OK, so, have you heard about the whole Rocketboom thing? Here is a general recap. Host Amanda Congdon left the show or was fired (depending on who you talk to) due to differences with creator Andrew Baron.
Personally, I’ve never really watched Rocketboom. I’ve seen a few episodes here or there from links from other sites or in passing. It seemed like an entertaining enough show and there you go. So, I’ve paid more attention after the split than before. Amanda posted some things on her blog, like a video (tears up), her side in general and an e-mail conversation between her and Andrew. Not terribly pretty, but there you have it. Andrew posted something on his blog, as well.
Again, my perspective is not one of a Rocketboom viewer, an Amanda Congdon fan or anything like that. Just from my own experience. Amanda could be an idiot, Andrew could be an idiot. I don’t and can’t really know. I have little experience with them, so I’ll just think the best of them. But, I will say that I have a natural feeling toward Andrew’s side, just because of how this has played out. Among a few, this line in an interview struck me personally.
“It’s been rocky — communication with Andrew is a difficult process for me, and for a lot of other people. It’s something we tried and tried to work on, but we never seemed to be able to make it work,” Congdon said.
Emphasis mine. The reason it struck me was because I’ve heard it before. Many times. When people were talking about me. I ban someone from some community, I kick someone off my staff (extremely, extremely rare) and, oh my gosh, not only do they have a problem with me, but they aren’t the only one or so do many others. Speak for yourself. No one - well, not me, anyway - wants to hear about these other people. Let them speak for themself. I do it myself (did I just do it by saying “no one”? hehe), we all do, but I try to catch myself when I start to say something like that.
In a way, it reminds me of a situation I had to deal with regarding a staff member at KarateForums.com. She was a popular member of the community. A long time staff member. One time, considered a friend of mine and a good person. But, that changed - in reality, she’s a total witch. She was treating users poorly and I had to correct it and make it clear that it couldn’t happen and, well, she didn’t like it. We had a disagreement and she asked to leave staff. If she hadn’t, I likely would have kicked her off. Anyway, she told me before she was off that she had a “following” and that she could use it against me. Lovely!
So, when I kicked her off, she e-mailed a bunch of users telling them what I had done to her. Or, more like, what she wanted them to believe. And I would guess most believed her. Eventually, she was banned. Gave her a lot of chances, but she was just treating the staff badly. They knew it, I knew it. They were on my side. I had to get rid of her and I did. This brought a new wave of e-mails to people, updating them on what evil Patrick had done now! Oh boy. My policy has always been not to speak publicly on these matters, if I can help it and to speak in vague details privately. I don’t tell people exactly what happened, just give them a general idea. I like to think this is the professional way to handle it, even if it allows misinformation to be spread. Some people didn’t even care what I had to say, they had bought the lies - hook, line and sinker.
Corporations, leaders, bosses, managers, whatever, don’t get a fair shake from the general public. Take a look at this interview question/answer:
One interesting thing is how fast and how far your response to the “official” news spread. In the past, the tools didn’t exist for that to happen.
Congdon: Exactly, yeah that’s what’s so exciting–the transparency. The corporations can’t run and hide anymore from the facts.
Corporations? Individuals are the ones that give me trouble. They’re the ones I have to worry about the most. I see a whole lot more individuals lying to and about me than I see corporations. I think the whole “authority evil” thing that’s happened in our society is terrible. Some corporations did bad things. But, corporations are no different than people. Some people did bad things. Most people, most corporations are good.
Anyway, getting back to the story. I get rid of the staff member. Some people do leave. And I hear and see people talking about me. What have I done? KarateForums.com is ruined, Patrick is an idiot, he made a mistake, ruined a great thing, it’ll never be the same, he’s evil, controlling, pigheaded, pompous, words I can’t mention on this blog, etc. blah blah blah. Fun stuff.
But, I did the right thing. I made the right decision. I’d do it again. I have to live with myself and I’m not after a popularity contest. But, that didn’t change people from having their opinion and buying her lies.
Years later - we’re still here. The same thing’s happened at phpBBHacks.com a couple of times. phpBBHacks.com is ruined, how could someone as dumb as Patrick have such a great site - is everyone stupid?, etc. Whatever, whatever.
So, that’s why I tend to slant toward Andrew here. May he really be devious? Sure. I don’t know him. Could be a horrible person. Only people that know him personally would know. I don’t. But, the point is - don’t believe it just because Amanda Congdon has been the one you’ve seen everyday or because Andrew is the overbearing, controlling, evil boss. Don’t buy that stuff if you don’t know it first hand. Be careful.
I watched the new episode of Rocketboom today and it seemed entertaining to me. Everyone has different taste, but it was an awkward situation and they seemed to handle it well. I agree with what Jason Calacanis said about the crazy card. I wouldn’t want to be working for Amanda, either, if I was Andrew. Anyway, I wish them all luck.
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