Not--God forbid--to appear sexist or ageist, but… Young, and sometimes not-so-young, guys seem to be more likely than women to think it's okay to make threats. They need to learn that it isn't. And CEOs need to learn that what's said online does NOT drive stocks down 60%. Unless Chabaan lives in a vacuum, surely he's aware that the entire sector has experienced a correction, as tends to happen in the case of bubbles.
As to message boards, it may seem odd coming from me, but 95% of what's said on them doesn't matter. CEOS and other company people should avoid them, unless--in some cases--they're interested in learning what they could do to improve their communications skills and a few other things. Like what not to say in press releases. How to do the right thing in SEC filings, and so on.
Basically, what they NEED to do is focus on their business. If that business succeeds, "bashers" will go away. All that assumes, of course, that the company in question actually has a business.
The internet has changed a lot of things. Now people can whip out an intemperate rant and make it public instantly. No second thoughts. Once, ordinary folks who who wanted to object to something--a political policy, a business plan, anything--had to write a letter, put it in a stamped envelope, and mail it. Company officials had time to come up with a considered reply.
But not anymore… The internet's influence is not always beneficial.
