Sunday, June 22, 2008

Don't talk business strategy, you might hurt someone's feeeeeeeelings

The big flat foot of Etsy admin stomped hard on a thread in business the other day, stifling a perfectly valid discussion about streamlining your supplies purchases.


stellaloella says:
Please be considerate of your fellow community members when posting ideas like this in the Forums. What may be beneficial to some could have a negative impact on others. It's important to balance these ideas to make sure that no one (or no group) is sidelined in the process.

What she really means is that if you whine, cry and snivel enough that your feelings are hurt by other people thinking of their bottom line, you can get a legitimate talk about business strategy shut down.

Grow the fuck up. Business is business and it ain't for the thin-skinned. No matter what delusions Etsy harbours about making things "beneficial" for all sides, people are going to do what's best for their own business. They're going to trim excess spending where they see it, and if that terrifies you so much you feel you have squash a discussion other folks are rightfully entitled to have, then maybe you'd better re-evaluate if you're cut out to run a business.

Shame on you, Etsy, for supporting that childish mentality. You made a Business board for people to talk about Business topics. Not all aspects of business are fuzzy-wuzzy kittens drooling rainbows. Stop serving the self-interests of one group by shutting down relevant and meaningful strategy talk. You actually might learn a thing or two yourself.