If the author really thinks 37s doesn't like competition, he should address why they would open source the framework created from their flagship product. Seriously, why would a company that wants to prevent others from competing with them give away the tools they use for increasing productivity and making it easier to realize innovative ideas?
37signals is trying to spread what they think are good ideas - the techniques and models that have worked for them. If you've ever talked to them you'll find they do this because they're passionate ideas, not because they want to harm an entire industry. Jason Fried has been talking about "embracing constraints" for how long now? And he does it only out of malice? He speaks about these ideas at events and organizations to people who would never compete with 37signals because he's scared of competition? This idea is so stupid it's laughable.
The only point he might have (and I don't think he's even making it) is that 37signals is not what most people think of as a startup. Over the past few months it seems like 37signals has been trying to change part of the definition of "startup" - they're trying to change the class of companies to which the term "startup" applies but keep the connotations of independence, adventure, and creativity.
Why, subterfuge! That way whenever anyone accuses them of having a disinformation blog campaign, they can point to their open source project to deflect blame. Wheels within wheels.
That would have been a better point to make, you're right.
As noted elsewhere, AMTTI is more of a personal rant board. I'll work on making the content a bit more cogent in the future as I'd like it to mature beyond that...
Criticism is fine (and I think there is room for a good critique of 37signals). Just pretend that you're saying what you're writing directly to the person in question, and adjust your tone as a consequence.
37signals is trying to spread what they think are good ideas - the techniques and models that have worked for them. If you've ever talked to them you'll find they do this because they're passionate ideas, not because they want to harm an entire industry. Jason Fried has been talking about "embracing constraints" for how long now? And he does it only out of malice? He speaks about these ideas at events and organizations to people who would never compete with 37signals because he's scared of competition? This idea is so stupid it's laughable.
The only point he might have (and I don't think he's even making it) is that 37signals is not what most people think of as a startup. Over the past few months it seems like 37signals has been trying to change part of the definition of "startup" - they're trying to change the class of companies to which the term "startup" applies but keep the connotations of independence, adventure, and creativity.