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The main thing I took from this incident is how much being open and honest about issues improves a company's image. Foursquare and 10gen could have very easily
by redthrowaway 16y ago
The main thing I took from this incident is how much being open and honest about issues improves a company's image. Foursquare and 10gen could have very easily played the blame game, or kept their cards close to their chests, and both would have come off poorly. Instead, they described the problem, owned up to their role in it, and laid out a framework for how to avoid the problem in the future. After reading about the issue, I come away with respect for both groups. Sure, mistakes were made, but they treated their users like adults and took responsibility for what they did wrong.
Good job, guys. If only the likes of Apple followed this example.
- slantyyz 16y agoForget about Apple, it would have been nice if BP followed this example.
- SkyMarshal 16y agoProblem is lawsuits. Admitting guilt can and is used against you in court. Hence, US businesses don't apologize for anything. This is a refreshing exception.
- ceejayoz 16y agoIf there was anything Foursquare could be sued over here, we'd be seeing a different story.
- SkyMarshal 16y agoTrue.
- megablast 16y agoI see it as a very American characteristic, from the people I have worked with before. Many Americans will never admit fault, never admit they do not know something, and always looking for someone else to blame. I think this comes from the culture of large companies. I have not seen this at smaller US companies, and other companies I have worked at. Of course, not all Americans, but I was surprised when I first saw this.
- SkyMarshal 16y agoYeah, I think it's common, if unstated, knowledge in the US that's the reason for it. Fear of getting sued by some opportunistic lawyer looking for a quick buck. When we're growing up our parents teach us to take responsibility for our actions, and if we screw up or wrong someone, admit it and make it right. Then we get out in the real world and it's the exact opposite, and the higher you go the worse it seems to get.
- JabavuAdams 16y agoThis is a large company / management culture thing, not a US thing. Also, it's a techie versus non-techie thing. People in Canada and the US are more prone to admit mistakes than in more prestige / respect-oriented cultures. I.e. apparent lack of respect has its benefits.
- harryh 16y agoThx for the kind words!
- megablast 16y agoWhat are you talking about? How can you see how the users see foursquare after this? Sure, in the hacker community this detail is appreciated, but how do you know how many foursquare users have left because of these outages? How many people are upset with the company, and are now taking facebook locations or the other companies more seriously?
- deleted 16y ago[deleted]
- redthrowaway 16y agoI don't know how many left because of the outages, but I think it's safe to say that very few, if any, left because of the honest explanation of their cause.
- parfe 16y agoLeft over this? Foursquare isn't a bank. Foursquare is a game. An achievement system for work lunches. Of the people I know who use four square the response was "Hm, foursquare isn't working" puts phone away.