Comments on: No more (web) heroes anymore…

By: Richard, Peacock Carter

Richard, Peacock Carter — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:46:09 +0000

It was one of the better ways to find them work, so I support Ryan in that, but the article did feel a little insensitive; still, a brave move either way.

By: phil

phil — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:38:45 +0000

Good comments guys.

@Ryan Carson: I had not read Elliott’s and Dom’s comments but they are really insightful and in my opinion, remove any unintentional insensitivity from your original post.

In terms of finding those guys new work, the article (and surrounding fuss) was possibly one of the best things you could have done. The publicity created has highlighted their profiles and I’m sure it will lead to job offers for the guys.

By: Nathan Beck

Nathan Beck — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:40:24 +0000

I believe that although the decision to publicise the redundancies may have seemed insane to some, as most businesses would see this as some admission of failure or embarrassment, Carson approached it in a way that almost created sympathy for the team. Whether this was his true intention or not is debatable but there’s no denying that it provided the opportunity to throw out a bit of (albeit mostly common sense) advice to join the pack of ‘dealing with the recession’ articles floating around the blogosphere at the moment.

Unfortunately we’ve recently had to make some redundancies at Flame, and it’s awful for staff morale and we won’t be shouting about it, however it is a measure that has to be taken and will surely work out for the best in the long run.

In both Carsonified’s case and our case, it’s tempting to put the blame on management. But regardless of whoever’s ‘fault’ it may be, chances are it’s the little people (ie production staff) who take the hit.

Anyway, I too am going to FOWD next year, early tickets – yay!

By: Ryan Carson

Ryan Carson — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:37:04 +0000

Hey Phil,

Thanks for the interesting write-up.

Hindsight is always 20/20 and if I could, I’d change the way I wrote that post. I was just trying to offer some value for Carsonified readers by saying “Hey, we learned something through this – hope it helps”. I can see how that come across as insensitive though.

Thankfully, Elliott and Dom both pitched in and wrote kind comments.

http://www.carsonified.com/business/employees-freelancers-and-entrepreneurs-how-to-recession-proof-yourself#comment-127987

http://www.carsonified.com/business/employees-freelancers-and-entrepreneurs-how-to-recession-proof-yourself#comment-128049

Best,
Ryan

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:25:08 +0000

I think the problem in part that some of it happened on Twitter and that content wasn’t reflected in the article. They’ve always been pretty open as a company so I guess you need to take the good and the bad with that policy.

I’ve no doubt that the guys were asked first if it was OK to talk about it. Like you said, I’m sure it’ll promote them well as being on the market but I don’t think that Ryan should be judged harshly for it.

I think if anyone has him on too high a pedestal then that’s beyond his control. Carsonified have done a lot of positive things but mistakes and how you deal with them is part of learning I guess.

I actually think that the Twittered conversation with Ryan and the guys within the community made it seem pretty straightforward and that everyone knew what was happening in quite a negative situation…