Bezos to billionaires: Skip the revenge plots and get thicker skin

Gawker Media may have a surprising ally: Jeff Bezos seems to think Peter Thiel's decade-long vendetta against the gossip blog is a waste of energy.

In conversation with Walt Mossberg at the annual Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California Tuesday evening, the Amazon founder was frank when asked about the high-profile dispute between the digital media company and the Silicon Valley billionaire.

SEE ALSO: Gawker, Thiel, Hogan and the worrisome trend of media intimidation

Although he tried to speak in broad terms, his personal view was clear. "As a public figure, the best defense against ... speech you don't like about yourself is to develop a thick skin," he said. "If you absolutely can't tolerate critics, don't do anything new or interesting."

Bezos described his general discomfort with Thiel's approach in his attempts to silence the news outlet, led by behind-the-scenes funding of wrestler Hulk Hogan's sex tape lawsuit. Thiel, for his part, has decried what he calls the site's bullying tactics: One article on Gawker Media's technology website Valleywag publicized that Thiel was gay.

Bezos even offered an old quote about holding a slow burning grudge: "Seek revenge and you shall dig two graves. One for yourself."

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In Bezos' view, industry leaders should avoid reacting to every slight. He advised taking a trip to any street corner and imagining what passersby are thinking about -- probably not you. "You always have to ask yourself: How do you want to spend your time?"

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The CEO also voiced a strong defense of free speech -- perhaps appropriately for the owner of the Washington Post. "I'm passionate about this issue," he said. "You always have to remember, this country has the best free speech protections in the world because of the Constitution, but also because of our cultural norms."

"You don't want to erode those ... you don't want to create any kind of climate of fear or chill with respect to free speech norms."

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He also reminded the crowd that it is "ugly speech" that needs protection. "We don't have to like it, we don't have to invite those people to your dinner parties, but you should let them say it."

Bezos also had a few choice words about Donald Trump's unfriendly attitude toward the press, and advised all leaders to be open to critique. "One thing it is not appropriate that Donald Trump is doing, is working to freeze or chill the media that are examining him," he added. 

Clearly, in Bezos' view, billionaires, CEOs and presidential candidates must be comfortable with scrutiny.

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