> The entire image and “vibe” of this guy / his team is supposed to be an egalitarian re-invention of the status quo. The kibbutz story. The “community adjusted EBITDA.” The rebranding to “We.”
This is all just marketing. It's like believing all the actors in a commercial really are elated and blissful just because they chose the right brand of soda.
But I think it's very important to remember that companies can have moral standards and follow them. Many companies don't sell-out in crucial ways, and throwing one's hands up and condemning them all is punishing the ones that stay true.
I think moral outrage is a very important and effective market force. It will do things our government never could, like take down facebook. I'm glad we have this tool.
> But I think it's very important to remember that companies can have moral standards and follow them. Many companies don't sell-out in crucial ways, and throwing one's hands up and condemning them all is punishing the ones that stay true.
I agree, which is why I criticize shallow analysis of a company's motivation based on its skin-deep marketing veneer.
In this case it's not even moral standards - the implication is that WeWork's CEO is neglecting his fiduciary duty to maximize shareholder value by lining his pocket instead.
That's in fact a corruption of capitalism, it's illegal, and he can be sued for that by shareholders.
> I think moral outrage is a very important and effective market force.
I completely agree, which is why it's important to look beyond the marketing.
If a company can breach standards of morality and decency, but get away thanks to some 30 seconds commercial featuring smiling kids, then we will not be effective as a public in enforcing those very real consequences that companies should face for their actions.
To add to what the other commenter noted about varying levels of truth...
There is marketing of product and then marketing of company and then marketing of person/people. Not only does each have varying levels of truth, but each also has varying types of intent. The later in SV seems designed to encourage beliefs about a person or company that are immune to facts that counter them.
Branding it as marketing starts, to me, to sound like a convenient cover for propaganda.
Marketing can be based on varying depths of truth. Generally speaking, the greater the depth the greater the long term value and efficacy of the marketing.
(Marketing is not always a veneer.)
This is all just marketing. It's like believing all the actors in a commercial really are elated and blissful just because they chose the right brand of soda.