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Comment by steve8918 | Hacker News Reader

The author may have a point in general, but using Holstein is sounding more and more like the wrong example to stand behind.

One of the comments in the blog post points to a very in-depth betabeat article that says that Holstein was involved with much more than just name dropping... she has been accused of credit card fraud and ripping off people around her. If the allegations are true, it might be that she is a criminal and a pathological liar with likely mental issues.

http://betabeat.com/2012/08/shirley-hornstein-shirls-credit-...

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That isn't necessarily credit card fraud though. It could just be unapproved expenses and incidentals.

When I worked with Fortune 500 Co, I had unapproved expenses that I had to pay for. I wouldn't consider that "stealing." All we know from that article is "several thousands".. could that be dry cleaning bills over 3 years or is she buying HDTV's on amazon. hard to say.

The problem I have with all this, is all this evidence seems rather circumstantial. I don't even know this woman or have any interest in this topic other than playing contrarian and thinking to myself if someone kept tabs on all my poor behavior over the course of a few years, I'm sure I too could come out looking like a pathological liar with mental issues.

The e-mail from Michael Herzog, assuming it's legitimate, is pretty damning. Unapproved incidentals doesn't account for using someone else's work credit card to purchase multiple plane tickets. I agree with your broader point, however, and don't think this story is particularly appropriate, at least for HackerNews_(t-3).

I went back and read the article you mentioned, and I still don't. I see a corporate credit card being used for travel expenses and incidentals. He even says in the "damning" email that she met a business associate of his.

I see an accusation, but I also see a business meeting and a corporate credit card being used.

I don't see theft, pathological lying and a mental disorder, but there very well could be dishonesty going on. Who knows, though. This is why we have courts of law.

I have to ask, who cares outside of Silicon Valley?

I'm sat here at a computer near London and it just doesn't matter what she did or didn't do. You could turn around and say I don't matter and you'd be right, except for when someone's looking for me to sign up, and what she did or didn't do wouldn't affect my sign up.

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