Home > Jackassery > Dear Mr. Schneier, I Was A Jackass & I’m Sorry…

Dear Mr. Schneier, I Was A Jackass & I’m Sorry…

Humble Pie

Humble Pie

This is a particularly difficult blog to write.  As humble as I try to be, I think I might have believed my own marketing for a while there.  I feel badly.

Ever since I wrote this piece titled “Dear Mr. Schneier, If Cloud Is Nothing New, Why Are You Talking So Much About It?” I’ve been churning on it.  I couldn’t put my finger on why I felt, well, guilty.

So here’s the rub: I added some petty color in that post that was rude and disrespectful to Bruce. Nothing major, but unnecessary.  Time to own it.

When I wrote it at 1:30am out of frustration with Bruce’s comments it seemed funny at the time.

Then I re-read it the next morning and thought to myself, “that was a bit pointed for no particular reason.”

I let it slide because I don’t make a habit of editing posts once they’re up and normally, it’s just part of the shtick.  I also figured he’d never read it anyway.

Then Bruce emailed me, and what he said, despite my own rationalization, really kicked me in the butt for days:

I linked to it from my blog post.  I did so because it was interesting, but almost didn’t because it was rude.  Honestly, your points are good enough to stand on their own.

Bruce

Wow.

I apologized poorly in email and annotated the post to say I was a dick, but that’s not enough because if what Bruce said is true — that my points are good enough to stand on their own — then I owe him the respect of removing the things that don’t need to be there — and shouldn’t have been in the first place.

So I’m going to do that.

You might think I’m overreacting or you might disagree with my actions as a betrayal of my supposed personality.  Doesn’t matter.  I should do better.

Thanks for the humility reminder, Bruce.

I still don’t agree with you, but I respect your right to an opinion.  Sorry for the snark.

/Hoff

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  1. June 10th, 2009 at 17:05 | #1

    Chris – I am impressed with you for accepting a mistake and apologizing for it openly. As a regular reader of your blog, I know you can be a bit abrasive, though as Bruce points out, your points usually hold up!

  2. June 11th, 2009 at 01:43 | #2

    Very big of you sir. Few people in our 'circle' would take the time to apologize for something they personally felt was a little over the line. Good on ya.

  3. June 12th, 2009 at 05:08 | #3

    It's a fine line between being a true jackass and being passionate with opinions. I'm certain you're the latter, but I think everyone passionate at some point has to apologize for moments when it can come across as rude or when our passions blind us a bit to the words we're actually saying.

    This post is part of the reason I'm a fan of your blog and work, thanks!

  4. cyberlocksmith
    June 14th, 2009 at 08:43 | #4

    Hoff, you are an inspiration to us all. keep on fighting the good fight!

    Thanks! You rock!

  5. Mike Hancock
    June 22nd, 2009 at 03:43 | #5

    We had some fun at your expense, but in all seriousness I salute you man.

  6. October 4th, 2011 at 06:38 | #6

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  1. June 10th, 2009 at 14:35 | #1