Chris Pirillo recently gave his version of Dave Winer’s meltdown at Gnomedex 2007. My take on his comments are that one, Winer wasn’t alone in his opinion, and two, no one else would have handled the situation in the same way but, hey, that’s Dave Winer.
Dave Winer, of course, took Pirillo’s comments as vindication. Winer then went further:
I’ve been told by lots of people that they like it when these blowups happen, they find it entertaining. I understand, but I don’t like being part of these things. So much so that I don’t go to many conferences.
I’m a creative guy, in that I like to create things. I don’t wake up every morning thinking who I can pick a fight with. I know other people do, and sometimes they try to engage me in those fights.
Those are ridiculous comments, of course. The number of people who’ve been attacked by Dave Winer is substantial. That’s not debatable unless you believe Winer is always misunderstood and everyone else always mistaken.
Winer’s most absurd claim is that he’s averse to confrontation with others; as if Gnomedex 2007 was an aberration. Winer thrives on it; it’s his nature. BlogNashville 2005 where Dave Winer was a speaker:
Winer began the discussion by instigating the audience, introducing hot-button issues like abortion and Southern stereotypes in an effort to generate heated debate. But rather than commanding respect, he simply demanded respect without reciprocating.
One of the most uncomfortable moments came when Winer was talking about the economy and the failing American dollar. He was telling us that we all need to listen to one another because we are in a global economy, when all of the sudden he just stopped, mid-sentence.
“Why are you doing that?” he said, speaking directly to a gentleman in a red short-sleeved shirt. “Do you know how disrespectful that is, what you are doing right now?” Apparently, the audience member was chuckling to himself when Winer made his blanket assertions about the economy. Winer’s voice grew even louder. “I’m going to finish my thought, but first I would like you to stop laughing. That is about as ugly as it gets. I don’t know your name—I would use your name right now.”
The man being lectured spoke up, “My name is Stan Brown.”
“Stan, that is about as ugly as it gets. You sit there while a man is talking to you, and you laugh at him? How dare you?”
“Dave, why don’t you pick some topics that are less disagreeable?” Brown was attempting to defend himself when Winer shot back, much like a 10-year-old, “Why don’t you learn how to listen?”
One of the reasons people have such problems with Winer is that the way he behaves can be at such odds with the very spirit and culture of blogging.
I suppose it was Winer’s intention to keep the conversation on topic, but his overbearing presence and propensity to prattle on just agitated conference-goers. He was challenging everyone to treat each other with consideration, all the while interrupting and berating those who disagreed with him. It wasn’t until he extracted himself from the discussion that it became remotely civilized and productive.
Dave Winer, much like a 10-year-old indeed.