Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit • Hacker News Board

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#251

Post by ForHackernews » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:22 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #226

ForHackernews wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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?

Most cases you're probably thinking about are of CEOs of big companies issuing CYA-statements that minimize legal attack surface. Here, the guy just exposed himself completely. Also Reddit is not Goldman Sachs; it's value is directly proportional to how much people like the company, and Reddit finds itself in the middle of another funding round. I do see a great potential for bad consequences here.

I doubt the unemployed guy would have the resources to mount a legal attack anyway. As for bad PR, take a look at this thread (or the reddit thread): the majority of people are reflexively siding with the CEO.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#252

Post by ufmace » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:22 PM UTC

dreamweapon wrote: post #10

Sounds like a toxic environment. Whatever the employee may have done to deserve separation, it is profoundly weird and troubling (and also, implicitly threatening to all employees, whatever their rank or standing) to see a CEO discuss those reasons in public.

In a vacuum, it could seem that way. But according to another of his posts, linked in another comment here, there was supposedly a demand by other employees who felt wronged by this guy's statements for him to state their truth, on the record. If we take that at its word, then it's more like a CEO that is willing to put his own reputation and professionalism on the line to defend the quality of his employees.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#253

Post by seanflyon » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:27 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #184

austinl wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the spirit of non-disparagement, it seems like Yishan could have sent a private message to the employee which reiterated why he had been fired, and asked him to stop posting about it. If Yishan felt that it was necessary to comment, he could have still posted something without Reddit losing face – something like, "We're sorry that you feel our decision to let you go was unclear. I've sent you a private message, an…

If he did that, this whole thread would be about how Reddit CEO is a weasel PR-drone incapable of honest talk. Damned if you do, damned if you don't; people here are going to accuse him anyway, because it fits the David vs. Goliath narrative.

I don't think that is the case. I certainly would respect the CEO stating clearly that the employee was fired, that it had nothing to do with criticizing the lack of charity, and the reasoning has been clarified in private.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#254

Post by nknighthb » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:28 PM UTC

opendais wrote: post #207

nknighthb wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 s…

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

In a thread where you are defending a CEO being criticized as, amongst other things, childish, do you not see the irony of this?

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#255

Post by BigChiefSmokem » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:35 PM UTC

I don't care who did what but the CEO of a company should not be making public statements like this, especially in a forum the likes of reddit.

Does this company have a Corporate Communications officer? This event makes me question the logic of reddit's investors.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#256

Post by rosser » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:38 PM UTC

TheOsiris wrote: post #116

slipperyp wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He wasn't laid off - he was fired. This is the first point the CEO makes and it's an important distinction that the poster seemed to not own up to at all. Not knowing the difference between being fired and being laid off is bad - there's a pretty remote possibility that the poster's direct manager didn't own the message well and told the guy "we're letting you go" and he didn't understand he was being fired, but even…

> I was laid off. > > What was the reason?... > > > Officially: no reason... This basically reads like he was trying to dance around saying he was fired, but he was saying he got fired. You don't get laid off by yourself, and you definitely don't get a "reason".

It reads to me like when he was let go, he might not have been given the clearest of communication as to the nature termination. I've been fired before, and I've been laid off. It was unambiguous in both cases.

That's not to say he wasn't clearly fired, and isn't dancing around that fact, but based on the available information, the broader internet bystander community doesn't have sufficient information to tell which story is true.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#257

Post by seanflyon » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:41 PM UTC

nsmartt wrote: post #245

dreamweapon wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the point of TLDR'ing: what they said was so muddled (or evasive) that we're forced to draw an interpretation.

The point of TL;DR is to summarize a longer piece. It literally means “Too long; didn't read”

I don't think you can summarize without first interpreting.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#258

Post by kelukelugames » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:41 PM UTC

jasode wrote: post #154

Seeing some of the back & forth among HN'ers about "laid off" vs "fired" as a lie vs truth, I think it's worth clearning up a particular point. Yes, being "laid off" is different from "fired" but the ex-employee (dehrmann) actually did say he was fired. He just said it in a very roundabout way . He wasn't using "laid off" in its most obvious definition. dehrmann said: " I was laid off...no reason...some management do…

No company actually says "You are fired."

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#259

Post by balor123 » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:45 PM UTC

Sure the guy did some stupid things but who knows what his life is like and we're all human and do stupid things. The CEO's reaction was simply insensitive. Here's what the CEO should have done: have their lawyers draft a polite letter showing that they're serious about having him shut up. When he doesn't, ask your lawyers to take the next step.

His comments were temporarily mildly irritating to the company at best and would be forgotten within a few weeks (same goes for his reply). There's too many memes going around for anyone to remember stupid AMA posts.

My takeaway? If hiring this guy, then I'd judge him on his own merits. Otherwise, I'll avoid applying to Reddit for some time. I just hate those hard-ass get your shit done kinds of environments.

Re: Reddit CEO Calls Out Former Reddit Employee on Reddit

#260

Post by ddoolin » Mon, Oct 06, 2014, 10:47 PM UTC

nknighthb wrote: post #244

TeMPOraL wrote: post #156

Ok, I don't get it. So everyone here says that CEO's statement was childish, and yet next time when another company issues a professional statement, people will be calling it content-less cover-your-ass PR fluff, and crying for more honesty and straight talk. Make up your mind. As for me, personally, I think CEO's response was exactly what it should be. Honest, clear, straight to the point. Reddit just earned my resp…

Maybe your confusion will be reduced if you meditate on a few concepts: * "Childish" and "unprofessional" are not synonyms. * Neither are "adult" and "professional". * Neither are "childish" and "honest". * Neither are "adult" and "dishonest". * PR fluff is not the same as the general concept of public relations. * "We will not discuss this." is honest and straightforward, as are a number of alternative statements pe…

Nope, not reduced a bit. Only your last 6 bullets were even semi-relevant (but still snarky) as the rest were mostly semantic nitpicking.

FWIW, "Childish" and "unprofessional" can arguably be used interchangeably in this case since they both present the concept of acting in contrast to the social norm of the group (adults & professionals), though their dictionary definitions are far from synonyms.