> Jumping on them because they didn't have a chance to give a complete response while handling a crisis is really uncalled for.
The main issue I've seen is that a co-founder is quoted as asking EJ to censor herself (remove or restrict access to the blog) to protect AirBnB, even mentioning their rounds of funding as a motivation. A co-founder is also quoted as asking her to add a positive spin to the article after a couple weeks (despite there being no positive spin to add). Those quotes haven't been refuted at all and we don't have any reason, especially given the careful writing by EJ, to doubt them.
Those quotes, if accurate, are disheartening. They reflect the worst of entrepreneurialism. So it's not surprising that that's what I've seen the most outrage about.
The irrational exuberance has come to an end as airbnb and hopefully many of these startups that while facilitating many great things also mask an exposure to danger.
I remember when anyone on Craigslist was in the top %5 of nice humans. Of course that is gone now, but airbnb seemed like it was living in the early craigslist bubble.
I am saying those bubbles shouldn't exist. They are naive. And most American humans don't have the street smarts to build their own trust metrics.
The main issue I've seen is that a co-founder is quoted as asking EJ to censor herself (remove or restrict access to the blog) to protect AirBnB, even mentioning their rounds of funding as a motivation. A co-founder is also quoted as asking her to add a positive spin to the article after a couple weeks (despite there being no positive spin to add). Those quotes haven't been refuted at all and we don't have any reason, especially given the careful writing by EJ, to doubt them.
Those quotes, if accurate, are disheartening. They reflect the worst of entrepreneurialism. So it's not surprising that that's what I've seen the most outrage about.