Ask HN: What are some examples of clearly misleading information from startups?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31377175

by etewiah • 4 years ago

1 6 4 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I ask this because I came across a site called ratepunk which proudly states on their site "Chrome Store reviews, 1000+ users" but the chrome store clearly shows that they have less than 200 users.

Why do some people do this? It just doesn't make sense.

softwaredoug• 4 years ago

Malignant Narcissism - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malignant_narcissism

etewiah• 4 years ago

Interesting. Wonder if in some cases this negative trait actually leads to success....

JonChesterfield• 4 years ago

"Stock options are more important than salary"

Bubble_Pop_22• 4 years ago

It's like the first step down the rabbit hole of the startup cult.

Trying to make people feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves is the best way to screw them over. It's the base of every religion, cult or exploitation mechanism.

I feel like all these wannabe entrepreneurs get on their knees to worship John D. Rockefeller and Bill Gates.

Well they didn't need to force employees be part of a cult. There were no stock options or RSU back then. Both Standard Oil and Microsoft paid a salary, cash is king.

eimrine• 4 years ago

I did this with my first gf to get laid. It worked, later I have told her the truth. She was upset for few days when she realised a situation but later she told me that this was really a key to her vag.

tgwhop• 4 years ago

Do they state somewhere that they are having 1000+ users specifically from Chrome Store? Because I can see that they have live extension on Apple App Store which takes 25th place in travel category in US. Downloads on App Store are not public, but I'm pretty sure they had to have at least some downloads on there to make to the top 30 travel apps.

https://imgur.com/aZAtEB6

Also they do not state if 1000+ are active users or total users who installed extension because Chrome Stores only shows active users count

Ask HN: What are some examples of clearly misleading information from startups?

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