I’m sorry to Patricia Dunn

September 15, 2006 By

A CEO and reader of mine (not at HP, but who it was isn’t important cause her point is what matters here) wrote me this morning and said I was over the top to call Patricia Dunn a “cancer” on HP. She said that was a particularly hurtful comment given that Patricia has had cancer in the past. I’ve been thinking about it all day and I’ve decided that my reader is right. That was a hurtful comment. I didn’t know at the time that Patricia was a cancer survivor, but I should have stayed within the lines of good taste and I did not.

It’s not that I feel any differently about Patricia and the board’s actions over the past two weeks, though. Even after reading articles, like this one, in Fortune, which bend over backward to explain her actions. I’m very much in support of Russell Shaw at ZDNet, who asks why she’s still on the board.

But, I did play an awful card there, and for that I’m sorry.

Oh, and I heard Patricia on CNBC this morning (the business news media is still eating this story up, just like Christopher Coulter predicted it would) and she still isn’t understanding that the ends don’t justify the means.

In my being overly hurtful and personal with my words I demonstrated I didn’t understand that either.

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  • http://www.quietvoice.org/ Ken Nelson

    The description as initally rendered was accurate. Don’t dilute your argument by washing it in the politically correct cesspit. Being overly sensitive is not being sensitive at all.

    -k-

  • http://www.quietvoice.org Ken Nelson

    The description as initally rendered was accurate. Don’t dilute your argument by washing it in the politically correct cesspit. Being overly sensitive is not being sensitive at all.

    -k-

  • http://raincoaster.wordpress.com/ raincoaster

    You were being metaphorical, and you were within the bounds of good taste. As a cancer survivor myself, I think someone was playing the “get out of jail free” card here.

    It is your right to apologize for “being overly hurtful and personal” with your word choice, but I don’t see that you were personal (you didn’t even know she had cancer), and I’d be very surprised indeed if she were actually hurt by this. She’s a tough corporate warrior, as she’s amply demonstrated, and not a fragile hothouse blossom to wither at the slightest chill.

  • http://raincoaster.wordpress.com/ raincoaster

    You were being metaphorical, and you were within the bounds of good taste. As a cancer survivor myself, I think someone was playing the “get out of jail free” card here.

    It is your right to apologize for “being overly hurtful and personal” with your word choice, but I don’t see that you were personal (you didn’t even know she had cancer), and I’d be very surprised indeed if she were actually hurt by this. She’s a tough corporate warrior, as she’s amply demonstrated, and not a fragile hothouse blossom to wither at the slightest chill.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    TAG: I no longer have access to that blog. Sorry. It’s pretty clear that I haven’t published to that in more than a year.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    TAG: I no longer have access to that blog. Sorry. It’s pretty clear that I haven’t published to that in more than a year.

  • http://kaschimer.com/blogs/way2early4this Steve Kaschimer

    I think people are too touchy these days about being politically correct. You called it like you saw it. You shouldn’t have to apologize to anyone.

    It’s like if you called her the wart on HPs and wart-suffering people getting mad. Or calling her the arm that needs to be amputated and having amputees angry at you.

    You were going for a metaphor that we all understand, and from the looks of the other comments received, we got it.

  • http://kaschimer.com/blogs/way2early4this Steve Kaschimer

    I think people are too touchy these days about being politically correct. You called it like you saw it. You shouldn’t have to apologize to anyone.

    It’s like if you called her the wart on HPs and wart-suffering people getting mad. Or calling her the arm that needs to be amputated and having amputees angry at you.

    You were going for a metaphor that we all understand, and from the looks of the other comments received, we got it.

  • Abe Lasso

    “Can you update http://scoble.weblogs.com/ website to make it clear you are not MS person anymore ? Migrate all postings from weblogs.com to this one (and make sure to make backup). If you need help on setting up redirect pages – I can help.”

    LOL.

  • Abe Lasso

    “Can you update http://scoble.weblogs.com/ website to make it clear you are not MS person anymore ? Migrate all postings from weblogs.com to this one (and make sure to make backup). If you need help on setting up redirect pages – I can help.”

    LOL.

  • TAG

    Abe Lasso,
    What’s so funny ? This blog and except from it is first result in Google search for “Robert Scoble”

    Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger
    Copyright 2005 Robert Scoble rscoble@someevilcompany.com My cell phone: 425-205-1921 … Robert Scoble works at Microsoft (title: technical evangelist). …
    scoble.weblogs.com/ – 14k

    I’m feeling Lucky on Google search become not so lucky.

  • TAG

    Abe Lasso,
    What’s so funny ? This blog and except from it is first result in Google search for “Robert Scoble”

    Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger
    Copyright 2005 Robert Scoble rscoble@someevilcompany.com My cell phone: 425-205-1921 … Robert Scoble works at Microsoft (title: technical evangelist). …
    scoble.weblogs.com/ – 14k

    I’m feeling Lucky on Google search become not so lucky.

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  • Marvin Zinn

    I don’t know why, but there is something wrong in parts of the news reports about Patricia Dunn. I believe there is an accusation for which she is not guilty. I never met her and knew nothing about her before this, but I refuse to believe news reports in many things I can see, and this one I smell fishy.

    I’d send this message to her if I knew the address, but she probably wouldn’t be able to read it for so many others anyway.

    marvin

  • Marvin Zinn

    I don’t know why, but there is something wrong in parts of the news reports about Patricia Dunn. I believe there is an accusation for which she is not guilty. I never met her and knew nothing about her before this, but I refuse to believe news reports in many things I can see, and this one I smell fishy.

    I’d send this message to her if I knew the address, but she probably wouldn’t be able to read it for so many others anyway.

    marvin

  • Sarah

    Those of you who have given your “at-a-boys” for Robert’s apology are missing the point. He did nothing wrong by using the word cancer. def: “a pernicious spreading of evil.” The American Heritage, Dell Pub Co., Inc, NY, 1981.

    Can you get back to the issue please.

  • Sarah

    Those of you who have given your “at-a-boys” for Robert’s apology are missing the point. He did nothing wrong by using the word cancer. def: “a pernicious spreading of evil.” The American Heritage, Dell Pub Co., Inc, NY, 1981.

    Can you get back to the issue please.

  • mighetto

    Dunn shouldn’t have been allowed on the Board given her cancer history, period. Who provides HP’s Director’s and Officer’s insurance? Seriously, you can just about predict unethical behavior. So Dunn – knowing she needs money for cancer treatment – sells HP social security numbers to the highest bidder, which are then used in identity fraud. How does that kind of thing get by the D&O insurance guy? She has had at least two publically disclosed cancer bouts. Perhaps her unethical behavior was displayed during those as well. What a Frankinstine monster. Just the kind of situation where clones might be created to replace cancerous Dunn body parts. Happy Halloween.

  • mighetto

    Dunn shouldn’t have been allowed on the Board given her cancer history, period. Who provides HP’s Director’s and Officer’s insurance? Seriously, you can just about predict unethical behavior. So Dunn – knowing she needs money for cancer treatment – sells HP social security numbers to the highest bidder, which are then used in identity fraud. How does that kind of thing get by the D&O insurance guy? She has had at least two publically disclosed cancer bouts. Perhaps her unethical behavior was displayed during those as well. What a Frankinstine monster. Just the kind of situation where clones might be created to replace cancerous Dunn body parts. Happy Halloween.

  • Bill

    Good on you Patricia.
    You did what you needed to do.
    Get rid of that cancer in your midst.
    You did not instruct illegal tactics.
    You would not instruct illegal tactics.
    But these simple soles are making you pay anyway.
    The real offender is the political hack bringing these bogus charges against you.
    Hold your head high. You are a dignified woman.
    Most of the people writing here have no concept of the term.
    I wish only the best.

  • Bill

    Good on you Patricia.
    You did what you needed to do.
    Get rid of that cancer in your midst.
    You did not instruct illegal tactics.
    You would not instruct illegal tactics.
    But these simple soles are making you pay anyway.
    The real offender is the political hack bringing these bogus charges against you.
    Hold your head high. You are a dignified woman.
    Most of the people writing here have no concept of the term.
    I wish only the best.

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