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As an outsider to Silicon Valley, it really seems like it's full of drama and ego wars. Seeing grown men and women argue like children really makes me happy I resisted the urge to move out there.
"Dave McCLure…pls try not to blog about this and cause silicon valley more embarrassment with your unprofessional classless writings" OUCH
My respect for Arrington keeps going up, and I can't help but admire what Ron Conway has to say about this. The no-bs approach works for him. I'm glad he called out the writing, I guess McClure's money is still green, but I don't think I could take anyone that writes like that seriously. Edited for clarity.
Edit: I just realized I read the posts backwards. I suppose it's not fake if that's actually what Dave McClure was referencing in his deleted tweet. Still. Perhaps these "super angel" could do with some spelling and grammar lessons. (Yes, I could probably use some too.)
My respect for Arrington keeps going up, and I can't help but admire what Ron Conway has to say about this. The no-bs approach works for him. I'm glad he called out the writing, I guess McClure's money is still green, but I don't think I could take anyone that writes like that seriously. Edited for clarity.
You are going to criticize a guy based on a single private letter that he wrote? Maybe he was feeling anxious and frazzled and wrote this email quickly to help resolve his feelings. I know I certainly have, and I'm sure it was not the most elegant prose ever constructed.
There's one thing I noticed about Arrington at Disrupt- sure, he's a dick, but he's only a dick to people who a) can take it and b) deserve it. I can't think of a single instance where he has called someone out, and it turned out later he was wrong. For example, some of the panel at Disrupt were being rude (talking amongst themselves during a startup presentation), and he stopped everything and called them out on it.…
Edit: Leo Laporte and the Palm Pre for those who have seen it
In response to your edit I was only posting because you said a) and b) not a) or b) and I don't think this falls into the category of b).
He wasn't asking for disclosure so much that he did not get a pre review unit so he was strongly biased against those who did since he went on even after disclosure was completed.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I seriously don't understand how people were defending his writing style. Anyone over ninteen would realize the use of multi-colored text, "drop a cap in yo ass" lines, and lack of capitalization looks like you're lazy and incompetent. I realize he's done fairly well in his investments, but does he not have an extra 2-3 minutes to capitalize and think out more coherent analogies?
Let's be honest here. If you had as much money as Mcclure, would you waste as much time trying to please people by bending over backwards with perfect grammar, lack of slang, and an apologetic tone? Everyone starts writing to please other people through resumes, cover letters, thank-you cards, and apologies. But once you have enough money like Mcclure, you can say "Fuck you" when you want to and not worry about losin…
He's acting like the kids in junior high who thought they were being rebellious by shopping at Hot Topic and dressing punk. He's just replaced one style for another. He's not text messaging his rant, he published it online. If he's so rich and too busy, then pay an assistant to edit it. Everything you do is a representation of yourself.
I would love to know who was at this meeting and who got this email from Conway.
There are some useful short-term consequences of this:
1. These super angels probably don't trust each other anymore ("who tipped off Arrington?"). This is a good thing;
2. Meetings like this are less likely to happen in the short term. If they do, they'll probably be somewhere private (the back of a restaurant is not private); and
3. It highlights the importance and value of reputation and integrity (of which Conway's cup overfloweth).
Further to (3) there is this quote from JP Morgan:
> Asked: "Is not commercial credit based primarily upon money or property?"
> "No sir," replied Morgan. "The first thing is character."
> "Before money or property?"
> "Before money or anything else. Money cannot buy it...Because a man I do not trust could not get money from me on all the bonds in Christendom."
Seriously, Ron Conway doesn't know how to spell "entrepreneur"?? If that's possible, it's awesome, don't get me wrong, but it seems fishy.
As an outsider to Silicon Valley, it really seems like it's full of drama and ego wars. Seeing grown men and women argue like children really makes me happy I resisted the urge to move out there.
I think of it like this: L.A. = High school for adults New York = College for adults Silicon Valley = Middle school for adults That's not meant as pure criticism, I actually kind of like it, but it just gets annoying at times.