[sho]

Maybe he's trying to make a commitment he will be held to.

[dschobel]

Like mr. "I can write stackoverflow in a weekend"?

Also, haven't there been a dozen articles posted here about how publicly stating your intent hinders your ability to achieve it? It was in reference to startups, but it's the same psychology at work I imagine.

[sho]

Maybe saying you're going to do something is different from saying you're not going to do something. One is easier to verify than the other.