[Jd]

Jason is a pop icon in the tech world and was obviously asked to be on the Groupon board because of his work w/ 37sig and Rework, etc. I think asking questions on whether his corporate philosophy is consistent with his recent actions is totally on point, although certainly there is no obligation on his part to answer them.

Also, from the back of Jason's book, "Pick a fight." That's actually what this whole thread is about. DHH has been on a campaign to pick a fight with what he considers overvalued companies.

[tptacek]

If you're interested in how Fried contributed to Groupon's operational management strategy, you should ask questions about Groupon. Unfortunately, the answers to those questions will probably be boring, because he just said that was never his role.

If you're interested in how 37signals is operated, you should start a separate thread about 37signals.

Groupon and 37signals are very interesting contrasting Chicago tech companies and would make an excellent comparative study, but Fried's involvement with both companies doesn't really set up the "consistency" narrative you're (maybe inadvertently) creating.

[Jd]

I'm not asking him questions about how he manages, I'm asking him what his philosophy is. Very different. 37signals has often been seen as being on the anti-large company bandwagon, and obviously Jason and DHH co-wrote a book together called Rework in which they share all of their wisdom, including things like "You don’t need to staff up."

Jason responded that his philosophy is "balance." That's all well and good, but is that consistent with his involvement in Groupon? That's how this originally came up.

Certainly he has been very gracious to respond at all, and I think he's convinced me (and hopefully others) that there is no necessary inconsistency in preferring balance for one's own company and rapid growth for another -- or simply acknowledging that even if one doesn't gel with another philosophy on rapid growth that one can still provide valuable advice on design, etc.

Is that consistent with his philosophy as stated in Rework? I'm still not sure...

[tptacek]

I agree that it was gracious for him to respond, which is why I'm skeeved out by the "consistency" questions. The line between benign question and passive-aggressive accusation is 1 px solid #fefefe.

And I have a thing about us accidentally chasing primary actors in the tech community off of HN by acting like... you know... us.

[Jd]

Totally understand. It's hard not to pick a fight with people (DHH and Fried both) who stand by a "pick a fight" mantra -- but I'm trying my hardest to be nice regardless! I swear!

[cemerick]

I agree…and I assure you I was solidly on the left side of that line. Thus, my best attempts at a "hey — peace, man" impression.

[eurohacker]

as some papers seem to indicate - the guy sold some part of his Groupon shares during or before IPO,

so it fits his filosphy well - seems like he wants to get out of it slowly and profitably ..