All day, I kept telling myself I shouldn’t say anything. Then I realized: what the fuck? Be honest.
I found Paul’s post tactless. And I found Erick’s response inappropriate. Perhaps both are fitting given the entire clusterfuck that is this situation. But both are also quite sad.
Many of you…
MG Siegler’s take on this whole mess ends with this poignant line: “There is exactly one person to blame for all of this — and her name is not Erick.” It’s clear what her name is. This is a good take, and very level-headed considering what’s probably going on with the site right now.
At any other publication, Paul would have been fired long ago. And his post would be taken down. But I will let it stand. When Paul was hired, he was promised that he could write anything and it would not be censored, even if it was disparaging to TechCrunch. I will still honor that agreement.Erick Schonfeld responds to Paul Carr, after his resignation from TechCrunch and the ensuing fight on Twitter. We are witnessing the implosion of one of the Web’s best sites. (thanks Abbas Naqvi of Jigartronic)
@erickschonfeld, Editor of TechCrunch.
I’m Leaving TechCrunch. Here’s Why. by
@paulcarr
Fighting in public, on Twitter: That’s pretty much a key tell sign that TechCrunch will not be the same after this. Good God. Can we just call TechCrunch’s sale to AOL a huge mistake already?
What I knew last week, but can only write now, is that while Heather, Mike and other senior editorial staffers were making a stand for the site’s editorial independence from The Huffington Post, Erick cut a side deal with Huffington to guarantee him the top job once Mike was gone.
Will you still visit TechCrunch knowing that at least two of the site’s best-known writers are out?
This Paul Carr piece is totally worth the read if you haven’t gotten to it yet.
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