Mea Culpa

Posted by Mihaela Lica as Personal

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The term ethics is already biased. When I think of all the things I learned from the professional bloggers Liz Strauss and Lorelle VanFossen and the things I see now on the web, I cannot stop a shiver.

Cyndy. One of these days I was so shocked to see a favorite blog I was reading almost daily lowering its standards of quality and impartiality that I couldn’t help an offensive comment. My mistake – and when you make mistakes the best thing is to admit them. I am sorry, Cyndy.

The fact that the post entry itself is more offensive for the idea of Web 2.0 and all the things that this stands for is not relevant. An offense to a fellow blogger is an offense. I could have been more moderate, or simply ignore the entry as I did in the past when the same author wrote about Virginia Tech.

Well, not this time I said. And after me… the hell came with the Apocalypse horses! The point of the offensive comment I made was as completely ignored as the obvious mistakes in the article.

I think I have a little Slavic warrior inside. I cannot lose a fight without actually pointing out to my so called adversary that his/her strategic errors could cost a lot if dealing with a stronger “army.” The army of “needless” editors from Wikipedia for example? Those whose work doesn’t matter, because, isn’t it, they built the greatest thing we see online so far… That great thing, with all its minuses, is still truly open source: still free for all, still transparent and still as ethical as something open to editing for all can be.

When I talk about strategic errors I mean:

Do not compare alpha with beta. They don’t even look the same. But skipping the joke, alpha means startup, beta means one step ahead towards the final development.
When you compare anything, be as accurate in the description as possible. What are the similarities? What is different? Pros? Cons? Backup your statements with real data.
Do not misinform your readers. Saying that Wikia search is a search engine is false. Wikia search, currently in alpha, is a project to create a search engine. Words do have meanings after all. Sure, this is not the only author writing against wikia. What really disturbs here is the lack of accurate information and the motivation behind.

I don’t want my search results passing through people who think they know what I might be looking for.

– states the author, Cyndy Aleo-Carreira replying to my offense.
Any author is responsible for what he/she publishes. Profy just managed to publish inaccurate information under the excuse:

It’s not my job to present the news in a completely unbiased manner.

(!)

All in one, I had to write this “mea culpa” and officially apologize to Profy – the right thing to do, especially since I mean it and Svetlana happens to be one of the blog professionals I really admire. And I do take responsibility for what I write. It’s all about the ethics I still believe in, it is all about the people I hurt without thinking twice. It is all about the real Web 2.0.

8 Responses

Sueblimely

January 13th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
1

You certainly did let rip, Mig, but the comment thread was one of the most entertaining I have read in a long time! As you say, they were not really aimed at the points you were making. I cannot comment on the merits of the search engines in question, not knowing enough about them. That is the issue isn’t it, most people don’t know enough, do not bother about researching too much, and are influenced by other’s opinions.
Mihaela Lica

January 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
2

Oh, the other commentators were Cyndy and her husband. Ignoring Svetlana who was just protecting her “baby” - probably Calacanis should invest in their blog, especially now when it goes in the “unexpected direction.”
Svetlana Gladkova

January 22nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
3

Mig, sorry I did not submit a comment earlier - I just did not notice the post amid all the hype after the release of Profy alpha.
I wanted to thank you for apologizing in public and for the kind words about myself, I really appreciate them.
Whatever it is, civil behavior among bloggers is of the highest importance, I think - and whatever we may say in the comments, the main thing is to be able to return to normal conversation
Mihaela Lica

January 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
4

You are right, Svetlana. I actually didn’t mean to offend anyone. I was just upset. I suppose “think twice” before you act was not in my system that day. I usually do, as you know and I am rarely unkind.

As for the words about you, you fully deserve them. I will never forget your support with the PAPA project and I know you are a very fine person who really understands the values of the Web.
Grendel

January 22nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
5

Rather than characterize me as Cyndy’s husband, let’s get into real credentials.

I am:

- a 10 year veteran of software development
- an enterprise software architect who has built systems transacting over $1 billion / year in real money
- a web 1.0 startup survivor
- a 5 year veteran open source contributor
- an author of a book on Java web development
- a speaker at tech conferences like JavaOne and Javapolis

So yeah, I know what the hell I’m talking about. Your credentials are what? Some fluffy marketing crap? The ability to set up WordPress on some cheapy hosting site?

The fact is, you and Phil don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, and it’s painfully obvious to those of us who do.
Mihaela Lica

January 22nd, 2008 at 5:04 pm
6

Well, let me tell you what I think:

- a 10 year veteran software development engineer would not lose his time reading and commenting on my blog
- an enterprise software architect who has built systems transacting over $1 billion / year in real money would never sell his developments without fluffy marketing crap
- a web 1.0 startup survivor (I was not aware of the fact that dinosaurs are still among us)values the progress of the Web 2.0 too
- a 5 year veteran open source contributor doesn’t go around saying that the purpose of the Web is email and porn
- an author of a book on Java web development… now I don’t know what to say about that. Having a name on a book apparently creates gurus. Fascinating.
- a speaker at tech conferences like JavaOne and Javapolis - how is that relevant anyway?

Concerning Phil… the guy does know his job and I doubt that a Java expert is equally an SEO guru. I might be wrong.

Now, analyzing all the points above, I see Cyndy’s husband as a very important and down to Earth person. Someone who has way too much to do than fooling around in pointless debates. Someone who values time and is busy developing powerful web applications.

From this my conclusion is that it’s not Cyndy’s husband writing the comments, but Cyndy herself.

So Cyndy, I suggest you go on dancing on Profy and spare yourself the trouble of a reply, for it will not pass moderation.
Grendel

January 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
7

hahahahaha!

You’re just further showing your lack of knowledge of software development and developers. We’re a very stubborn and opinionated bunch. We will take the time necessary to crush out ignorance when we find it, and especially when it’s waved in our faces like a big red cape in front of a bull.

Thinking my posting style is at all like Cyndy’s is so laughable as to be pathetic. Ethics is a laughable thing for you to talk about, after you use a supposed apology as an opportunity to slander someone and question their integrity. This coming from someone who is the mouthpiece of another, and only knows who I am because the Phil unethically spread that information.

Oh, and software companies that need marketing are the ones who are poorly planned and have bad products. Good software companies have customers before they start building. SEO??? SEO is for chumps. It’s the three card monty of the web world. Thinking it’s at all important shows you do fluffy writing crap, and don’t know jack about software.

Phil didn’t know anything about Web 2.0 when he came to Profy, and hasn’t bothered to learn. Cyndy didn’t know much more, but has spent a LOT of time learning, and actually researches her posts. I call her on it when I think she’s full of crap, just like I do for anyone else. In case you missed it, your first commenter said that the comment thread was entertaining… Ever think I try to be entertaining in my comments, and the “email and porn” comment, while it contains a lot of truth, was meant to be funny?

You know, every major tech news outlet said exactly the same thing about Wikia, right? You’re the lone voice in the wilderness there, and it’s not because you’re the only one who sees the truth. The other article, on Virginia Tech? Yeah, that was picked up by Reuters and run throughout the country. I’m proud of Cyndy and I think she’s really starting to do some good work. Maybe if Phil did some homework on his posts and you could learn to comment without being boring and sanctimonious, then Profy could be a really good site.

Face it, you’re in the wrong, again, and you’re outgunned. But, I’m sure your strong ethical values will somehow let you rationalize blocking this comment so your further slander can be the last word on this post.
Mihaela Lica

January 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
8

OK, Cyndy. Then you have the last word. Happy now?