I like axod. I don't follow his story in any way, but what I like about his product is that it offers actual value, there's no barrage of marketing, there's no incessant self profiling, there are no blog posts where he praises himself by describing how he did things right.
He's the underdog guy that one roots for, the real deal, the one that focuses on his product, and not on his selling.
Axods ability to give this impression in just a few articles about him and his product should be a model for startups who want to stay genuine.
His startup may be great, but unfortunately, to me, he tainted himself as a credible well-meaning business person when in my opinion he used YC as a platform to promote his bigoted anti-Gay views on California's Proposition 8. I'm guilty too of talking about non-tech stuff on YC, but that's only part of the issue; the disturbing thing is to see someone using their position in this community in a way that promotes denying certain people their rights. I'll be downmodded for being off topic, no doubt, but somebody has to speak up about this.
I don't recall him using YC as a platform to promote his views. Everyone's entitled to make comments on a story without it being considered "abusing a platform".
I probably spend more time than most having heated arguments with axod on IRC, and I enjoy these. It's a mark of civilisation to be able to discuss viewpoints other than yours.
As they say, diplomacy is about talking (constructively) to your enemies, not your friends. Arguments are about discussing topics (constructively) with people who disagree with you, not with people who agree with you.
Edit: For the record I strenuously disagree with axod on that topic as on many others. In fact, I'm giving him a bollocking for it on #startups right now.
People are more complex than you give them credit for. Axod is an ace coder, a smart business guy, a talented musician, a great dad... and yes, dead wrong about prop-8.
I wouldn't be so quick to write-off someone for a single flaw. We all have them.
Just to clarify though (I think this argument is along the lines of politics/religion/etc - no one ever changes their viewpoint)... Thought I'd state my case though since people seem to think I'm 'wrong' ;)
* I am 100% for equal rights for all.
* I would rather they call it something else
we have waiter and waitress to determine the sex, why not marriage and <insert_other_word_here>?
* I don't feel strongly enough about it to actually vote on it - either way.
* If I was gay, I wouldn't really care enough about it either to push for a change from the status quo.
IMHO There are more important things that need fixing in the world.
If people truly think it's a cause worth fighting for, then go for it. Hope it brings them happiness.
I'm not wrong though, I'm just a person with an opinion.
It's funny how technical people reason about social issues the same way we do about technology. Maybe marriage is the wrong thing to call it, but unfortunately insisting in that detail places you in a very bad company: people for what that's not a matter of names, that doesn't want equal rights and many of them in fact would hang homosexuals if they could.
Your text stretched out the screen. :-( (EDIT: Thanks!)
I disagree with you, but I'm sure you don't want this to turn into a debate. I care more that you've created a great service, which you have. However: if you weren't allowed to marry the person you were in love with, I think you'd feel differently. You're married right now, no? Wouldn't it suck if you'd been banned from marrying her?
In his defense, he doesn't seem to care if they're married, he'd just prefer it was called something else.
I campaigned against 8 in my area, but I think that if we're going to argue against its supporters, we ought to at least argue against what they're actually saying. :-)
I don't get what's with all the down modding. There's nothing wrong with refusing to do business with someone because of their personal views (even if their personal views don't affect my interaction with them).
It's effectively just a boycott.
Personally, I would rather have a civilized discussion on most issues - but if you really want to boycott that is your right.
He's the underdog guy that one roots for, the real deal, the one that focuses on his product, and not on his selling.
Axods ability to give this impression in just a few articles about him and his product should be a model for startups who want to stay genuine.