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Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

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Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#31

Post by just2n »

DanBC wrote: post #29
just2n wrote: post #26

Why is this here? This is a non story. All I see in this article is that someone was ranting in a conversation that was entirely assumed to be off the record (they go to great lengths to justify talking about it, as if private dinners require contracts of nondisclosure). I find it beyond hilarious that here Buzzfeed stands appalled that someone would joke about hiring people to dig up dirt when they find their way in…

"Off the record" is a specific construct used by journalists. This was not off the record. Threatening journalists who write negative articles is indefensible. It's a stupid thing to say, especially to a room full of journalists. It's firmly on topic here because it speaks to ethics of company founders.

Even the author of this article recognizes, and confirms, that it was a hypothetical.

It's completely defensible. Would you rather people go to jail for painting hypotheticals of crimes? Perhaps we should send everyone who's ever written a violent novel to jail? Thoughtcrimes are real, now. People can never be frustrated.

Further, why does this article repeat over and over that this wasn't "off the record" going to every length to try to justify publishing it? If there was no confusion about it being "off the record", there's no need to mention any of it. And it still doesn't matter.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#32

Post by blackdogie »

Despite being an impressive company, generating sales, growth fast, expanding internationally, it seems that these founders are a little immature. This isn't the first story about the lack of ethics of the company, and if I was them I would worry about this potential shift in widespread support. Today's shining light can easily be changed into the tomorrows demon. Maybe they could spend $1M on PR to improve the image.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#33

Post by QuadDamaged »

Just looking at my uber rides, I am pretty certain Uber could already infer some interesting facts about my life.

Cross-referencing with geo-data, time, and weekly occurences, I am pretty sure Uber could infer who's in my social circle, and under which category (coworker, wife, arm-candy...)

The day Uber links its userbase with Facebook we are doomed.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#34

Post by rhizome »

justinv wrote: post #2

Personally, I've stopped using Uber because of the lack of the company/management's lack of ethics. Lyft comes off as a much friendly, consumer-focused company & frankly, my experiences have been better in a Lyft than an UberX. Also - I'm not one to usually browse Buzzfeed, but this was their story to break, so props to them for getting it out there.

I think we all know what a lack of ethics gets you in the business world: more money and power.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#35

Post by DanBC »

just2n wrote: post #31
DanBC wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Off the record" is a specific construct used by journalists. This was not off the record. Threatening journalists who write negative articles is indefensible. It's a stupid thing to say, especially to a room full of journalists. It's firmly on topic here because it speaks to ethics of company founders.

Even the author of this article recognizes, and confirms, that it was a hypothetical. It's completely defensible. Would you rather people go to jail for painting hypotheticals of crimes? Perhaps we should send everyone who's ever written a violent novel to jail? Thoughtcrimes are real, now. People can never be frustrated. Further, why does this article repeat over and over that this wasn't "off the record" going to e…

When you're in a public place: do not say that you're rich and could fund a secret team of researchers to trash the reputation of journalists who write negative pieces about you.

Feel free to say that in your boardroom.

But if you say it in front of journalists don't then be surprised if journalists then report it.

Of course they carefully report the off-the-record status of the meeting, otherwise (as has already happened) you get people saying "what about ethics?" Establishing the nature of the meeting in advance closes those threads quickly.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#38

Post by pjc50 »

bhouston wrote: post #22

I can see how being assholes, intimidating the press, undermining rivals via dirty tricks, and other such behavior, can maximize shareholder value. So maybe we just have to accept that this is the new normal and we should all focus on how we can play dirty tricks on our competitors, how we can intimidate the journalists who have written bad stories on us or haven't covered us. Where does the strategy to use intimatio…

maybe we just have to accept that this is the new normal

No we do not; this is the time to push back on it. Otherwise, as you say, you end up making the country more lawless and less developed by sending the thugs round to "achieve outcomes".

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#39

Post by SyneRyder »

bhouston wrote: post #22

I can see how being assholes, intimidating the press, undermining rivals via dirty tricks, and other such behavior, can maximize shareholder value. So maybe we just have to accept that this is the new normal and we should all focus on how we can play dirty tricks on our competitors, how we can intimidate the journalists who have written bad stories on us or haven't covered us. Where does the strategy to use intimatio…

You can still compete by just being better. Stories like these definitely turn me off Uber, but for all the people saying "just use Lyft or Sidecar instead"... neither service is available in my country yet, let alone my city. But Uber is here.

Uber (for me, so far) has been far superior than local taxis, and it's all low hanging fruit: credit card billing, email receipts, comfortable cars, GPS tracking & ETA, friendly drivers who don't harass you, tips included in price, global business accounts, discounts & perks. Local taxis don't offer any of that, they're not even trying. Maybe Lyft & Sidecar offer that, but they're not in any of the cities I travel to globally. The world is not just San Francisco.

Make a damn good service first. I can't switch to your service if you won't even offer it to me.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#40

Post by Someone »

just2n wrote: post #31
DanBC wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Off the record" is a specific construct used by journalists. This was not off the record. Threatening journalists who write negative articles is indefensible. It's a stupid thing to say, especially to a room full of journalists. It's firmly on topic here because it speaks to ethics of company founders.

Even the author of this article recognizes, and confirms, that it was a hypothetical. It's completely defensible. Would you rather people go to jail for painting hypotheticals of crimes? Perhaps we should send everyone who's ever written a violent novel to jail? Thoughtcrimes are real, now. People can never be frustrated. Further, why does this article repeat over and over that this wasn't "off the record" going to e…

"That's a nice car/set of teeth/daughter you are having there. It would be a shame if something happened to it."

The gap between a funny hypothetical and a veiled threat is small, but it does exist. This, to me, comes over as a veiled threat. As such, it wouldn't completely surprise me if this would lead to a criminal prosecution and possibly to a small conviction in court. It certainly feels more real than the typical "I have a bomb" joke at an airport that gets people in trouble.

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