[icecreampain]

Unfortunately, dishonesty sells. How did all the large megacorporations get to where they are now?

Not by being great programmers and free thinkers, but by being greedy businessmen and, later, buying tons of lobbyists.

This piece of shit company is ... well... just being a normal company.

[RyanZAG]

Dishonesty sells to 95% of the population, sure. That's the part of the population without critical thinking skills or the desire to fact check things they read. If you're selling a hairspray or something, being a bit dishonest is probably highly recommended.

The problem is these companies are trying to hire top notch talent - the 5% of the population that is least likely to be happy about dishonesty. Especially when it comes to a major decision like a new job. It's simply a mistake and the marketing is unneeded - if you're a YC company, the HN crowd has at least read your announcement in techcrunch and knows what you're trying to do.

[aaronbrethorst]

    Unfortunately, dishonesty sells. How did all the
    large megacorporations get to where they are now?

    Not by being great programmers and free thinkers,
    but by being greedy businessmen and, later, buying
    tons of lobbyists.

    This piece of shit company is ... well... just being
    a normal company.

Citation needed.

[larrys]

Although I am one to also ask from time to time for links or citations I think that in this case this is clearly one persons opinion as opposed to someone saying "it is well known that dishonesty sells and that all large mega corporations get to where they are by.." [1]

As far as "dishonesty" in business that is determined many times by when the consensus actions of a particular industry is. Behavior in one industry in many cases means you have to play the same game or perish. Each industry works differently.

[1] Add: In which case a citation would be appropriate.

[jmomo]

Confirmation bias is pretty close. People actively seek out not neutral factual information, but whatever makes them happy. Conservatives watch Fox NEWS because it makes them feel good about themselves. Liberals watch MSNBC because it makes them feel good about themselves. "Truth be damned, lie to me! It makes me happy."

Big oil doesn't cause global warming because that would make a bunch of rich powerful people bad guys, and they can't have that.

And, sales, marketing, and advertisers aren't sleazy liars because that would make them bad guys, and they can't see that. They can't. It's impossible. Can't be true. No way.

Advertisers are just showing people what they want to see. What they demand to see. They demand to be lied to, so it's okay.

[aaronbrethorst]

    I think that in this case this is
    clearly one persons opinion

Agreed, but they should've phrased it as such as opposed to stating it as fact. I appreciate that your reply included "I think" :)