2 ms·

I've been following this closely, and having read everything Slaughter writes, I don't see how you can come down so hard against open markets- They exaggerated

I've been following this closely, and having read everything Slaughter writes, I don't see how you can come down so hard against open markets- They exaggerated what happened but the essential facts are never disputed- even in Slaughter's most recent post. 1) Open Markets didn't let Slaughter know they were publishing work critical of Google. 2) Slaughter had to rush to explain the work to Google. 3) Schmidt expressed his displeasure. But didn't directly request anyone be fired 4) Slaughter told Open Markets they had to part ways, and mentioned how OM could make it harder for all of NA to get funding. Thats the essence of the story, and no one is disputing it, and it strongly indicates New America is heavily influenced by their corporate sponsors. Where were the exaggerations: Barry didn't mention that he had aggreed to allow Slaughter to preview work and show it to google before he published. Also, Slaughter didn't outright fire anyone at OM. HOWEVER, Slaughter is bending the truth to imply that Google/Schmidt didn't influence her decision to remove open markets, when the entire scope of problems she has with Barry and OM come from the tension between Google and OM, and Google's desire to see what OM will publish before it becomes public. She writes a lot about how what OM says is false without EVER addressing the core issue! Instead, she tries to get around it by leaning on the fact that she was not commanded to do anything by Google.

elefanten 9y ago
Slaughter's July 7 email (3rd one on the page) to Lynn says "telling me one thing and doing another was just the last instance of a pattern of behavior that has been troubling to myself and your colleagues for over a year" In multiple places, she indicates he's been difficult to work with and insubordinate. Probably understandable that a federated institution like New America, with multuple parallel units working on different interests, doesn't want the bullshit a person like that brings into the mix. As her statement says, they tried to part amicably and leaving Open Markets intact and independent. Looks like Open Markets went for the publicity grab. Doesn't make me a fan.
- droopyEyelids 9y ago
  Thanks for letting me bounce my thoughts off you, and it's good to get the confirmation that there is no disagreement about the fundamentals of what happened.
- frgtpsswrdlame 9y ago
  It's obvious Slaughter strangled the group. She joined four years ago, three years in his group is being forced to spin out because they won't communicate. So from the emails it seems to me that they need to notify Slaughter everytime the publish something for a sponsor and then there is probably some level of pushback levied when this happens. Well New America has Google and Comcast and AT&T and Microsoft and Facebook as sponsors along with about a hundred others. Realistically, the new boss, Slaughter, just wasn't able or willing to stand up to corporate pressure in order to allow Open Markets to do it's job. Lynn was put into a no-win situation as anyone who's ever had a boss who won't fight for you can tell you.

elefanten 9y ago

Slaughter's July 7 email (3rd one on the page) to Lynn says "telling me one thing and doing another was just the last instance of a pattern of behavior that has been troubling to myself and your colleagues for over a year" In multiple places, she indicates he's been difficult to work with and insubordinate. Probably understandable that a federated institution like New America, with multuple parallel units working on different interests, doesn't want the bullshit a person like that brings into the mix. As her statement says, they tried to part amicably and leaving Open Markets intact and independent. Looks like Open Markets went for the publicity grab. Doesn't make me a fan.

droopyEyelids 9y ago
Thanks for letting me bounce my thoughts off you, and it's good to get the confirmation that there is no disagreement about the fundamentals of what happened.
frgtpsswrdlame 9y ago
It's obvious Slaughter strangled the group. She joined four years ago, three years in his group is being forced to spin out because they won't communicate. So from the emails it seems to me that they need to notify Slaughter everytime the publish something for a sponsor and then there is probably some level of pushback levied when this happens. Well New America has Google and Comcast and AT&T and Microsoft and Facebook as sponsors along with about a hundred others. Realistically, the new boss, Slaughter, just wasn't able or willing to stand up to corporate pressure in order to allow Open Markets to do it's job. Lynn was put into a no-win situation as anyone who's ever had a boss who won't fight for you can tell you.