Sorry, but in what universe is it considered rude to not talk to random strangers who interrupt you in the street?
I certainly don't think you should hold this experience against him. Hopefully he doesn't hold it against you.
I certainly don't think you should hold this experience against him. Hopefully he doesn't hold it against you.
I'm not sure I agree. He might be relatively prominent within the SV startup community, but that doesn't make him a celebrity. The vast majority of people (heck, the vast majority of engineers) would have no idea who he is.
Like I said, it was likely wrong place/wrong time. First impression doesn't mean all subsequent impressions.
Anyway, I hope I do get the chance to meet him eventually when it's the right time.
I have no idea what the context was for Naval, but if someone walks to you and say "excuse me I hope I am not interrupting," REGARDLESS of your conversation (because you are in a public place), you stop and give them 15 seconds.
For how do you know they are not telling you your car is being towed, or your kid is being taken away, or you dropped your wallet.
If it were Obama who walked to them would they have stopped for 15 seconds? If yes, then what is the difference?
At the very least say with a smile that you are sorry, but this is really not a good time, but they can email you if it is not urgent.
You don't generally start conversations like that with "hope I'm not interrupting". "Someone's taking your kid!" would be the starting point, most likely.
> If it were Obama who walked to them would they have stopped for 15 seconds? If yes, then what is the difference?
They're not Obama?
Note: I am not saying this is what the guy did, I have no context and I was not there.