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Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

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Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#121

Post by joe_the_user »

aub3bhat wrote: post #112
SomeStupidPoint wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except that your execs are one pissed off DA away from defending RICO charges. Companies undervalue low-probability, high-risk events like that.

its not rico... https://www.popehat.com/2016/06/14/lawsplainer-its-not-rico-...

Whatever your animated-gif-filled link says, a highly leveraged company which systematically breaks the law (even in small ways) is going to be vulnerable if someone with leverage decides that they need to file a lawsuit targeting the whole of the organization's activities.

That suit could be conspiracy, it could be RICO applied rightly or wrongly or it could be some other broad and vague statute out there.

Example: Zenefits

Edit: And vulnerable doesn't mean doomed. Plenty of folks continue the approach of skirting the law until they don't have to anymore (Youtube etc). But skirting the law forever it is not a good business plan.

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#122

Post by kposehn »

oculusthrift wrote: post #5

I'm really confused on what to think about Uber. My personal thinking/logic is really bearish on them, similar to the post on the front page yesterday [1]. However, I keep seeing extremely smart/accomplished people joining it which makes me second guess my intuition. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13437414

Uber team member here.

I was skeptical for a very long time as well, but I've been won over.

The challenges are fantastic, the work intense (yet I still have time for family) and I'm part of the best team I've ever been on.

The last year or so has been the best of my professional life. I would highly recommend a closer look.

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#123

Post by dmoy »

joe_the_user wrote: post #121
aub3bhat wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

its not rico... https://www.popehat.com/2016/06/14/lawsplainer-its-not-rico-...

Whatever your animated-gif-filled link says, a highly leveraged company which systematically breaks the law (even in small ways) is going to be vulnerable if someone with leverage decides that they need to file a lawsuit targeting the whole of the organization's activities. That suit could be conspiracy, it could be RICO applied rightly or wrongly or it could be some other broad and vague statute out there. Example:…

s/it's/isn't/?

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#125

Post by [deleted] »

kposehn wrote: post #122
oculusthrift wrote: post #5

I'm really confused on what to think about Uber. My personal thinking/logic is really bearish on them, similar to the post on the front page yesterday [1]. However, I keep seeing extremely smart/accomplished people joining it which makes me second guess my intuition. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13437414

Uber team member here. I was skeptical for a very long time as well, but I've been won over. The challenges are fantastic, the work intense (yet I still have time for family) and I'm part of the best team I've ever been on. The last year or so has been the best of my professional life. I would highly recommend a closer look.

[deleted]

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#126

Post by kelukelugames »

burger_moon wrote: post #99
kelukelugames wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You should sign up for Blind and read the Uber employees' comments.

Are you able to read comments from people at other companies? My understanding was that if be limited to just interacting with people at my own company.

You can read anyone's comments.

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#127

Post by ClassyJacket »

klausa wrote: post #77
cryptozeus wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have same feeling, one my friend worked at a flywheel (uber but with taxi cabs)...he said that uber dominates this industry. They have figured out the biggest obstacle which is government regulations. This is the big challenge for any startup trying to copy uber.

I wouldn't call "knowingly breaking the law and throwing VC money at the lawyers until the problem goes away" necessarily "figuring out government regulations".

Well it ended up getting it legalised in a bunch of places. If it works, it's not stupid!

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#129

Post by hueving »

eva1984 wrote: post #128

I don't think this is going to change anything though. He is just one person.

A single person in a high role in the company can completely change the culture, the product focus, the attitude towards customer support, etc.

The CEO is just one person, the President is just one person, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve is just one person, etc.

Re: Uber Hires Former Google Search Chief Amit Singhal as SVP of Engineering

#130

Post by hluska »

SomeStupidPoint wrote: post #120
aub3bhat wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

its not rico... https://www.popehat.com/2016/06/14/lawsplainer-its-not-rico-...

My point was exactly that Uber can be construed as a criminal organization and their executives as the leaders of a large, international criminal organization who knowingly pay people to commit crimes on their behalf (that the bosses then profit from) and that their organization's primary business is the commission of such crimes. Is it still not RICO? Edit: Im pretty sure they could get money laundering related char…

To indict under RICO, you need evidence that the organization is involved in racketeering. (The R stands for racketeer). Racketeering includes things like murder, kidnapping, bribery, and gambling.

With all due respect, unless you are a practicing attorney, you are not qualified to make statements like this.

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