Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#21

Post by wahsd » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:37 AM UTC

Ouch, Ross, you're getting a well deserved flogging. In case your apology was just a step in the direction of understanding that you are probably kind of an ass, I think you owe it to yourself to make more steps in that direction and then changing. I can only imagine what it must feel like to deal with such a public flogging among your peers, so I am even somewhat sympathetic, but I hope you take this experience as a humbling experience that makes you accept and internalize that it might just be that so many people might just not be wrong.

I look forward to you emerging as only having an asshole, and not you being it.

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#22

Post by joshdotsmith » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:38 AM UTC

Cushman wrote: post #19

I'm not sure what I would need to see to believe that someone who was such an asshole isn't anymore, but this ain't it.

Hear, hear, Justice Stewart. [0]

[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_know_it_when_I_see_it

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#23

Post by notatoad » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:39 AM UTC

zdgman wrote: post #6

It is interesting to note how even the apology is more directed at discussing BetaPunch and learning rather than apologizing. How does "Why I won't be closing down BetaPunch" have anything to do with the apology? Seems out of place and still shows a lack of understanding. Leave off all discussion of why you won't be closing BetaPunch and just focus on admitting you screwed up (which was done) and detailing how you wi…

It's clearly a reference to Danielle's original blog post. He wanted to format his title "Why i won't be..." and "closing down betapunch" must have been the first thing that came to mind. I'm sure such an overwhelmingly negative (and popular) blog post calling out your company as kind of shitty makes you consider shutting down when you're a small operation.

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#24

Post by joshdotsmith » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:41 AM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #23

zdgman wrote: post #6

It is interesting to note how even the apology is more directed at discussing BetaPunch and learning rather than apologizing. How does "Why I won't be closing down BetaPunch" have anything to do with the apology? Seems out of place and still shows a lack of understanding. Leave off all discussion of why you won't be closing BetaPunch and just focus on admitting you screwed up (which was done) and detailing how you wi…

It's clearly a reference to Danielle's original blog post. He wanted to format his title "Why i won't be..." and "closing down betapunch" must have been the first thing that came to mind. I'm sure such an overwhelmingly negative (and popular) blog post calling out your company as kind of shitty makes you consider shutting down when you're a small operation.

It's possible there's some SEO strategery going on here, too.

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#25

Post by minimaxir » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:44 AM UTC

joshdotsmith wrote: post #24

notatoad wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's clearly a reference to Danielle's original blog post. He wanted to format his title "Why i won't be..." and "closing down betapunch" must have been the first thing that came to mind. I'm sure such an overwhelmingly negative (and popular) blog post calling out your company as kind of shitty makes you consider shutting down when you're a small operation.

It's possible there's some SEO strategery going on here, too.

It's worth noting that this article is now #4 when Googling "betapunch". Danielle's article is now #5.

It's progress!

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#26

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:45 AM UTC

joshdotsmith wrote: post #24

notatoad wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's clearly a reference to Danielle's original blog post. He wanted to format his title "Why i won't be..." and "closing down betapunch" must have been the first thing that came to mind. I'm sure such an overwhelmingly negative (and popular) blog post calling out your company as kind of shitty makes you consider shutting down when you're a small operation.

It's possible there's some SEO strategery going on here, too.

[deleted]

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#27

Post by ghayes » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:57 AM UTC

rhizome wrote: post #13

shawn-butler wrote: post #2

This whole thing seems pretty fishy. Like scripted melodrama to be honest. Whatever works, I guess.

If it's scripted, the blogger who originally publicized this should have something to say for themselves.

That's clearly not Danielle's intention[1]. Be careful to not accuse someone on mere speculation.

[1] http://www.daniellemorrill.com/2013/01/why-i-wont-be-using-b...

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#28

Post by TallboyOne » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 2:59 AM UTC

zdgman wrote: post #6

It is interesting to note how even the apology is more directed at discussing BetaPunch and learning rather than apologizing. How does "Why I won't be closing down BetaPunch" have anything to do with the apology? Seems out of place and still shows a lack of understanding. Leave off all discussion of why you won't be closing BetaPunch and just focus on admitting you screwed up (which was done) and detailing how you wi…

I can't agree more, but I can also empathize with someone who has been programming their life with no real PR-type job, and runs their company as a one man show.

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#29

Post by MJR » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 3:10 AM UTC

zopticity wrote: post #10

I'm not sure whether this was a marketing stunt or the betapunch guys didn't know how to act professionally. Honestly, someone at betapunch should have stepped in and indicated the problem. I'm not even sure why it took two days for a formal apology, it should have been done much sooner than that. Betapunch guys need to hire the right employees to handle PR and interact with people because this post shows those inter…

There's no betapunch "guys" - It's just him. There's no one to step in and there's no one to hire - this an app run by a single person. He doesn't have income to be able to hire people to take care of this for him. He got himself into this mess and he's trying to get himself out of it.

Re: Why I won’t be closing down BetaPunch: A formal apology

#30

Post by orangethirty » Sat, Jan 12, 2013, 3:14 AM UTC

I don't get why do small startups screw up small apologies. Here is a simple guide.

1. Understand the problem. What/why/how/who/when did you do wrong ?

2.Contact said person and try to make things right by fixing the issue. Key word is try, but do it genuinely.

3. Write a good press release in the form of a blog post. Title it: Our apology for $problem.

4. In the press release include:

- We are sorry this happened.

- This is how we are fixing/going to fix it.

- If you have been wronged by this get in touch at $email.

- Thank everyone for their feedback.

5. Publish a second press release as a blog post stating what you are doing to prevent $problem.

6. With the gained attention, market a new product/service/special to show people you are focused on doing good busines. Call it the "We are sorry special pack" or whatever.

Make sure to post it on every social media site out there so that people know you are taking care of your customers.