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Incorrect. Correct summary: I think the publishing industry is a cartel that abuses their editors, copy-editors, writers, authors, and so on. They're anti-mode

Incorrect. Correct summary: I think the publishing industry is a cartel that abuses their editors, copy-editors, writers, authors, and so on. They're anti-modern, treat people bad, and threaten them. I'm taking a principled stand against them, and already walked away from $50,000 to do it. If you disagree, just say so instead of being passive aggressive. Then real dialog happens. Edit: This has been upvoted, and then downvoted. Hold on a second - this guy mis-summarizes in a snarky way instead of just saying what he thinks. He could write, "He's arrogant" (perhaps) or "I disagree with his style" (your call) or "I think publishing is awesome and in the right here" (you're crazy if you think so) - but instead, he mis-summarizes what's going on. That's basically the definition of passive-aggressive: Not saying what you really think, and being hostile anyways. I say, "Hey, say what you think and get a dialog going" (I addressed some thoughtful points below, and answered them all) - and you upvote him with his petty snark, and not the guy saying "Hey, if you disagree, say it and we can discuss"? Wouldn't you like a more honest world? No?

vasco 15y ago
How do you know with such certainty that what he wrote isn't what he thinks?
- lionhearted 15y ago
  > How do you know with such certainty that what he wrote isn't what he thinks? Do you want an actual, serious answer? So, I try to always get at the subtext of people's words. You never 100% know for sure what anyone else is thinking, but you can put some intelligent guesses on it, and then ask people what they're actually thinking and see if you're right. If you practice, you get better at it. Figuring out what people are thinking when they say something is just a skill like any other, and can be improved by practice. His tone there ignores all the points that were made, and focuses on the most petty interpretation of my actions. I had research numbers, trends, talked about marketing/distribution shifts, whatever... so what's he really mean with his snark? I'm being really open here, maybe it's offensive, but here's how I analyzed it - I think the emotion is roughly "I don't like this!!" and he doesn't analyze why. He then takes the worst possible interpretation, and puts that up in to assert some sort of... aloof superiority? It's hard to put great words on this, but he's basically writing off everything I said about trends, distribution, agency, everything with a hand wave. Why do that? Because he had some negative emotional reaction, of course. But instead of asking himself, "Why do I dislike this?" and saying that, he just snarks out and gets passive aggressive. Honestly - again, hyper-honesty - I think it's pretty weak and pathetic. Call me arrogant, say my tone is wrong, disagree with my analysis, call me a dick, say my points are out of touch, whatever, honesty is cool and we can work with. But ["I don't like this!!" -> Snark] is... well, it's weak, don't you think?
jerrya 15y ago
Hacker News is like KAOS, we don't do: gripes about voting or dududu (humor) here (regardless of how worthy the gripe or funny the humor is.)
xiaoma 15y ago
Could you hold off on the calling me petty, snarky and passive-aggressive and just explain which part of my two sentence summary was "incorrect"? I don't know exactly what you were alluding to with your claim that I wasn't saying what I really think, but I really was attempting to report what happened in the video and summarize it. Here is what my summary said: 1) It seems he pissed off his publisher 2) His agent recommended he find another publisher and pay back what the publisher forwarded him. 3) He doesn't think he'll be able to find another publisher or sell that many books 4) He took off his shirt and made a long video in which he continually chastises his agent 5) He rips up some of his money 6) He rants about how the industry is crumbling and will be destroyed by the internet I really did believe all six of those things happened in the video. Which was I incorrect about, and what do you think I "really" believe but wouldn't write?
- lionhearted 15y ago
  > Could you hold off on the calling me petty, snarky and passive-aggressive Well, I read it as petty, snarky, and passive-aggressive... > and just explain which part of my two sentence summary was "incorrect"? See, that's it. You could just say "My summary was accurate" if you thought so - but it wasn't. You're getting caught up in trivial details, and leaving the biggest parts out. And then you say, "Show me what's not true!!" Again, it's just not a good style. You could do better.
scott_s 15y ago
I was only able to watch about two minutes worth, but his summary sounds accurate to me. The reason people aren't trying to start a dialog with you on your terms is that you don't seem rational. You seem unhinged. I saw your original open letter, and I thought the same. Based on these and your previous harangue against your team, I think you should consider seeking help.

vasco 15y ago

How do you know with such certainty that what he wrote isn't what he thinks?

lionhearted 15y ago
> How do you know with such certainty that what he wrote isn't what he thinks? Do you want an actual, serious answer? So, I try to always get at the subtext of people's words. You never 100% know for sure what anyone else is thinking, but you can put some intelligent guesses on it, and then ask people what they're actually thinking and see if you're right. If you practice, you get better at it. Figuring out what people are thinking when they say something is just a skill like any other, and can be improved by practice. His tone there ignores all the points that were made, and focuses on the most petty interpretation of my actions. I had research numbers, trends, talked about marketing/distribution shifts, whatever... so what's he really mean with his snark? I'm being really open here, maybe it's offensive, but here's how I analyzed it - I think the emotion is roughly "I don't like this!!" and he doesn't analyze why. He then takes the worst possible interpretation, and puts that up in to assert some sort of... aloof superiority? It's hard to put great words on this, but he's basically writing off everything I said about trends, distribution, agency, everything with a hand wave. Why do that? Because he had some negative emotional reaction, of course. But instead of asking himself, "Why do I dislike this?" and saying that, he just snarks out and gets passive aggressive. Honestly - again, hyper-honesty - I think it's pretty weak and pathetic. Call me arrogant, say my tone is wrong, disagree with my analysis, call me a dick, say my points are out of touch, whatever, honesty is cool and we can work with. But ["I don't like this!!" -> Snark] is... well, it's weak, don't you think?

jerrya 15y ago

Hacker News is like KAOS, we don't do: gripes about voting or dududu (humor) here (regardless of how worthy the gripe or funny the humor is.)

xiaoma 15y ago

Could you hold off on the calling me petty, snarky and passive-aggressive and just explain which part of my two sentence summary was "incorrect"? I don't know exactly what you were alluding to with your claim that I wasn't saying what I really think, but I really was attempting to report what happened in the video and summarize it. Here is what my summary said: 1) It seems he pissed off his publisher 2) His agent recommended he find another publisher and pay back what the publisher forwarded him. 3) He doesn't think he'll be able to find another publisher or sell that many books 4) He took off his shirt and made a long video in which he continually chastises his agent 5) He rips up some of his money 6) He rants about how the industry is crumbling and will be destroyed by the internet I really did believe all six of those things happened in the video. Which was I incorrect about, and what do you think I "really" believe but wouldn't write?

lionhearted 15y ago
> Could you hold off on the calling me petty, snarky and passive-aggressive Well, I read it as petty, snarky, and passive-aggressive... > and just explain which part of my two sentence summary was "incorrect"? See, that's it. You could just say "My summary was accurate" if you thought so - but it wasn't. You're getting caught up in trivial details, and leaving the biggest parts out. And then you say, "Show me what's not true!!" Again, it's just not a good style. You could do better.

scott_s 15y ago

I was only able to watch about two minutes worth, but his summary sounds accurate to me. The reason people aren't trying to start a dialog with you on your terms is that you don't seem rational. You seem unhinged. I saw your original open letter, and I thought the same. Based on these and your previous harangue against your team, I think you should consider seeking help.