By: Francine McKenna

Francine McKenna — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:31:40 +0000

Dear Dennis, I watched the UStream version today twice. I kept waiting for the
Big controversy but frankly didn’t see what all the fuss is about. Actually had more issues with the other guy on the other end
who kept shouting everyone down. Maybe Arrington said a few hard things. But
who is surprised or can be hypersensitive these days about such predictable US based insularity? I
just can’t get excited about a panel full of same old same olds from Silicon
Valley shouting the same old retread stuff, using vulgar epithets and
swinging their sticks… As you know, I worked extensively in Latin America,
as the first and still only female MD for BearingPoint in the region. I’m
quite familiar with the lack of attention and respect any other part of the
world gets from the US when it comes to tech. It wasn’t until we sold some
very large ERP implementations ourselves that my US based colleagues paid
attention to my team, and then it was to try to do me the favor of running the projects
for me. But we made money without them. So I completely empathize with Loic’s comments in that regard. But I was
optimistic then and think he should be now. Money talks and this kind of bullshit walks. As the US economy
and funding for tech startups dries up here, the power will shift to whomever
does have funding and is doing something exciting. Then you’ll see the US
industry and media guys running over to China or Bulgaria or France or
Ireland or Argentina or wherever chasing the dragon and throwing their
weight around with a lesson or two to teach those folks. The more things
change, the more they stay the same. Including the closing credits and
thank-you’s going out to Geraldine and the mostly female “background” crew
who apparently actually did all the work. Satisfied here to view from afar.

Comments on: Perception and reality: the Arrington Incident

By: Francine McKenna