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I don’t follow the logic. Since when does the act of meeting with someone mean you’ve adopted their beliefs? Do you adopt the beliefs of everyone you’ve met? W

I don’t follow the logic. Since when does the act of meeting with someone mean you’ve adopted their beliefs? Do you adopt the beliefs of everyone you’ve met? What if you've met both a Zionist and an anti-Zionist? What does that make you?

slowin 1mo ago
Raising money from someone and putting them on your board is more than "meeting with them".
- otterley 1mo ago
  For sure. But that's not what you said before. And Netanyahu isn't on Vercel's board, nor did Netanyahu raise money for him. The only news I see about this is a brouhaha over a selfie and a meeting in NYC with different tech business leaders. So I don't quite know what you're on about.
  - slowin 1mo ago
    Oh yes, I wouldn't ever work with anyone who met with Netanyahu. That's ridiculous. Vercel's CEO even went to Israel to do it (that wasn't in NYC -- not that that would make it ok). I'll never use one of their products. Would you work with someone who took a selfie with Hitler? This is the 21st century equivalent.
sulmon7 1mo ago
This is a really dumb take. You're relying on a straw man (nobody claimed the CEO adopted his beliefs; they're talking about brand risk) and a category mistake (treating a high-level corporate photo-op like bumping into someone at a coffee shop). You can do better.
- otterley 1mo ago
  People have the responsibility to say what they mean and make their arguments clear and well understood. He said that being a Zionist is a brand risk. The implication is that the CEO of Vercel is a Zionist.
  - slowin 1mo ago
    The CEO of Vercel is a Zionist: https://x.com/rauchg/status/1972669025525158031 https://x.com/rauchg/status/1972669025525158031 Also your original comment was a non sequitur. I replied to a VC saying they could make their own lane by being ethical and being anti-Zionist and you replied asking about business fundamentals, which had nothing to do with what we were discussing.
    - otterley 1mo ago
      That post does not establish the connection that you think it does. There was no language of agreement with Natanyahu’s political views therein. In fact his language was inclusive (“peace for Israel AND its neighbors”). You drew a contrary conclusion yourself (as did anyone else who thinks similarly). It’s fair to question whether a VC should care about a founder’s position on Zionism (or vice versa). If you don’t like it, that’s on you.
      - slowin 1mo ago
        A Zionist is someone who thinks Israel should exist, and here he is wishing for "greatness" for Israel. He is a Zionist. > It’s fair to question whether a VC should care about a founder’s position on Zionism (or vice versa). If you don’t like it, that’s on you. Re-read the thread. No one was talking about what VCs want, I was talking about what founders want. VC opinions on founders aren't part of this discussion.
        otterley 1mo ago
        I think Israel should exist. So I’m a Zionist and therefore persona non grata, even if I disagree with much of what Israel has done? If so, that is a very interesting and hard line perspective. Perhaps people should conclude you are a Jew hater and a racist based on this evidence alone? I’m sure your customers would find this interesting. Do you disclose your position to them before they agree to do business with you? Are you also refusing to do business with them or unilaterally canceling existing contracts if you learn that they too believe that Israel should exist? > No one was talking about what VCs want, I was talking about what founders want. You do know what “or vice versa” means, right?

slowin 1mo ago

Raising money from someone and putting them on your board is more than "meeting with them".

otterley 1mo ago
For sure. But that's not what you said before. And Netanyahu isn't on Vercel's board, nor did Netanyahu raise money for him. The only news I see about this is a brouhaha over a selfie and a meeting in NYC with different tech business leaders. So I don't quite know what you're on about.
- slowin 1mo ago
  Oh yes, I wouldn't ever work with anyone who met with Netanyahu. That's ridiculous. Vercel's CEO even went to Israel to do it (that wasn't in NYC -- not that that would make it ok). I'll never use one of their products. Would you work with someone who took a selfie with Hitler? This is the 21st century equivalent.

sulmon7 1mo ago

This is a really dumb take. You're relying on a straw man (nobody claimed the CEO adopted his beliefs; they're talking about brand risk) and a category mistake (treating a high-level corporate photo-op like bumping into someone at a coffee shop). You can do better.

otterley 1mo ago
People have the responsibility to say what they mean and make their arguments clear and well understood. He said that being a Zionist is a brand risk. The implication is that the CEO of Vercel is a Zionist.
- slowin 1mo ago
  The CEO of Vercel is a Zionist: https://x.com/rauchg/status/1972669025525158031 https://x.com/rauchg/status/1972669025525158031 Also your original comment was a non sequitur. I replied to a VC saying they could make their own lane by being ethical and being anti-Zionist and you replied asking about business fundamentals, which had nothing to do with what we were discussing.
  - otterley 1mo ago
    That post does not establish the connection that you think it does. There was no language of agreement with Natanyahu’s political views therein. In fact his language was inclusive (“peace for Israel AND its neighbors”). You drew a contrary conclusion yourself (as did anyone else who thinks similarly). It’s fair to question whether a VC should care about a founder’s position on Zionism (or vice versa). If you don’t like it, that’s on you.
    - slowin 1mo ago
      A Zionist is someone who thinks Israel should exist, and here he is wishing for "greatness" for Israel. He is a Zionist. > It’s fair to question whether a VC should care about a founder’s position on Zionism (or vice versa). If you don’t like it, that’s on you. Re-read the thread. No one was talking about what VCs want, I was talking about what founders want. VC opinions on founders aren't part of this discussion.
      - otterley 1mo ago
        I think Israel should exist. So I’m a Zionist and therefore persona non grata, even if I disagree with much of what Israel has done? If so, that is a very interesting and hard line perspective. Perhaps people should conclude you are a Jew hater and a racist based on this evidence alone? I’m sure your customers would find this interesting. Do you disclose your position to them before they agree to do business with you? Are you also refusing to do business with them or unilaterally canceling existing contracts if you learn that they too believe that Israel should exist? > No one was talking about what VCs want, I was talking about what founders want. You do know what “or vice versa” means, right?