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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

#51

Post by shakethemonkey »

bhouston wrote: post #20
rhizome wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't say things like this to an audience containing media members and not expect it to get out. Not only that, but by the same token this is in no way "attempted" blackmail. Are we supposed to assume Uber does not already buy 1MM PR spends?

> Not only that, but by the same token this is in no way "attempted" blackmail. This is a direct attempt to shut her up -- this an attempt to silence their critics via blackmail -- and they hoped it wouldn't get mainstream press coverage. They hoped she would find out just via whispers from those who were there.

It's not blackmail by either the legal or common-usage definition of blackmail. Even if Uber followed through with such a sleazy plan, it would not be blackmail. For blackmail, a demand must be made, accompanied by a menace. Floating an idea that you plan on digging up dirt? That might have been an incipient but ill-advised plan, it might be idle dreaming, or it might be it might be machiavellian FUD.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#52

Post by casca »

While in SF earlier this month, I noticed that people were using Lyft and Uber interchangeably and given the consistent stories about Uber's management, it seems likely that people will switch to Lyft as a primary option with Uber as a backup.

It's quite possible that Uber will create the market by and then be eclipsed by other players who are less unethical.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#53

Post by thesystemis »

I am surprised not to see the word misogynist on this page. Here, a SVP is not only threatening a reporter and her family (which is truly repugnant) and reporters generally, he's also discussing sexual assault in such a trivializing way:

"He said that he thought Lacy should be held “personally responsible” for any woman who followed her lead in deleting Uber and was then sexually assaulted."

The top comment on this page talks about a "visceral" feeling, I had the same one. I had the same feeling I had when I heard things like Todd Akin (a politican in the US) talking about "legitimate rape." Do we really want people like this shaping our future?

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#54

Post by Ih8registering »

_pmf_ wrote: post #49
rhizome wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't say things like this to an audience containing media members and not expect it to get out. Not only that, but by the same token this is in no way "attempted" blackmail. Are we supposed to assume Uber does not already buy 1MM PR spends?

> You don't say things like this to an audience containing media members and not expect it to get out. You do if you're a psychopathic megalomaniac who got shoved money up the ass by shriveling old millionaires for having a business model that is based on siphoning money off less-than-minimum wage workers.

ZING!

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#55

Post by onion2k »

blackdogie wrote: post #32

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…

Maybe they could spend $1M on PR to improve the image.

Or spend $0 and actually improve things in the company so they don't need PR to tell people they're not horrible.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#56

Post by andy_ppp »

thesystemis wrote: post #53

I am surprised not to see the word misogynist on this page. Here, a SVP is not only threatening a reporter and her family (which is truly repugnant) and reporters generally, he's also discussing sexual assault in such a trivializing way: "He said that he thought Lacy should be held “personally responsible” for any woman who followed her lead in deleting Uber and was then sexually assaulted." The top comment on this p…

Uber has now been deleted from my phone. I hope others consider doing the same.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#57

Post by caractacus »

andy_ppp wrote: post #56
thesystemis wrote: post #53

I am surprised not to see the word misogynist on this page. Here, a SVP is not only threatening a reporter and her family (which is truly repugnant) and reporters generally, he's also discussing sexual assault in such a trivializing way: "He said that he thought Lacy should be held “personally responsible” for any woman who followed her lead in deleting Uber and was then sexually assaulted." The top comment on this p…

Uber has now been deleted from my phone. I hope others consider doing the same.

Ditto.

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#58

Post by caractacus »

kubiiii wrote: post #44

Are there legal reasons why this SVP does not apologize to the journalist he specifically targeted while recognizing he threatened her and regreting it?

He did. He called her (though she has no idea how he got her number) and asked to speak off the record.

No, really. He did. "Hey Sarah, I realise there's this massive story blowing where I threatened to wage war on you and your family and I know you're a high profile journalist in this area but can we just have a quick friendly chat off the record?"

Scroll to the bottom of her article: http://pando.com/2014/11/17/the-moment-i-learned-just-how-fa...

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#59

Post by rikacomet »

On a side note, Uber should also sue all those companies piggy-backing on its name, dragging its name down. What I mean is, that every other month, I'm seeing a case of "Uber-for-X", like Blowhorn, is a startup that claims to be uber for mini-trucks.

What is happening is that, UBER is still going through its real challenge and hasn't established itself as a household name, like Microsoft, Apple, Google. Lot of people are still critical of its intent (including me perhaps), and its ultimate success, but these small startups that are piggybacking on its name are making matter's worse.

Most of these Uber for X startups, are not going to succeed, generally speaking, and when a start-up fails, brand value gets hit as people associate "failure" "didn't work" "not so good" with that name. Uber in that sense, is taking a hit on its brand name due to failure of other businesses (which I think is a bit unfair).

Re: Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt on Journalists

#60

Post by bhouston »

casca wrote: post #52

While in SF earlier this month, I noticed that people were using Lyft and Uber interchangeably and given the consistent stories about Uber's management, it seems likely that people will switch to Lyft as a primary option with Uber as a backup. It's quite possible that Uber will create the market by and then be eclipsed by other players who are less unethical.

There is not enough general awareness of Uber's assholeness in the general public to have a meaningful effect. That may change but it hasn't yet.
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