I think the world would be a healthier place if we didn't place so much ... emphasis ... on the idea of "do whatever it takes to succeed". Just look at what Airbnb did to succeed, for example.
Most rational people don't give a flying toss whether Airbnb existed.
It's pretty obvious the ends did not justify the means. They're a reservations website, wake up, sniff reality and stop drinking the koolaid. Is it ok the aggravation they've caused to small business owners and the total lying. And that's ok because they did a few cereal packets once? Because they're 'naughty'?
As for rational people caring wither Airbnb existed, I'm pretty rational and I think it's great. They've enabled a lot of microbusinesses. People who have a spare room can rent it out and make some extra cash. It allows people to travel more, and still make rent. It allows people to rent out space in tough times to make extra cash. It allows people to find cheap places to stay when they can't afford a hotel room.
I think it's done a lot of good. I'm confused where your negativity is directed. Are you just angry at them for spamming Craigslist?
They are a very innovative company, and I for one would vote for them to exist if it were up to me.
If everyone who thought they had "a better service" and were thus justified to send "a few emails to Craigslist users" the utility of Craigslist would be negatively impacted.
On that basis I would think the "rational person" might not find that sort of behaviour acceptable and would vote to preserve the resource.
Imagine everyone is working really long hours for a couple of weeks to get something important done. You don't make it to the gym, miss a yoga class, get less sleep etc., eat junk food and get irritable. You're unpleasant and insulting to some people for a few days. Is that good? No and it should and can be avoided even if you're working long hours. If everyone did it all the time work would suck. But.. we excuse a certain amount of this if it is minor enough, if it is out of character and if it is understandable in some way.
BTW, I'm not trying to express an opinion here, just clarify what I think is a common position.
Personally, my sole objection is that they knowingly violated the law for personal gain.
Is that excusable? Pragmatically, yes, but only because we tolerate it.
I would hate to live in that kind of world (even though we do), so I speak out against this behavior.
Interestingly, you can hold this position and still speak out against it. Stretching my analogy: If Joanne is being a bitch and you don't know her well you can talk about her behind her back. If you're usually cool you can tell her to get her cranky ass to yoga and watch the fucking lip.
It's not that it isn't wrong or bad. It's just a question of thinking about it socially (the way people, though not necessarily the people of this site, are built to operate) rather than judicially/bureaucratically. Socially we take into account grey area, degrees, mitigating circumstances, and sometimes the voluptuousness of Joanne's buxom. We don't even have to be 100% consistent.
We the people (HN readers, Airbnb sleepers, etc) are not Interpol, we are humans. We don't always have to be completely objective and consistent when deciding how to feel about something. People on this site are smart, but I do have a lot of forehead smack moments when being people becomes such a struggle for some.
I'm truly serious: emphasis on "do whatever it takes to succeed" results in people doing illegal and immoral things to succeed, such as what Airbnb did.
This phrase here is meant to spur the reader to do the right sorts of "anything": being disciplined, getting out of their comfort zone, learning, taking risks, getting their "hands dirty" in good honest work, hacking and building.
The author cannot be blamed for those who act immorally because they lack ethical training or discipline.
It was illegal because it violated the CAN-SPAM act: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN-SPAM_Act_of_2003#The_mechan... .... CAN-SPAM defines a "commercial electronic mail message" as "any electronic mail message the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service, including content on an Internet website operated for a commercial purpose."
(The fact that they weren't punished for their crimes illustrates the hypocrisy of our legal system, but does not change the fact that they violated the law for personal gain.)
It was immoral because it violated Craigslist TOS, and because they portrayed themselves as females in order to make other females feel safe using their service.
"In particular, it does not require e-mailers to get permission before they send marketing messages"
Can you point to a single case where someone did what AirBNB did and got a conviction?
Also, violating craigslist TOS is debatable, pretending to be females is not on it's face immoral.
It's not a bad attitude to have towards most aspects of life really.