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This is not a comment specifically on Path -- I don't know anything about what they are doing or not doing. But more generally: one of the most interesting par
by pmarca 13y ago
This is not a comment specifically on Path -- I don't know anything about what they are doing or not doing.
But more generally: one of the most interesting parts of startups is the tension between "Don't Be Evil" and "Don't Fail". It would be good to be able to discuss this more openly -- "Don't Be Evil" by itself is too utopian. Many of the most successful companies in the world did things in their early days -- or later -- that new entrepreneurs would never even consider -- until of course their own backs are up against the wall.
- mehrzad 13y agoI, and I think most of us here, know of this concept, but I'd say you articulated it well. If a company needs to be semi-evil, being upfront may help them.
- amirmc 13y agoThere are many (perhaps dubious) things I've learned from friends about how to grow/bootstrap users. If I decide to ever use any of those tactics then I'll know I'm doing something dodgy and work to mitigate any risks. I'd bet that the successful companies you're referring to also knew that they were on shaky ground and acted accordingly. However, problems arise when startups begin to think that behaving this way is 'normal'. During the previous furore over Path grabbing address books, the CEO claimed it was "industry best practice". Just because (nearly) everyone does it, doesn't make it "best practice". It actually belongs on the 'list-of-dodgy-things' and therefore should be treated with the appropriate caution. This is one reason I have a gripe with the "Move fast and break things" bandwagon. It's not really appropriate if you're stumbling around in a minefield.
- chii 13y agoyep - agreed that just because nearly everyone does the same thing doesn't mean its a good thing to do: nearly everyone used to own slaves (except the slaves).