Patio11 (Patrick McKenzie) has left Stripe

I just realized that Patrick McKenzie is the author of some of my favorite blog posts[1][2]. After his departure from Stripe, I hope he gets back to writing more frequently.

[1] - https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/03/20/running-a-software-busi... [2] - https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation/

“ The short version is pretty simple: I worked very hard for six years, accomplished a lot, and company has matured to point where it needs ~different type of work... I am writing bitsaboutmoney.com biweekly at the moment and doing a few projects for next few months to clear my head, explore some AI, and pay the bills, and then will likely figure out next big adventure.“

This reminds me of when I interviewed at Stripe, a few years back. It was a surreal experience. We were in a small conference room. I sat at the table on one side, Patrick and Edwin sat on the other side. They asked me questions, I answered them. It was a good discussion.

Then there was a brief pause in the conversation. Suddenly, Patrick let off the most absurdly loud fart. I chuckled in surprise. Patrick and Edwin stared back at me, in a stony silence, neither of them making any acknowledgement of Patrick's colonic eruption. I forced myself to adopt a similarly straight face.

As the smell of it filled the room and my nostrils, I could only assume this was a power move, intended to dominate. I held my nerve, and continued the interview. Unfortunately, I wasn't offered the job. Now I wonder if maybe it was a cue to speak up and point out the loud, smelly elephant in the room. I suppose I'll never know.

Has anyone else here who's interviewed at Stripe had a similar experience? To this day, I still wonder if Patrick's fart was a deliberate and calculated part of the hiring process.