Leave the kid alone and let him wear what he pleases.
So the big news in the tech arena is that Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wore a hoodie to a dog and pony show in New York where a slew of wannabee investors were supposed to be pitched on the Facebook stock offering. Oh no! Take cover!
The Facebook roadshow has just started and already everyone is getting it wrong. Here is a snippet from a Bloomberg report:
Wearing a hoodie to a meeting in New York on Monday with potential investors is a sign of Zuckerberg's lack of seriousness, according to Michael Pachter, an analyst for Wedbush Securities.
"Mark and his signature hoodie: He's actually showing investors he doesn't care that much; he's going to be him," Pachter said in an interview on Bloomberg TV. "I think that's a mark of immaturity. I think that he has to realize he's bringing investors in as a new constituency right now, and I think he's got to show them the respect that they deserve because he's asking them for their money."
This analysis simply has it backward. Facebook is the most envied company in the world right now. Zuckerberg isn't begging these investors for their money. It's just the opposite. They all want a piece of what is perceived as the hottest ticket out there. The investors are the ones who should be dressing up for Zuckerberg, not the other way around.
And, as an aside, I predict Zuckerberg will be a great old codger when he is in his 80s.
Apparently, sometime back, Zuckerberg showed up late for a meeting with Sequoia Capital wearing what were described as pajamas, which is just weird, if it's true.
Whatever the case, there is a concerted effort to knock Zuckerberg off his perch in any way possible. Enemies besmirch him as a weirdo, an introvert, a crazy genius, a jerk, or whatever other name they can think of in attempt to prove he is not suited to run a big corporation like Facebook.
A character in the same Bloomberg article suggests that Zuckerberg would be better as a chief product officer—a bogus and meaningless title, if ever there was one.
Most of the commenters were all over this article and very few supported the Zuckerberg hoodie. I would personally like to point out that the ultimate Manager of Men is New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, who almost always wears a hoodie. He has even been nicknamed "The Hoodie." Belichick is 60 years old.
Let us not forget that Zuckerberg comes out of Belichick territory: Boston.
Also, we should examine the "uniforms" of today's Silicon Valley executives. It's usually a questionable mix of khaki slacks and deep blue dress shirts. Certainly, there are no ties. This outfit is almost enforced. Would that sort of attire be better at a New York meeting? I personally think it would be idiotic on Zuckerberg's part. Zuckerberg is Zuckerberg and should set his own dress code as he sees fit. It's not out of disrespect, he just doesn't see clothing as some sort of reverential tribute to those with whom he is chatting.
I know these Zuckerberg types and they don't wear hoodies out of contempt. They like hoodies. Who doesn't?
But this is really all about a subtle "Get Zuckerberg" scheme, which will continue until they get him. And by that, I mean get him out of Facebook, somehow.
You can Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter @therealdvorak.
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Go off-topic with John C. Dvorak.
