Been there many times and I think, that it's a bit normal when leaving a company/a powerful position within. People blame always the leavers for their own mistakes or being in a crappy company. Then, the biggest challenge is to let go and accept that you cannot do anything. Of course you could 'fight back'. And tbh, I still don't know what's better.
Fighting back is a hassle, proving defamation is hard, getting lawyers is expensive, suing and the following process can take years. And the outcome? From an economic view, it's always a no, also the distraction from stuff that really matters, for what? Fighting is great, some like it a lot, but it costs so much energy. Moving on feels more sane. However, in the long run, there's always a bitter aftertaste, just an odd feeling that you lost a fight. This feeling will stay with yout for quite some time but it is often just in your head. Maybe the thing you are worrying about is not that big and not worth thinking one more sec about. You just don't know.
If there's a fool-proof way to fight + win something significant + in a short time frame, fight. Otherwise, get busy, get on new projects and once you are on a better position/in a new company you forgot them anyway.
So, asking us was a good first step to get a bit busy, get an achievement (getting on the front page) and out of racing thoughts. Now, keep on, write the next Ask HN about some tech, ask 10 peers for a coffee after new years eve, build a gaming pc, do whatever keeps you busy.
Edit: Not sure if you can trust the CEO but from what he wrote he sounds ok/friendly and he doesn't care (which is good, because if one of them would decide to sue you it would be him).
Fighting back is a hassle, proving defamation is hard, getting lawyers is expensive, suing and the following process can take years. And the outcome? From an economic view, it's always a no, also the distraction from stuff that really matters, for what? Fighting is great, some like it a lot, but it costs so much energy. Moving on feels more sane. However, in the long run, there's always a bitter aftertaste, just an odd feeling that you lost a fight. This feeling will stay with yout for quite some time but it is often just in your head. Maybe the thing you are worrying about is not that big and not worth thinking one more sec about. You just don't know.
If there's a fool-proof way to fight + win something significant + in a short time frame, fight. Otherwise, get busy, get on new projects and once you are on a better position/in a new company you forgot them anyway.
So, asking us was a good first step to get a bit busy, get an achievement (getting on the front page) and out of racing thoughts. Now, keep on, write the next Ask HN about some tech, ask 10 peers for a coffee after new years eve, build a gaming pc, do whatever keeps you busy.
Edit: Not sure if you can trust the CEO but from what he wrote he sounds ok/friendly and he doesn't care (which is good, because if one of them would decide to sue you it would be him).