[tkiley]

This tendency toward defensive communication is a problem for me both online and offline. Although to be honest, I see the exact opposite extreme as a problem as well: hustler-type startup people tend to adopt an "offensive" hyperbolic communication style that can be just as disruptive.

Over the years I have come to appreciate pg's essays as an example of the happy medium: he doesn't pull punches, but he doesn't generalize to the point of hyperbole either, and I find his writing style to be more effective because of this balance.