I wouldn't even say it's "technically" the truth. It's just the truth. Nothing in the statement even comes close to implying that there wouldn't be layoffs. Hell, one of the quotes even mentions "focus", which if anything is a euphemism or hint for downsizing in these kinds of statements, not the opposite.

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onemoresoop 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

"excited about this partnership, which we believe will unlock even greater focus for our team and customers as we continue to strive towards our global mission to be the most innovative and trusted video platform in the world for businesses"

There's no hint of laying off all the staff here though. Now it sounds like they "were" excited to lay off people to maximize profits.

Maybe "unlock even greater focus for our team" means to unlock their focus to find other jobs but it's quite perverse. I agree with the OP, that "Words no longer appear to mean things"

	▲	csallen 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> There's no hint of laying off all the staff here though. Now it sounds like they "were" excited to lay off people to maximize profits. What? Just because a statement says "we're excited to do X" doesn't mean they're not also planning to do A, B, C, Y and Z. I'm not defending the layoff. It just seems weird to interpret the statement itself as somehow being misleading about a subject that it literally didn't mention.

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hi_hi 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! :-)

Those words weren't truth. Truth would have been to state the intent to fire employees in order to maximise profit. This was always going to be the outcome, and it was expected, why not just state it clearly?

Again, when truth becomes a grey area that is to be manipulated for maximising profits that benefit a minority of privileged individuals, we should be concerned and at the least, not normalise it with "its just business".

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ryandrake 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

A reasonable person, when told "Company A is buying and will operate Company B," would interpret that as "all of Company B" including its assets, liabilities, cash, property, patents, AND employees. They would not think "Well, ackshually, they're just buying the corporate entity itself, which doesn't technically involve keeping the employees..."

	▲	csallen 4 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		If "reasonable person" means "someone with literally zero experience reading any business or acquisition news whatsoever" then I agree with you. Hell, the OP literally begins the announcement with, "As expected."
	▲	akavi 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Only if you believe the primary purpose of a corporation is to provide employment, as opposed to generating profit for its shareholders. (To be clear, I think the latter is both descriptively true and normatively good)
	▲	ForHackernews 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Any reasonable person who has paid attention to business news over their lifetime would not be surprised to see layoffs following a corporate acquisition.

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perlgeek 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Try to be innovative without staff though...