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The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

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Re: The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

#13

Post by brett »

rms wrote: post #11
brett wrote: post #10

Since when is trying to recruit talented people stupid?

It was ill considered in that they didn't consider the enormous impact the loss of a partner would have on the original poster.

I'll concede that my question over simplifies the issue: Burning bridges is bad, you can definitely be stupid about how you try to recruit talent ...

But whenever someone comes to work with/for you they're likely precluded for working for/with someone else. Sure there could be reasons not to try and poach someone, but in general I don't think you are responsible for the person/company left behind.

Re: The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

#15

Post by jsjenkins168 »

I think you just saved yourself from what could have eventually been a huge headache.

I'm assuming since you are applying for funding from YC that you are looking to start a company (YC acceptance or not). If that is the case, you should be glad that you weeded out someone weak while it is easy and not later on down the road. This could be a valuable lesson: Choose who you work with and trust very carefully!

If this guy can get up and jet on you this easily, think what would have happened after you actually started and financial and emotional stress enters the equation?

My advice is go find someone who you can really trust as a co-founder. Someone you know you can depend on when the going gets tough.

Re: The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

#16

Post by edw519 »

"...I don't want to bury anyone else's reputation..."

That's not for you to decide. If what they did was unethical, then you have a responsibility to share. If it wasn't, then anything you say won't matter anyway.

I place ethics more important than anything else when considering partners. WAY more important that skill, work ethic, or connections. Take it from someone who has been burned more than once by lying, cheating, stealing, and backroom deals that my partners thought were "no big deal". F*ck 'em. They'll never get a second chance with me. Never.

You're probably tempted to say nothing so you don't offend. Don't. Spare the rest of the community the same potential headache and tell the whole story.

(Personally, if someone tried to poach my partner, only one of us would leave the room alive. This isn't a game anymore.)

Re: The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

#18

Post by edw519 »

dfranke wrote: post #2

I don't see why you think it's unethical for them to try to poach your partner. It's not like he's some helpless pawn in this game, especially if he's as smart as you say he is. If I thought I had a chance at getting one of my competitor's best people to come work for me instead, I'd jump on it in an instant.

"I don't see why you think it's unethical for them to try to poach your partner."

This is Arthur Anderson thinking, not Y Combinator thinking.

If you jumped on one of my best people "in an instant", then you better be prepared to set aside resources to deal with me. Are you sure you really want to do that?

Re: The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

#19

Post by Xichekolas »

dfranke wrote: post #2

I don't see why you think it's unethical for them to try to poach your partner. It's not like he's some helpless pawn in this game, especially if he's as smart as you say he is. If I thought I had a chance at getting one of my competitor's best people to come work for me instead, I'd jump on it in an instant.

Yeah, the way this is written it sounds like "your hacker" is Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, and you are his caretaker or something.

On a side note: I had no idea YC teams were this competitive with each other. I still had the image of one big Nerd Summer Camp that happened to spit out companies and connections. This makes it sound more like the Skull and Bones guys competing to meet the President at Secret Meeting X.

Re: The YC Deadline Brings Out Stupid Decisions in Another Applicant Team

#20

Post by dfranke »

edw519 wrote: post #18
dfranke wrote: post #2

I don't see why you think it's unethical for them to try to poach your partner. It's not like he's some helpless pawn in this game, especially if he's as smart as you say he is. If I thought I had a chance at getting one of my competitor's best people to come work for me instead, I'd jump on it in an instant.

"I don't see why you think it's unethical for them to try to poach your partner." This is Arthur Anderson thinking, not Y Combinator thinking. If you jumped on one of my best people "in an instant", then you better be prepared to set aside resources to deal with me. Are you sure you really want to do that?

If Arthur Andersen thinking is defined as "don't take petty crap like this personally, and focus your brain cycles on MSPW", then I have to side with Arthur Andersen. But I suspect that this is a matter on which Paul Graham and David Duncan would be in agreement.
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