Haven't been following this except for reading the post yesterday, but these words strike me as kinda vulnerable for him to admit (in the good way), and I want to applaud it. It seems like he's admitting that his environment shaped him, and his hustle mindset and "me against the unfair world" might not always be appropriate. * shrug *
Though yes, he seems to have some personality flaws. I hope he's working on them, but also don't think he should get a pass just for admitting them.
Please. We all have struggles in life, all of us. Nothing can justify bad behavior, and straight up bullying. I do believe anyone can change though, so here's hoping that he does so for the better.
The opportunity to demonstrate that he could change was in the follow up call. I had considered ceasing my company's use of Replit after the original HN post; the supposed olive branch message that was really to elicit underdog sympathy, the phone call and his behaviour on Twitter was the nail in the coffin.
Though yes, he seems to have some personality flaws. I hope he's working on them, but also don't think he should get a pass just for admitting them.