Lord of the Flies: Tales...from America Online's glory years

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, June 15, 2003 | Alec Klein

[ChemistCat]

It was said that Myer Berlow strapped clients into the chair, then David Colburn beat the stuffing out of them to make millions for AOL.

A high-pitched whine emanated from the man at the microphone. Heads turned instantly. The screeching voice, like fingernails running down a chalkboard, was a rude summons back to the main event. Sooner or later, David M. Colburn, he of the slow nasal drawl, was bound to take center stage. As president of America Online Inc.'s business affairs division, Colburn commanded attention wherever he went, which was especially true at his own holiday party that December day in 1999. Besides, he had paid for the festivities out of his own pocket, as he usually did. He had earned the right to grab the mike....

[ChemistCat]

A friend who has been with AOL since its early days says he believes every word of this long and freaky tale. Did I mention that it's long? But if you're at all familiar with the corporate history of AOL you'll find it riveting reading.

I am still not sure I believe the rabbis.

[visualops]

Interesting.
AOL was(is) a world unto itself. It was so among the users, the description of the behind the scenes is quite believeable to me.

[Coleus]

http://www.aolwatch.org/aolwatch16.htm

[happygrl]

Quite a story.

The villain of the dot coms and the expansion and bust of that market.