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A profound apology

newsroom.uber.com

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Re: A profound apology

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think that's because he has experienced a genuine change of heart and intends on doing all in his power to repair at least some of his myriad grievous failures in the exercise of his responsibilities? Or do you think it's because, this time, he's actually in the video, and really has no options beyond a) try to seem sincerely humbled and intent on improving, or b) do literally anything else , and look like suc…

> Do you think that's because he has experienced a genuine change of heart and intends on doing all in his power to repair at least some of his myriad grievous failures in the exercise of his responsibilities? I think that's impossible for anyone to judge but himself. He said he's going to seek help. That's (a) admission he did something wrong and (b) a proactive attempt to do something about it. That is precisely th…

If the local school bus driver turns out to be hooked on meth, and tearfully apologizes, says they're going to get help and get their life together, and means it... but won't stop driving the bus...

...would you feel the same way?

Support them getting help, respect that we're all human and frail and subject to fall, but don't let them keep their fucking job.

Re: A profound apology

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think that's because he has experienced a genuine change of heart and intends on doing all in his power to repair at least some of his myriad grievous failures in the exercise of his responsibilities? Or do you think it's because, this time, he's actually in the video, and really has no options beyond a) try to seem sincerely humbled and intent on improving, or b) do literally anything else , and look like suc…

> Do you think that's because he has experienced a genuine change of heart and intends on doing all in his power to repair at least some of his myriad grievous failures in the exercise of his responsibilities? I think that's impossible for anyone to judge but himself. He said he's going to seek help. That's (a) admission he did something wrong and (b) a proactive attempt to do something about it. That is precisely th…

I pretty much covered that when I said that option A was what he did, and option B was anything else. Deflecting would be "anything else". It would have had the result I described.

Instead, by tossing off a couple short paragraphs of apparent and frankly rather self-congratulatory contrition, Kalanick's PR staff has managed to actually pick up a little credibility with, among others, you. That's an impressive accomplishment on their part, and it says a lot about your own lack of cynicism. I hope that doesn't end up screwing you over, because Silicon Valley, as anywhere else in the US that's rife with any kind of politics, can be cruel as hell to people who believe a lot of what they read.

> Support people when they seek help, whoever they are.

Woman beats her husband regularly for years. Eventually, he gets up the gumption to ditch her. When he tells her he's done, she bursts into tears and promises between sobs that she'll get help and do better. You buy that, too?

Re: A profound apology

#54
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, welcome to the world, where there's a reason why the phrase "public figure" contains the word public . I tend to agree that, in an ideal world, it wouldn't be that way. But this is hardly an ideal world, and I'm kind of frightened that someone confused on this point should be building a read/write API on bank accounts.

Your point about ideal world vs. real world makes sense. But your personal attack on sjtgraham is unwarranted.

Is it really that? I don't believe I'm indicting his qualities as a person; certainly that's not my intent. But if Teller takes off, he's going to have, to a first approximation, the entire world gunning for him - because whoever suborns him or his company has a reasonable chance of getting rich, or at least a solid payday, out of it. That's not a tremendously safe place to be uncynical.

Re: A profound apology

#56
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty cynical but the language here seems more genuine than what you see in most crisis management firm written non-apology apologies. It's an actual apology for one.

Who cares? He's not a naughty boy who "done wrong", he's a negligent CEO who didn't give a fuck until someone lit his entire world ablaze. Now he's "genuine". Riiiight.

Well sincerity would be a signal that he's going to actually do something about the problems his negligence created.

Re: A profound apology

#57

It takes a certain kind of person to declare that their own apology is "profound".

That was my take on it, too. There was nothing profound about this apology at all. On the contrary, it seems the very smallest and least controversial response he could have made.

Re: A profound apology

#59
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's so terrible. There are a lot of ways he could have reacted to this video. He hasn't passed the buck and is taking responsibility for his actions, for once.

It's not really "taking responsibility" when it's virtually at gunpoint. Getting caught and subsequent flailing is not the same as "taking responsibility".

Even if there's a gun to your head you can still deny guilt.

Taking responsibility is simple. You just say you did something wrong and intend to seek help. Yet, so few people do this, because it is so hard to get those words out. That's exactly what this CEO did.

If you don't accept when people admit their mistakes, I'd argue you will only end up surrounding yourself with liars. Everyone makes mistakes.

Re: A profound apology

#60
post #45

> This is the first time I’ve been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it. That's bold. I can't remember hearing any recent CEO saying this. Best of luck to Uber and their CEO.

No, bold would be stepping down after this degree of widespread failure. This is just a new flavor of bullshit.

That would be an easier path. Retire rich. The harder one is facing his mistakes publicly and trying to correct them.
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