3 ms·

This is how business functions, and perhaps I haven't realized how much insight I get into this. I just consider all of this normal, but the reaction of HackerN

This is how business functions, and perhaps I haven't realized how much insight I get into this. I just consider all of this normal, but the reaction of HackerNews commenters is making me think that people honestly don't realize this is standard operation procedure in all verticals. What I heard was a completely benign, candid analysis of the situation.

draw_down 11y ago
It's candid, but not benign because the truth isn't benign. People in this person's position are not supposed to say the truth about the intersection of the government and his business. We're supposed to pretend it's all competitive or whatever.
- AndyNemmity 11y ago
  Fundamentally I think we're in agreement here.
- PhantomGremlin 11y ago
  It's candid, but not benign because the truth isn't benign. You're quite correct. not supposed to say the truth ... supposed to pretend But in the above you're missing a key word in two places: not supposed to publicly say the truth ... supposed to publicly pretend And that is the essence of the problem. Any business that wants to survive must have ongoing internal discussions based on reality. However, their public face should necessarily be quite different. This was explained in Bull Durham: Crash Davis: It's time to work on your interviews. Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: My interviews? What do I gotta do? Crash Davis: You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time." Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Got to play... it's pretty boring. Crash Davis: 'Course it's boring, that's the point. Write it down.
  - draw_down 11y ago
    I disagree somewhat, plausible deniability is the key. You acknowledge reality in internal discussions, but it is still coded in a way that is plausibly deniable and full of euphemism. This is covered in V. Rao's "The Gervais Principle", specifically the section on "Powertalk" http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/11/the-gervais-principle-ii-posturetalk-powertalk-babytalk-and-gametalk/ http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/11/the-gervais-principle-i...
    - PhantomGremlin 11y ago
      Excellent link! My engineer Loser brain is about to explode. Those are secrets of management Sociopaths. It's anathema to me, but maybe I'm just Clueless. :)
    - RachelF 11y ago
      That is a mind-blowing link. The world of managers is all perception management, while us engineers live in a real world of things.

draw_down 11y ago

It's candid, but not benign because the truth isn't benign. People in this person's position are not supposed to say the truth about the intersection of the government and his business. We're supposed to pretend it's all competitive or whatever.

AndyNemmity 11y ago
Fundamentally I think we're in agreement here.
PhantomGremlin 11y ago
It's candid, but not benign because the truth isn't benign. You're quite correct. not supposed to say the truth ... supposed to pretend But in the above you're missing a key word in two places: not supposed to publicly say the truth ... supposed to publicly pretend And that is the essence of the problem. Any business that wants to survive must have ongoing internal discussions based on reality. However, their public face should necessarily be quite different. This was explained in Bull Durham: Crash Davis: It's time to work on your interviews. Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: My interviews? What do I gotta do? Crash Davis: You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time." Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Got to play... it's pretty boring. Crash Davis: 'Course it's boring, that's the point. Write it down.
- draw_down 11y ago
  I disagree somewhat, plausible deniability is the key. You acknowledge reality in internal discussions, but it is still coded in a way that is plausibly deniable and full of euphemism. This is covered in V. Rao's "The Gervais Principle", specifically the section on "Powertalk" http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/11/the-gervais-principle-ii-posturetalk-powertalk-babytalk-and-gametalk/ http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/11/11/the-gervais-principle-i...
  - PhantomGremlin 11y ago
    Excellent link! My engineer Loser brain is about to explode. Those are secrets of management Sociopaths. It's anathema to me, but maybe I'm just Clueless. :)
  - RachelF 11y ago
    That is a mind-blowing link. The world of managers is all perception management, while us engineers live in a real world of things.