It sounds like a shady org and the CEO sounds like a total jerk. I too remember having a really poor impression after reading this.
He also publicly slandered said employee and never corrected himself. It’s a big thumbs down from me.
> While I still think that the totality of the design decisions was a clear a privileged copy, I don't think it warranted my reaction. I'm sorry for that, and I give you permission to publish Riju.
Like thanks for giving me permission to publish MY weekend project that you have 0 say over what I do with, and blame the project as being a copy over “design decisions”. Meaning, a square box with the name of the language overlaying it?
Instead of owning his mistake as he should he basically claims “I have to remember I’m not the struggling kid from Jordan anymore” to avoid taking responsibility and shifts the blame to this ex-intern anyways.
You think he would have apologized if the guy's post didn't get massive amounts of attention on HN?
If you're making a sincere apology you don't try to cover your ass ("While I still think that the totality of the design decisions was a clear a privileged copy") at the same time.
There will always be assholes in life, and they're not going to stop being assholes. But they do sometimes control billion dollar companies, and we sometimes need to work with those billion dollar companies. Getting a real impactful change in the world is much more important than the satisfaction of the fall of an ego.
Your argument now is “So what, many companies are headed by assholes, deal with it” which is just your opinion.