PayPerPost Abuses Declining Job Candidate

Wow, this just keeps getting worse and worse for PayPerPost.

I’ll get the popcorn.

the dudes at PPP are coming off as real douchebags

More gossip than news. I do not see the point in keeping bashing them.

These clowns have got to be a bunch of Mac Users, only they could think so differently. We at MS respect everyone, especially our customers and assistants!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

Hey Mike
This is a gossip and tabloid post. Tech Crunch can do better….

Mr. Arrington, I sometimes enjoy gossip. However, I have never considered TechCrunch a gossip rag until now, and that is not a compliment. This reads like a column written by a high school student. It is also bad karma. Listen, I love TechCrunch. I am a devoted reader, but I cringe when I read gossip articles such as this one. You include points made in Wright’s attack, but you fail to reveal what specifically Salberg wrote in his e-mail criticizing PayPerPost. You don’t even have a quote from the company. On another note, in a previous post regarding MySpace News’ search results issue, Duncan Riley obviously neglected to contact the MySpace camp for their comments.

Derek, I’m trying to embed the entire email in the post, but am having some issues with Scribd. Will be up soon.

The candidate’s email was certainly opinionated, but it was addressed solely to the headhunter. It was then forwarded to the company, and Wright responded angrily. That’s not how grown up startups behave.

At least nobody was hurt by flying chairs.

Great post - GREAT to read. But…I think I coined the phrase “High School 2.0″ here in the comments, a year or so ago. Looks like another pretty good fit.

We used to just meet behind the band hall to settle our issues.

Is posting a private email exchange how grown up “journalists” behave???

I don’t like PPP’s business model either, but how is your action here any better? Talk about despicable.

Looks to me like there should be nobody on earth who should ever trust you to have a “private phone conversation.”

is anyone really surprised? If someone is willing to break ethics on one occasion…they’ll break ethics on another

My simple question is: how did you get hold of the email? I think you are just bent on destroying PayPerPost.There is so much that goes on in email.One day, it will be your email.Take care!

I like Techcrunch but I think you have stooped so low with this post.This is gossip stuff. Please concentrate on your noble task of giving us real technical posts.

Certainly the worst post I’ve read in this website.
It’s not TechCrunch’s business (or purpose) to gossip about these stuff. I feel like there’s a personal conflict between Mike and the people at PPP.
Now tell me what is Google buying next!

PPP defenders miss the simple point here.

If you don’t want to read it in the New York Times, don’t put it in an email.

Mike, I don’t like this business of taking a purloined email and using it to fuel your personal vendetta. It just feels cheap.

Josh Stein is saying PPP is a “very real threat” to TC? How the hell does he justify that statement? By PPP lowering the tone of online discourse and dragging down the reputations of all blogs?

Also, I fear this comment thread is already being astroturfed. Look closely at the backgrounds of the commenters. #13 is a PPP client, for instance.

PPP by any account could have handled themselves better. I mean a headhunter gets sent an email, and then he forwards it and god dammit the VP software development has the time to answer an email not addressed to him? Wow, that’s really like a glass ego.

Forget the PPP business model. That’s a different issue (not that I agree that it has a future).

But if you (I mean PPP as an organization) can take the trouble of replying in the way they have done then they deserve to get on to the “news”.

Of course I agree that it would be debatable whether it should be up on something like “TechCrunch” or “FuckedCompany”. But taken the fact that TechCruch had taken over FuckedCompany (http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/31/techcrunch-has-acquired-fuckedcompanycom/) I think in the “larger vision” of TechCrunch, the founders (I mean Arrington) would have found it fit to publish this news.

Many times readers and founders can have different visions. And the rule of “Agree to disagree” applies here.

As for me, I enjoyed the snip. PPP should grow. And readers of TechCrunch need to give Arrington a break. I mean its gossip seen in one way but is also about the HR landscape seen in an other way.

I’m pretty surprised at the negative reaction coming from a lot of these commenters. Sure, the guy who e-mailed his headhunter was being stupid, but PPP should act like a professional outfit and not make such angry responses to such job applicants.

they run that place like a fraternity.

Paul Montgomery (#17), is commenting in this thread restricted only to those people who are not PPP clients? I am a PPP client just 50,000 others, but I do take an independent opinion on issues. I have a right to be heard.

If TC has issues with PPP, they should sort those issues between themselves otherwise TC will lose credibility by making posts such as these.

@18,

I thought the Fucked Company “take over” was an April Fool’s day joke

clement did you even read the last two paragraphs of the article?

Hey Michael,

These kind of things do happen at even with matured startups. Just that you don’t get to see their emails. Leave them alone. Its getting really nasty. I don’t like to see more gossip post in TC.

He he. Looks like the FuckecCompany thing was a joke [Thanks Aaronontheweb (AjaxNinja)].

Anyway on second thoughts they should have taken it.

is it mature to point out a start-ups immature action? not very news worthy in my opinion…need i say perez?

And did you read this (though PPP seems to have removed the content of the link). Seems to be a long time fight (and reciprocal too!)

PayPerPost to Acquire TechCrunch:

http://blog.payperpost.com/200…..runch.html

“I am pleased to announce that late last night Mike Arrington and I came to an agreement whereby PayPerPost will acquire TechCrunch and all related “Crunch” properties. I am well aware of the irony of this situation given Mikes comments about PayPerPost in the past. This comes on the heels of TechCrunch’s acquisition of FuckedCompany, which was already in progress and will be part of the deal. Through it all we have been able to come to an agreement whereby Mike will continue to run the Crunch sites but PayPerPost will be able to leverage the site for its advertisers. As a result of this merger, we will soon be launching a new “PayPerCrunch” feature, whereby Advertisers will be able, at our customarily low prices, to leverage the journalistic talents of Mr Arrington and his staff to fully promote our customers products and services. “

Hehehe. This is excellent, Arrington. As much as it resembles some valleywag style tabloid gossip, this is hilariously entertaining. Thanks

Anatatara - no, that was just a fun april fools thing if I remember correctly, before they got really angry with us.

anantara (#27) the link cannot open.

things are getting worse of Pay Per Post….
http://vidsonly.blogspot.com

It doesn’t matter who you are, personal attacks or attacks whatsoever NEVER look good.

Update: Scribd is just screwed tonight, so I’ve turned the email into a pdf and have added a link above.

http://www.techcrunch.com/wp-content/pppabuse.pdf

Perez on the phone. He wants his post back..

Sometimes you just can’t win. when I was young I turned down a silly job offer at a game company with “I’m just not the right person for the job” (i.e, it’s not you, it’s me), thinking I was being nice and diplomatic. And they just decided to spread word that I was wrong for any job.

Turns out, the only right way to turn down a job offer is to tell them they’re not offering enough money or stock, no matter how much they offer. No one seems to take that the wrong way.

In fairness to PPP, Larry sounds like a bit of an uptight-douche. Yes, PPP responded badly, but where the hell does Larry get off acting all academic and arrogant? Could he not have just said “No, Lori. And I will no longer be needing your services”? Did he really need to send a two page rant, insulting a company he’s never actually met anyone at, and telling off Lori for how wrong she was?

I hope this gets passed around — with an attitude like that, potential employers would do well to avoid him. Someone with as much panache as he likes to think he has would have simply closed the book and moved on, instead of creating such a dramatic scene.

honestly, from everything i’ve seen / heard / read / etc ted murphy seems like a giant d-bag. ppp is extremely unethical, and i anxiously await the day they cease to exist. its karma; what goes around comes around.

show down! I guess when a company is always on the defensive it can get pretty heated around the office. Gotta stick to the one day rule on emails. Wait 24hrs before responding if you think you are going to rip into someone. Cool off then if you still need to email go at it with ease.

I liked this (from that 10 page pdf)

########################

Personally, I don’t think being a broker between bloggers and advertisers qualifies as “changing the landscape of online advertising”, but even if it did, it hardly equates to “changing the world”. I thought the self-appointed gurus at Apple were the only ones egotistical enough to use that phrase - and they aren’t doing it anymore either (not with a 5 to 10 percent market share). Be excited. Be happy about your work.

I just think people are a little “over the top” when they start making prophetic statements inline with Biblical writ. Especially tech companies that have been around less than 5 years.
#######################

And this

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hmmm… if I was so “easily swayed” by loud noises, I would think this email of yours would have been enough to turn me back to the good side of the Force. Apparently, Arrington is a bit louder than you. I’m no fan of Arrington (personally).

According to the Wired story, he sits in front of his computer 17 hours a day in that dump of a home that he rents and doesn’t even have a woman in his life. But at least he admits it and doesn’t flatter himself. He is pretty knowledgeable about what he writes about. And even though he might have been a bit out of line (professionally) to call Ted the most evil person in the room, it was clearly said with a bit of tongue-in-cheek, plus the room was all aware of the differences between Ted and Michael beforehand. But, Ted stooped right down to his level and, arguably, even worse, by calling him an “ass” and the videos - and meaning it - and doing it behind the guy’s back on his videos.

Nice. That’s a guy I want to work for. Yeah, right!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What’s unethical about PPP? If a person has an opinion they haven’t gotten around to writing, and the availability of a payment to do it moves them to, so what? The only unethical thing that could happen is for someone to portray their opinion as being something it’s not in exchange for money.

It’s all sorted out in a writer’s credibility, with or without money. To call the model ‘despicable’ is pretty ridiculous, as though without money all blog writers would just be writing with the purest and most forthright voice of honesty and integrity, uncolored and unbiased by the world outside.

If I am dumb enough not to be able to tell when a writer sells his editorial opinion to the highest bidder, that’s on me, not on the writer or on PayPerPost.

how come no noise is being made about rapleaf. Every time someone “searches” for your email, they spam you telling you that you should create an account to so can “control” your profile… kind of similar to how plaxo used to tell you the best way to avoid their spam is to join.

And if your email isn’t in their profile, they spider the web to create a profile for year email. I searched my emails out of curiosity, 5 minutes later i had a profile… thanks rapleaf..

i’ve heard good things about the guys at rapleaf, but its kind of a shady system.

1. I don’t see anything wrong in what Wright said. Your headline is misleading. What Wright said is far from being abusive. On the contrary, Wright comes across as passionate and straight talking. Something very much needed in this politically correct sugar coated world.

2. What Salberg said is not on. How can you tell a company that it has no future. I can see myself or Wright or anyone else with passion and feelings reacting to that.

3. Michael who are you to pass judgment on anyone’s business. Grow up. Your world is way too black n white

actually engineer attacks the company and whole its stuff more than company does anything to him:
‘the only people that would work at such a company are those with no brains, no self confidence, etc etc.’
wtf, where does he get the right to call all people working for a company like that, and u defend him Michael? You are completely biased on this subject, and actually here there is no news or anything to be written about techcrunch, stop using this blog for your personal conflicts, you’ve got crunchnote’s for that dont u? you are very successful in last two years and congrats on techcrunch40, have watched all videos i found on session, but dont let your ego lead you to mistakes.

u hire this guy and he doesn’t agree with u expect to see it on techcrunch

HaHa, everyone should read the pdf before commenting. Amazing!!

And really, all sides come out of this looking poorly. Salberg, in a “so-called” private email between him and this dubious headhunter had a massive rant. Right or wrong in his opinions (and holy cow they are some strong opinions!!!) he would have expected it to stay between him and the recruitment firm.

The fact that Lori forwarded this email to PPP is an ethical issue she has to live with.

I don’t mind Wright writing back and defending PPP - although he does do so with a sort of arrogance and kool aid effect. What’s surprising is that he even bothered to waste his time replying. Seems very think-skinned, imo.

1. I would NOT hire Larry to work at my startup if he was the only person that applied - and he agreed to work for free. “It’s a JOB.” was one of his many great quotes.

2. I would hire 10 Larry’s before I would work for PPP. Look at the “Reality Show”. It is sad to watch. This place is a time bomb.

3. TC should let them fade into obscurity. The only time that I remember they exist is when I see them mentioned here. Who cares if a bunch of stay at home moms want to shill products on their half rate blogs anyway?

Sorry, forgot to post this:

http://rockstartup.com/rockstars/index.html

It’s all propaganda I tell you, with a bit of drama included.
For PPP, there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

Once again, par for the course. If you can’t see through Ted Murphy you’re probably one of the people asking “what’s wrong with the model?”

Note to PPP: Calacanis didn’t “change his entire opinion of PPP” on his podcast. He was in such a state of shock / bliss that he was actually able to debase Ted Murphy with the Calacanis brand to the forehead that he was was simply pouring on the thickest and most patronizing praise of PPP ever. If you can watch that podcast and think that Calacanis “changed his mind” and don’t get the sarcasm, you should think twice about playing the game…. because you WILL get beat. Even if you’ve written 13 books and think having a monster truck with your company name on it is really, REALLY, cool……

I USED TO LOVE TECHCRUNCH

and then came this post….Looks like a an effort from Mike to settle some personal scores… And the power of media ( He writes for a popular website) has been used once again.

TECHCRUNCH CAN DO BETTER

I USED TO LOVE TECHCRUNCH

and then came this post….Looks like a an effort from Mike to settle some personal scores… And the power of media ( He writes for a popular website) has been grossly misused once again.

TECHCRUNCH CAN DO BETTER

not intersting article

rc

rading tennis blog

is it an agreement between tc and ppp to bring up the buzz? what’s the point of all these drama?

Mike is a Jerk 2.0

I don’t think Salberg was particularly showing his professionalism (although PPP look the worse for responding to the trolling) by childishly slating a potential employer when he could have professionally, and politely, declined. Diff’rent stokes for diff’rent folks!

It made me laugh, and I don’t know (or care to know) anything about the company; however, does this align with TechCrunch’s goals?

In time, that question won’t be pertinent if TC leaves it at “A Final Word About PayPerPost” and is more careful about how its audience will receive posts like this.

Wait! - Did TechCrunch get paid to post that?

Mike, we know that you dislike PPP’s business model, but that doesn’t mean you should stick the knife in them at every opportunity. It’s beneath you.

Michael … you will go “mano a mano” with them? Cool. Just keep the swords home

I need to do more research on PayPerPost and why it is unethical. If they fully disclose the fact that the posts are paid by somebody, I do not see the issue. But again, I can only go with what TC described … which is “somewhat” negative and a little black and white.

Michael sure hates Payperpost.

I’m not familiar with the standards for what is considered ethical business practices within the headhunter industry. Did the headhunter violate any standards by providing PPP with the
contents of Mr Salberg’s letter?

Nevertheless, the headhunter didn’t seem to do much in the way of
endearing himself to any new clients.

The sooner everyone realizes that the blogosphere is being turned into a bad neighborhood by PPP’s ambition to become the master pimp of the blogwhores, the better.

Childish & unprofessional from Techcrunch

Michael’s issues if any with PayPerPost is not the point - the issue here is the corporate culture at the company. Not a big fan of reading TC reviews of PayPerPost - but this one makes a point not to be taken lightly.

Can anyone of you imagine how it would feel being given the run around during a job search and then the agent “head hunter” - the guys at the bottom of Maslow’s heirachy (they do it just for food) turning over your confidential communication to the people that wasted your time.

People read TC not just to find out about the next web 2.0 company - it is also a source of information for people researching career opportunities at these companies, and as such this particular post is relevant (and so was the insensitive vacation pictures from the last PayPerPost writeup by TC).

I run an early stage company and if any one in my organizaiton pulled one of these routines as the PayPerPost employee - termination would be the least of their problem. And as for that headhunter that boy need to be put out of business. Hey Michael - what’s name of that fool - post some info on that boy so no one ever uses that caveman as an agent again.

And as for the VC’s comment on PayPerPost as competition for TC - amusing and perhaps a way to get some credibility by making the comparison - nice try fellas.

If anything, TC is doing a public service alerting potential employees of PPP not to touch them with a barge pole. Sheesh - what pricks!

I’m glad TechCrunch exposes PPP for what the people behind it are - a bunch of unprofessional idiots. Now, the best thing to do is not give them any more airtime…they (PPP) don’t deserve the publicity - and there are plenty of companies that do deserve the publicity and can definately fill that void.

Mike,
You and I should really talk about formalizing the relationship between TC and PPP. You have stated you understand how much traffic you can drive to your site by mentioning PayPerPost, but you are not currently monetizing all the free traffic and signups you are sending our way. I think you should consider adopting our affiliate program. You can make money without having to create sponsored content (which you already do anyway). The program pays $15 per active blogger you refer, you could be making a mint.

As for this exchange I feel that this was a private matter between the parties involved. I don’t know the exact point in time that it became status quo to publish emails but I don’t think it is right and clearly many of your readers agree.

The original email (the tone and content of which you completely ignore) was slanderous. I don’t endorse the response to any such radical assault. I have come to learn that engaging in rebuttals to such obtuse thinking is a waste of time. However, I could see how Pete would take offense to many of the statements and personal attacks made. It is human nature to defend and stand up for that which you hold dear.

Pete is passionate, loyal and smart as hell. Every company should be so lucky.

As for your invitation to debate you I am all for it. However, the concept of a “private phone conversation” after this post is ridiculous. You just published a private, third-party email, the contents of which you didn’t verify and reported it as news. How can anyone have any expectation of “privacy” or fair reporting with you?

What I will agree to is an in person debate at a location of your choice so long as I can bring my own cameras along to film the event and assure no editing.

Let’s do this! I have nothing to hide.

hey mike, like it or not you have a lot of power. you should really watch what you do with it.

I agree with some of the others that this is childish and very “high school”. I had always heard about TechCrunch but reading posts like this, I’ve learned very quickly that you seem to be more of a gossip column than anything else.
What I find funny, reading the last PPP bash, is that you never addressed some of the bigger, important questions about Native Americans and what YOU have done for them. Why don’t you get to the serious stuff instead of this he said, she said crap.

I was reading embrassassing comments “Apparently, Arrington is a bit louder than you. I’m no fan of Arrington (personally).

According to the Wired story, he sits in front of his computer 17 hours a day in that dump of a home that he rents and doesn’t even have a woman in his life.” - Salberg.

This reminds me. Salberg was former high school bully that picked Mike Arrington long time ago. Maybe Salberg push him or had fist fight or call him names in school, such as “Jackass”.

After graduating college. Salberg got jealous, after googling mike. He realize TC have PPP ads on frontpage and making money. He decided to counter attack him from preventing to get rich.

Visual Basic book… Their programming department is starting to make sense to me now…

What kind of a headhunter forwards info like that, though? Their job is to seek out and hire employees, not to play gossiper or spar starter.

You know Mike is very rare kind of guy. He’s ugly, power and talented journalist, and double ugly guy.

You see… Mike Arrington’s name… He could make lot of money. He enjoys being real life Ebenezer Scrooge. I think you people should respect his hardworking talent and his behave company TC.

Many people here want Mike Arrington to be real life Ebenezer scrooge. In 21st century. Someone got to write history about him on Wikipedia. He is real life Ebenezer Scrooge.

I could talk to kids… There’s is such thing “Scrooge”. Once he gets gray hair. He is the one. He is VC guy to talk to if you want to build your startup…

While constantly posting what PPP does may seem extremely childish to most, you’re not looking at it as a public service.
What happened here, the headhunter obviously lacking morals and business ethics, to send a private client email to PPP, and then Pete going on a huge ego rant, to Ted showing up here to joke around about affiliate programs and rockstartup.
He says he wants to bring his own cameras so there’s no editing, BS. Those rockstartup videos are edited to hell.

People need to be paying attention to PPP, not because of how many mommies they can get to shill their spammy payday loans and other crap, but because they are unethical, Ted is unethical.
The VC’s for PPP are unethical.
This company is boasting they are going to change blogging, they will be awesome blah blah blah.
It’s arrogant and conceited, not proud.
The last episode of rocstartup where they are once again moving the offices, look at all the unhappy employees who don’t want to move, bough homes in Orlando because Ted promised that Orlando was the permanent home of PPP. Now, he yanks them up and moves them miles and miles away.
He’s the king of lies.
Lies to his employees, lies to his posties, lies in the videos.
Watch his eyes when he speaks. Any cop or LEO will tell you that you can tell when a perp is lying because of their eyes.
Look right, remember.
Look left, lying, making it up.
Ted’s eyes dart back and forth left to right, some of what he says is true and he mixes it with lies and made up stuff.
Watching PPP go down is going to be the net show of the decade.
All filmed and saved for posterity.

These are not very nice guys.

Since when is it ethical and responsible to forward personal emails between two persons? That says a lot about the integrity of the person who forwarded it all…and the person who received and published it all. Shame on you for publishing this in the first place. I suppose now I can truly categorize you with catfish, lawyers and other bottom feeders.

This would make a great gossip colum. I say gossip column because these TC vs PPP entries remind me of the US mags I have stored right next to my toilets.

I swear, I have the same feeling when I read these as I do when I’m taking a dump reading about how Britney Spear is a stupid BIOTSH for letting her 1 year old drive her drunk ass home from the stripper bars.

Only difference, I’m never taking that dump when reading these.

IMHO, when someone slams you online, trying the rebuttal route just never works. People will dog pile you just to get a word in. It’s like a street fight where a couple dudes bump into each other, they start fist fighting and people just standing around will randomly throw their sucker punches in too.

Mike, I think you should just accept paid reviews as a new form of advertising. Most are disclosed, but it’s up to the blogger really. We recommend people do it, but their big kids, they can do what they want.

Dream debate team at maybe an SMX conference…meeting of the minds maybe:

Mike Arrington, Ted Murphy, Ron Wicker (me), Patrick Gavin, Matt Cutts, Jared Hunt, Jason C (Mahellno), Jeremy Zawodny and most definitely, Michael Gray(wolf)

Maybe we canall come to an agreement.

The comments to this story are more amusing than the original post.

What is difference between Ebenezer Scrooge and Mike Arrington?

They almost like… Mike took cigar and burns his money. I bet mike hates christmas.

——————————————————————————————–

Hey, mike… Christmas is almost near. You better use your TC money on Poor children. Give them money or christman present you dickhead!. . I I don’t want to hear excuses… “those toy have lead paint. ” Stop Bullsh*t!!! Stop lying…

Stop hating christmas.

This was a really nasty post. Many of TCs readers are, like me, entrepreneurs, and can relate to Wright wanting to respond to the vitriol that job candidate wrote. When your company is your baby and someone attacks it, it arises passion in you. I am guessing that if Wright had slept on it, he wouldn’t have written back. But he did, and he was actually fairly reserved in his response.

The thing that exposes Arrington’s prejudice in this matter is the fact that he miscategorizes Wright’s response as “abuse.” It was actually a reasonable - if peeved and defensive - letter that demonstrated plenty of self-control. Wright probably felt like cursing the dude out. His comments were mild compared to that job candidate’s.

My sympathy here lies with PPP. And by the way, the US is a capitalistic society. Ted Murphy has the right to start any company he wants as long as it doesn’t break any laws. Again, this post was just downright nasty.

If anyone from pay-per-post reads through this, we can take their workload with no problem at all. Please contact me using the beercosoftware.com contact form.
We would be happy to do pay-per-post’s code on a long term contractual basis.

Does three wrongs make a right? No, they do not.

This was a rather disappointing read.

1st comment here at TC - which I read every post every day.

I though posting that was a bit juvenile, but heck - it was a hell of a good read - in parts that pdf was totally hilarious - so thanks for giving me the chance to read it.

You know of course that all TC is doing is promoting PPP - I’d never heard of PPP before the Indians post here - I went on to watch all their RSU videos.

Blows my mind that they can waste so much money, as to the buisness model - well it probably has a future, wherever there is a need and people wanting to make money - it’s going to work - is it good? I don’t know, but it probably has a future.

Keep on posting PPP gossip - I love to read it, although it does cheapen TC for sure, thats the only downside.

Mike,

It’s time to grow up and be an adult. you’re vendetta against this company is transparent and getting old. what comes around goes around.

That engineer was an idiot for taking it out on the headhunter and PPP were idiots for responding to the issue at all.

They actually seem like a good match to me.

Totally agree with Yelp Sucks here. Mike, grow up - stop nitpicking on this guys. All this does is devalues your own blog. We are all coming here to read tech news, and not interested in your personal war with PPP.

I call BS on these comments. I don’t believe the average TechCrunch readers’ “innocent sensibilities” are aflutter because of the nature of this post and I don’t believe the average TechCrunch reader is really going to be upset at continuing coverage of PPP or posts that are “gossipy” in nature. I don’t buy it. The majority of these comments are clearly the results of the “Postie” mob……after 4 or so of these types of TechCrunch stories, they’ve actually wisened up about hiding their affiliation and adoration for PPP and are blending in as “upset TechCrunch readers”. I think the “Fake Steve Balmer” reply might be one of the most legit replies here …..

This is embarrassing. TechCrunch, I’m a fairly new reader, and this smacks of unprofessionalism. Why not stay far away from the PPP mess? You’ll be better respected for it, and treated like a legitimate news organization.

“One of their VCs, Josh Stein at Draper Fisher Jurvetson, has been pitching bloggers to write a post saying I’ve gone too far with my criticisms., and that I only point out their failings because PayPerPost is (as Wright says in his email) “very real threat” to TechCrunch.”

Aha, so that’s why the other day, I saw 3-5 different blogs I read, all slamming on TC and the whole Indian race issue, days after it was posted here.
These blogs normally wouldn’t give a two-shit about the TC/PPP battle.
Must have paid them very well.

“The majority of these comments are clearly the results of the “Postie” mob…”

It is the posties. Go to their forums, look in the general section. Every time there is a TC post about PPP, either Ted, one of his VC’s Dan, or a postie, posts up the link to the article, and they flood here.

So well trained.

Is this journalism?

I know a grate screenwriter

Just because someone is VP Software Development does not make them a great communicator. What he said was unprofessional, that does not make PPP a bad company.

The one who should be hung out to dry, and I notice you did not include particulars, is the headhunter. That was totally unethical what s/he did.

I am a postie and NO ONE pays me to write posts about you. It is your utter arrogance that prompts me.

Have a great week and find another subject, will ya?

CyberCelt: MA owns you in every way, please dhow some respect. This blog was built from the ground up based on topics he wanted to cover. Who are you again/

I mean Arrington ANSWER to that TED guy. It’s time. Don’t you think after so many posts.

I mean Arrington, ANSWER to that TED guy. It’s time.

I can’t stand reading this bullshit. It ain’t juvenile or childish or “high school”. I mean the whole episode need not have erupted. The point is that the HIRER is a juvenile who gets hired by an other and the whole thing springs up.

And it is a service that you are doing to the Web 2.0 community. I know it. I mean Arrington, ANSWER to that TED guy. It’s time.

Beside from the gossip between the two parties. I dun think PPP is that evil IFFFFFFFFFF all the blogger put on something like “paid advertisement” similar to other mags like FORTURN, BIZ2.0, BUsinessweek telling readers those are “PAID advertisement”.

if ppp allows ppl to get paid witihout letting readers aware of the materials are paid advertisement. I see a lot of those in other mags, why not online? how evil that is if they do this?

If they don’t, they are pure evil I agree.

If I am Mike Arrington, I will definitely head hunt Pete for his passion and commitment to stand by the company he works for. But don’t do that, Mike. We love Pete, all of us from PPP do.

I just had a realization. I was wondering why there are so many posts that read as though they were written overseas by people who don’t speak English as a first language. It seemed odd to me that that of all the places on the internet, such people would an interest in a PPP related topic and post on this blog……as far as I know PPP caters primarily to Engish speaking countries / people, so it seemd odd for a foreigner to have an interest or care about such a topic. If they did, good for them, I know that I can barely speak two languages and conversing in languages that are not your first language is a great way to learn…..

That being said, I just read post 94 and it occurred to me that these aren’t non-English speakers, these are Americans with a very poor command of the English language! It’s true and sad. We all know that PPP is all about the lowest common denominator and posties are obviously no exception. While Grammar Police certainly suck, not being able to articulate your thoughts in a meangingful or coherent way is certainly a sad commentary on the type and quality of person attracted to PPP.

I think a blog needs to be created chronicling PPP, it’s rise, and its fall……or how it survived with new management and a revised model. Since we know posties will do anything for a roll of pennies, maybe I will hire them to their personal experiences with PPP. I’m sure there are plenty of unhappy posties and insiders willing to vent.

I’m envisioning a weekly update from a anonymous company insider, giving the latest internal gossip while causing Ted to melt down as he tries to figure out who the rat is. Updates from vendors, past hires, insiders, and even responses from Ted as you know he can’t help himself. There could be a debate with “the Fake Ted Murphy”, the real Ted Murphy, and “The Real Ted Murphy”…….

Way to go Michael, give em hell! Team building activities are one thing but what you describe, goes way beyond what any sensible CEO would promote. I am surprised the criticism didn’t come from his own team. Of course, maybe that’s who tipped you off.

Rockstartup is just a joke. There isn’t a single episode where they’re doing any actual work - they just piss about, constantly. Constant silly getaways, constant pointless roadshows … this is no company. It is most certainly reminiscent of “The Office”. Definite deadpool candidate. Shame on the investors.

Testing to make sure my last comment didn’t get eaten. I apologize in case it was merely a delay in posting.

[Wordpress is acting up, reposting this in hopes that it was just a fluke.]

Mike, for the love of all things sacred.

You dislike Pay Per Post. I get it.

You, like -all- the rest of us, need a way to drive up weekend traffic so you casually slip this piece into the publishing cycle so that anyone who happened to take a day off from tech would get linked to it and come to read. I get it.

You think Ted is a jerk (admit it, don’t, I honestly don’t care) and you hate PPP for reasons more complex than you are likely ever to admit. I get it.

My real question is at what point does this vendetta go from a publisher writing an editorial about something he dislikes, to a carnival barker working the crowd into a frenzy for S’s and G’s?

I bet about 60% of the negative comments about your post came from Posties who have drunk the corporate kool-aid and despise all this bad press. The same percentage of anti-PPP stuff came from your loyal readers who only know the company from what you have told them.

The point?

Nothing about this discussion is fair, balanced, or I dare say likely to lead anywhere productive. If you really want to change PPP, you must know that there are substantially better ways to do it. Especially for someone with the wealth of connections, readership, and sway in this industry that you wield.

If you think that PPP is somehow worse than all the other pay for content sites, and you feel the need to drive a nail into their wrists, then offer up your opinion on -how- they can fix their model.

That is not only better content, but also more useful than simply pointing out every little blunder that manages to get on your radar. Anyone who has ever been a part of a startup can probably point to a dozen half-baked things that their company has done. The difference is we all don’t end up on TC.

You have worked in this industry for years Mike, you understand how these things work, if you feel passionate that someone is on the wrong track — help set them back on course, or at least try.

I know the PPP guys, I know some of their investors, but I don’t use their product.

I read this blog constantly, I am not going to “stop reading because it’s turning into a gossip rag” but I am going to call you on this one.

At the end of the day, this little comment won’t change a darn thing but I do hope that you read it. Many of us read this blog to help us learn how to -improve- our respective companies, projects or enterprises.

If you have a problem, help solve it. Your readers will appreciate it, PPP will appreciate the suggestions and we might end up with a “blogosphere” a little less poisoned by these little personal crusades than it is today.

Steve, you should post a comment on the previous story about MySpace News below. You’re articulate. We TechCrunchies want to hear your take on it.

Steve - good comment. I agree with much of it. I actually really think Ted’s a nice guy though. We just disagree on his business. He also tends to make leaps of logic in defending his business against us (like saying we are the same as them bc we have advertising, or that he can’t have a private conversation with me bc I posted this email exchange that was forwarded to me), but as long as that stuff resonates I can’t really blame him for trying it.

PPP also puts themselves out there with rockstartup by posting video with all these ridiculous things in them. Sure other startups do similar things (except the native american stuff, that’s just ridiculous and offensive), but they don’t serve it up to us on a platter. They do, and we respond.

Thank you Danny, I’ll take a look at the article.

PPP surely messed up, and in fact, their behavior may actually lead to their failure some way or other. Case closed.

But in any case, i would NEVER hire that guy, what a loser !
“Dude, look for a job instead of comparing yourself to these - like it or not, so far successful ! - people and stop potentially ruining your career posting crap on blogs !
“

Personally, I don’t like to see Techcrunch using their publication in order to put some pressure into their quarrels with some companies, like PPP. In my view, you have lost some points.

Michael has a right to post any kind of story he wants to. He isn’t owned by Rupert Murdoch. I’m actually glad to see an idiotic corporate monster get what he deserves. I want more posts like this.

@ Steve Post 101: AMEN! You wrote what I was thinking.

Thanks for the response Mike.

My point is that this isn’t getting anyone anywhere. I go to Valleywag to read this stuff. I come here to get a feel for what is going on in the tech industry.

PayPerPost is just a company. One of many with models that are questionable.

One of many, in fact, in a growing industry of Pay for Content companies (no point in slandering them here).

The fact that it’s -really- -really- easy to target them, doesn’t mean it is necessarily the best thing to do. Hate to bring up our friends at Gawkers again, but they get a lot of foot traffic from this sort of thinking. I have to believe that Techcrunch is attempting to be a different sort of publication.

One way or another, I’m done ranting. Just consider the fact that you really can do quite a bit of good with the power that your readers have given you. There are certainly better ways to use it than picking on one little company that does some silly things.

110 comments and counting… Mike you are doing free marketing to these guys!
No matter what people say…