Etsy's Handmade Blog
About Us: Rob aka RobWhite
Story by brepettis, RobWhite, TeenAngster, Vanessa, weirdwolf
Published on May 20, 2008 in Etc 		Photo by Vanessa

Etsy has had quite a growth spurt in the past year, and we have the awkward pictures to prove it. We are posting a series of About Us pieces to help you get to know the Etsy admin (and since many of us work remotely, for the admin to get to know each other!). You've seen the admin badge, and maybe you're a bit curious about the person behind it! For more on Etsy's mission and about the company, please see our About page (the link is in the little blue footer of every Etsy page).

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Rob numero dos aka RobWhite (not to be confused with Etsy's founder Rob Kalin aka Rokali) works on the Community Team spreading peace and goodwill amongst forum goers, "like some kind of forums whisperer" as Tara put it.  Once, late at night, Rob asked for my advice over IM about a particularly painful dispute on a forum thread he was about to lock.  As I read the draft of his response, it brought me to tears. It dawned on me then that he's like an angel sent from above.  He is one of the most genuine, old souls I've ever met. We recently started getting worried that he would quit Etsy for a better offer to end the crisis in the Middle East through level-headed, sensitive peace talks. 

Rob also has a wicked sense of humor and can bake the most delicious cookies. He works remotely so we don't get to see him very often at the Etsy Labs, and as Bre mused, "Don't you want to just shrink him down and carry him around in your pocket?" I like to think of Rob as a good angel sitting on my shoulder, except he's not at all goody-goody...He's just right.

I'm fearing that this About Us piece is becoming too adoring, but who can not love this guy? He's the salt of the earth.

Here are some fun facts about RobWhite:

  • He is really good at cooking and baking.
  • He loves tea. Loves it.
  • He and his wife Xiane are nocturnal, so it seems.
  • He is a Dance Dance Revolution ninja.
  • He loves Lost.
  • He and StellaLoella bicker like siblings.
  • He plays role playing games, like Kingdom of Loathing.
  • He likes kitties, and has some!
  • He has a large traveling hat that gives him the air of Indiana Jones.
  • He's great with puns.
  • He studied computer science for a bit, but it wasn't his style.
  • He wants to study Psychology or Philosophy.
  • He's good at chess.
  • He's a very courteous house guest.

Check out this little dude: he was grounded and mature, even when posed in front of creepy fake wheat.

Wee angel...

Read more About Us. Here are some of Rob White's favorites below in the related items...

Tags About Us, admin, Community Team, ETC, forums, RobWhite, staff, video
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23 comments     Login to add your own!

May 20, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. TeenAngster

Awwww, RobWhite! You've got some moves! And such a cute little kid.

May 20, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. SteppingStones

Hi Rob!!! I can't hear or say SHELBY without a southern accent!!

Sheelllby!

May 20, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. mermaidclaire

Tea cookies om nom nom...so glad we got to hang out and geek over Lost in person!!!

May 20, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. quirkybags

Rob White rocks!

May 20, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. curlyfrysc

Okay, when does the rest of Etsy get to try these infamous cookies?

May 20, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. katiedoodah

Woot, the best admin eva! Rokali needs to get out the checkbook as you deserve a million dollar bonus for all the hard work you do in the forums.

May 20, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. adubois

Rob White! I was delighted to discover that you're my brother from another mother. Sam the Eagle + the Swedish Chef = AWESOME!

May 20, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. BigFish

That is thee best biog so far ... i'm so in love with him now! OH the human face of the machine x

May 20, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. bubbletime

Hey great video!

May 20, 2008 at 11:12 p.m. xiane

Now everyone knows why I heart him so much! Yay Rob!

May 21, 2008 at 12:27 a.m. katinkapinka

now i'm hungry for tea and cookies!

excellent bio! :)

May 21, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. jillhannah

Lose 20 lbs or you'll never be head cheerleader.

I met Bake and Destroy on Sunday and thought of you.

May 21, 2008 at 3:05 a.m. MountainEagleCrafter

FINALLY!!!!

The Patron Saint of the Red Chatroom gets HIS bio-thingie-dobobber in here!

Now I know what my good-advice-giver and inventor of the perfectly apropros term "Minor Other" to describe my ... (now ex) Minor Other ... sounds like.

And I'm going to rag on the man for that dance move the first chance I get. *Evil Grin*

May 21, 2008 at 3:48 a.m. RightAsRainCreations

RobWhite totally made me waste about 10 hours of my life playing KoL. But I still like him.

May 21, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. weirdwolf

Yes I want to carry Rob White around in my pocket all the time!!

May 21, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. EmilyEJewelry

You forgot "He has difficulty eating sandwiches that contain a lot of ketchup"

:o)

May 21, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. ArgyleWhale

Yep, just as fantastic as I thought!

May 21, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. ArgyleWhale

I think someone should start making and selling pocket-sized robwhites.

May 21, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. ixix

This is going to be a long remark, so go get something to nosh (tea and cookies?!) and come back. We'll all wait for you. -- ...OK. I am new, sort of, to Etsy, and my real name is Mom (hi, Rob!). --It is with some relief that I see my beloved F1 hybrid has launched rather successfully into the Great World Beyond the Carrot Patch, and I applaud Etsy for their courage in taking the leap and hiring that long drink of water from NC. It's been my joy and privilege to have him as my son and his lovely lady Xiane as my new daughter, and I go hang with them as often as I can! -- I would, however, like to point out that I had absolutely nothing to do with teaching him to dance, and even though I am a calligrapher by inclination, I am not sure the DNA for neat, legible handwriting ever made it to the pocket of Rob's genes. But hey. What's a little slant to the scribble among friends when he can bake cookies! (His Disgustingly Rich Brownies are to die for. Get him to bake you some.) --BTW, that's no posed baby picture. He was ALWAYS that cute!! Love ya, Rob! --

May 23, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. tortillagirl

This one made me laugh out loud. A brilliant bio! :-D

Yay for one of my favorite Etsy admin!!!

Nov. 8, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. sarahcruse

That was fun!
I love Kitties.......and have some! too!

Oct. 3, 2009 at 9:43 p.m. WickedDarling

I love it! Nice to read about Rob! :)

Oct. 3, 2009 at 11:08 p.m. compassionmalas

That was nice. He is always the voice of reason and goodness. I appreciate your being there, Rob! Just hope it's fun.

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