Is John Hempton still disliked?

[claphands22]

It has been a long time -- is John Hempton still disliked by this board? 

[dartmonkey]

1 hour ago, claphands22 said:

is John Hempton still disliked by this board? 

Probably, although it is starting to fade into distant history.

 

Here's a good analysis from 10 years ago that I think summarizes the situation well. Hempton is smart, refreshing, brave, and probably really believed that Fairfax was a good short. He also participated in some pretty unsavoury behaviour that means most people on this board will never forgive him. There's a bit of both, best to keep an open mind I'd say.

 

 

[Parsad]

Memories fade as time passes, but for those that saw the despicable tactics used by the hoard of shorts at that time...not easy to forgive and forget.  I remember everything they did, including Hempton.  He's owed a knuckle sandwich by me if we ever meet! 

 

For those that are critical of Paul Rivett's time at Fairfax, he was the guy who lead the charge against the shorts and hedge funds.  While it didn't financially benefit Fairfax, it did eventually lead to the SEC and Justice Department tearing new aholes into these guys and ending the careers of a bunch of them...including prison time!  Cheers! 

[hardcorevalue]

1 hour ago, Parsad said:

Memories fade as time passes, but for those that saw the despicable tactics used by the hoard of shorts at that time...not easy to forgive and forget.  I remember everything they did, including Hempton.  He's owed a knuckle sandwich by me if we ever meet! 

 

For those that are critical of Paul Rivett's time at Fairfax, he was the guy who lead the charge against the shorts and hedge funds.  While it didn't financially benefit Fairfax, it did eventually lead to the SEC and Justice Department tearing new aholes into these guys and ending the careers of a bunch of them...including prison time!  Cheers! 

Didn’t know! Thanks for posting on Rivett. 

[nwoodman]

I much prefer the modern Fairfax approach. A weekend spent reviewing the short thesis, a sensible rebuttal, the courtesy of a question at the CC, then on with business.  That Munger quote on wrestling pigs springs to mind.

[RichardGibbons]

I prefer today's approach too.

 

That said, it's been a while since I read Fairfax's lawsuit. But if what the shorts allegedly did actually took place, then Fairfax's response was completely reasonable, and, IMO, restrained.