[koko775]

Raw, unfiltered me fifteen years ago was probably a misogynistic "nice guy" on a regular basis. Raw unfiltered me right now is all for feminism and social justice, and hates the shit out of that guy I was fifteen years ago.

If the worst quote attributed to him shows him calling people dumb for throwing their personal info at someone they have no reason to trust...that's not a very strong indictment of his character. And even though it's reasonably bad, there's no way fourteen years of responsibility won't change people.

The idiot who said "dumb fucks" is an entirely alien person to the person now. And the quote calling people dumb for giving some online rando their personal data doesn't exactly demonstrate a conclusive disregard for the value of that data. If anything, it's an insult to people's intelligence because they should care more.

It doesn't make him a hero, but doesn't make him a villain, either.

[blub]

I don't think there's a stronger way of stating that your users are dumb fucks than running Facebook or Google.

And indeed, with enough algorithm magic, free stuff and lobbying, it turns out that the majority of us are dumb fucks.

[gear54rus]

Yes he's entirely alien person. The one now will hide his sociopathy much better.

And make you disregard the moment when he showed his true self as a thing of the past.

[koko775]

Assuming he's the same person as back then but hides it better, do you think that his true self thinking people are dumb to give an unknown and untrusted online service their information extremely freely is wrong? Or just an asshole at the time?

Point is, as much as it might color his character, so does his observable conduct in all the years since. Reiterating: with context (would appreciate if you don't forget I'm not disregarding it and talk past me) - it really doesn't give much context, though it's an amazingly compelling soundbite.