a career-and-company-ending move.

> It could be a career-and-company-ending move.

Are you kidding me? What world do you live in where corporate executives and companies are punished for lying?

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