Comments on: I had a lapse in judgment, did a horrible thing, and I apologize. http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/ Exploring how to get real change for your dollar. Thu, 17 May 2012 06:32:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: hesslei http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-37449 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 03:25:19 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-37449 I can't help but think that Holden would have been less likely to have made this mistake had he taken our conversations about the pitfalls of leaning to hard on the business and market metaphors. I wonder just how much is lapse of judgment as opposed to faulty thinking. Working in a competitive mode to launch the organization, and get the message out there. ------------------ hesslei.... <a href="http://www.widecircles.com" rel="nofollow">Link Building</a> I can’t help but think that Holden would have been less likely to have made this mistake had he taken our conversations about the pitfalls of leaning to hard on the business and market metaphors. I wonder just how much is lapse of judgment as opposed to faulty thinking. Working in a competitive mode to launch the organization, and get the message out there.

——————
hesslei….

Link Building

]]> by: Frances Chen http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12648 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:18:12 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12648 Everyone has made poor decisions in their lives, and Holden is no different in that regard. These particular decisions had good intentions behind them. Holden is making a uniquely positive impact on society through his devotion to Givewell, and should be respected for that. Everyone has made poor decisions in their lives, and Holden is no different in that regard. These particular decisions had good intentions behind them. Holden is making a uniquely positive impact on society through his devotion to Givewell, and should be respected for that.

]]> by: Crystal http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12643 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:05:10 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12643 He is still on the payroll because it's his hedge fund pals that are donating to Clear Fund. No more Holden = no more of Holden's hedge fund pals to donate money = no money to give away = charity ceases to exist....which in my opinion is exactly what should happen. It's been said many times in the previous posts already, but 50% overhead and whopping dose of youthful arrogance does not make for a "revolution" in the world of philanthropic effectiveness. He is still on the payroll because it’s his hedge fund pals that are donating to Clear Fund. No more Holden = no more of Holden’s hedge fund pals to donate money = no money to give away = charity ceases to exist….which in my opinion is exactly what should happen. It’s been said many times in the previous posts already, but 50% overhead and whopping dose of youthful arrogance does not make for a “revolution” in the world of philanthropic effectiveness.

]]> by: Robert Goodfly http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12627 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:04:25 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12627 Holden can't really still be on the payroll. Tell me you're kidding Holden can’t really still be on the payroll. Tell me you’re kidding

]]> by: Jeffrey B. http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12612 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:06:24 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12612 No, I think the whole project smelled of arrogant ineptitude from the outset. No, I think the whole project smelled of arrogant ineptitude from the outset.

]]> by: jfundraiser http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12610 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:55:51 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12610 That this happened and will happen to others is not at all surprising. Don't know Holden, and I don't want to judge him. But I do know that the "new" web apps has created a slew of arrogant, incompetant, and naive "experts". Everyone has a stage on the web and everyone is taking their 15 minutes. Just because they get a 501(c)(3) and create a web presence doesn't mean they have the capacity to truly affect change for the better. It is getting very difficult to tell who's legit and who's blowing steam. I was turned on to GiveWell about three weeks ago. They seemed legit, talked good, looked good. I guess the old addage "if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be a duck" no longer applies. How sad. How confusing. That this happened and will happen to others is not at all surprising. Don’t know Holden, and I don’t want to judge him. But I do know that the “new” web apps has created a slew of arrogant, incompetant, and naive “experts”. Everyone has a stage on the web and everyone is taking their 15 minutes. Just because they get a 501(c)(3) and create a web presence doesn’t mean they have the capacity to truly affect change for the better. It is getting very difficult to tell who’s legit and who’s blowing steam. I was turned on to GiveWell about three weeks ago. They seemed legit, talked good, looked good. I guess the old addage “if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be a duck” no longer applies. How sad. How confusing.

]]> by: Jeffrey B. http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12609 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:27:21 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12609 I think people paid so much attention to him, especially the media, because he worked at a hedge fund, and hedge funds are the sensational sexy news right now. It seems to me that his personal problem is that he is extraordinarily unsavvy about interpersonal interaction, possibly because he's been able to succeed without outgrowing the profound naivety of youth. I have not seen any evidence on this blog, at least, that he quite grasps the meaning of the feedback people give him about this developmental lag. Perhaps he is especially defended against new information, for some reason. At any rate, this was bound to happen at some point, given his aggressiveness coupled with extreme naivety. Who knows how he got that way. That's what I think, anyway. I think people paid so much attention to him, especially the media, because he worked at a hedge fund, and hedge funds are the sensational sexy news right now.

It seems to me that his personal problem is that he is extraordinarily unsavvy about interpersonal interaction, possibly because he’s been able to succeed without outgrowing the profound naivety of youth. I have not seen any evidence on this blog, at least, that he quite grasps the meaning of the feedback people give him about this developmental lag. Perhaps he is especially defended against new information, for some reason. At any rate, this was bound to happen at some point, given his aggressiveness coupled with extreme naivety. Who knows how he got that way.

That’s what I think, anyway.

]]> by: Erich Riesenberg http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12608 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:25:16 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12608 Holden writes this: I hope you can recognize that the best thing I can do is admit it immediately, apologize, and not try to hide anything. While the Board writes this: We would like to make clear that the actions that Holden took to conceal his identity were improper and indefensible, as were his attempts to ameliorate the situation by offering a financial contribution. An outside news article (which had recently interviewed Holden in a positive manner) explains: He also offered to make a contribution to Metafilter to compensate for his mistake – an offer that was derided by Metafilter contributors as a bribe. http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=3715 It is sad Holden can't even acknowledge what he did. He claims he admitted it "immediately" yet the news article and his own Board speculate on his attempt to make a financial contribution to make the story go away. His history of rude, insulting, ignorant comments should not be ignored. Holden writes this: I hope you can recognize that the best thing I can do is admit it immediately, apologize, and not try to hide anything.

While the Board writes this: We would like to make clear that the actions that Holden took to conceal his identity were improper and indefensible, as were his attempts to ameliorate the situation by offering a financial contribution.

An outside news article (which had recently interviewed Holden in a positive manner) explains: He also offered to make a contribution to Metafilter to compensate for his mistake – an offer that was derided by Metafilter contributors as a bribe. http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=3715

It is sad Holden can’t even acknowledge what he did. He claims he admitted it “immediately” yet the news article and his own Board speculate on his attempt to make a financial contribution to make the story go away. His history of rude, insulting, ignorant comments should not be ignored.

]]> by: Erich Riesenberg http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12607 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:13:17 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12607 Holden is one of the most shrill and condescending commentors in the nonprofit sector. It was confusing to me why he got such positive attention, and it is confusing why people bother come to his defense now, when he has done little but blindly criticize others and publish superficial, spreadsheet analyses of a few charities. Holden is one of the most shrill and condescending commentors in the nonprofit sector. It was confusing to me why he got such positive attention, and it is confusing why people bother come to his defense now, when he has done little but blindly criticize others and publish superficial, spreadsheet analyses of a few charities.

]]> by: Robot Spammer http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12589 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:12:33 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2007/12/31/i-had-a-lapse-in-judgment-did-a-horrible-thing-and-i-apologize/#comment-12589 http://blog.givewell.org/?p=90 <blockquote> An open letter to crybabies By Holden ....If you ever talk to me, be totally blunt with me about the job you think I’m doing. And if I ever complain that your language or your tone or your criticism is inappropriately harsh, and focus even a speck of my energy on making you “nicer” rather than learning from you, please do these two things in succession: 1. Remind me of this letter; call me a crybaby and a hypocrite; and repeat your feedback, as harsh as or harsher than before. 2. If that doesn’t work, and I continue to focus on my feelings rather than your feedback, kindly bludgeon me in the head. Best, Holden </blockquote> http://blog.givewell.org/?p=90

An open letter to crybabies
By Holden

….If you ever talk to me, be totally blunt with me about the job you think I’m doing. And if I ever complain that your language or your tone or your criticism is inappropriately harsh, and focus even a speck of my energy on making you “nicer” rather than learning from you, please do these two things in succession:

1. Remind me of this letter; call me a crybaby and a hypocrite; and repeat your feedback, as harsh as or harsher than before.

2. If that doesn’t work, and I continue to focus on my feelings rather than your feedback, kindly bludgeon me in the head.

Best,
Holden

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