On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

Sure is! People can be offended all they want. Where things get really iffy is when they want 'justice'. It often means that they try to get that person fired or lambasted in front of their peers. I don't see how that's at all constructive, let alone 'justice'.

At the very least, it leads to even more divisiveness, instead of rational discussion.

As a thought experiment: have you ever seen someone change their mind or worldview as a result of being insulted & fired?

Re: On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

#5

Post by Quarrelsome » Mon, Aug 07, 2017, 5:37 PM UTC

whipoodle wrote: post #2

Maybe it's okay for people to be outraged about some things.

But is it okay to campaign towards the goal of firing someone for expressing an opinion they feel outraged about?

Re: On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

#6

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Aug 07, 2017, 5:37 PM UTC

whipoodle wrote: post #2

Maybe it's okay for people to be outraged about some things.

[deleted]

Re: On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

#7

Post by Danihan » Mon, Aug 07, 2017, 5:39 PM UTC

whipoodle wrote: post #2

Maybe it's okay for people to be outraged about some things.

Sure it is. Lots of people get outraged and offended by any number of things.

For instance, I'm outraged that anything related to Affirmative Action exists period -- as I believe codified, race-based laws are disgusting and an anathema to the construct of equality and equal-treatment under the law.

Re: On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

#8

Post by sbierwagen » Mon, Aug 07, 2017, 5:39 PM UTC

It's interesting to note that the only reason this is a news story is because "a Google engineer" wrote it. If the essay had been published entirely anonymously, then it would have attracted no attention at all, like a dozen similar essays.

The story is the source, not the content.

Re: On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

#9

Post by Semiapies » Mon, Aug 07, 2017, 5:41 PM UTC

Quarrelsome wrote: post #5

whipoodle wrote: post #2

Maybe it's okay for people to be outraged about some things.

But is it okay to campaign towards the goal of firing someone for expressing an opinion they feel outraged about?

Sure!

Especially when it's so rare that it's a big kerfuffle every single time it happens in this industry.

Re: On managing outrage in Silicon Valley

#10

Post by JoshTriplett » Mon, Aug 07, 2017, 5:42 PM UTC

sbierwagen wrote: post #8

It's interesting to note that the only reason this is a news story is because "a Google engineer" wrote it. If the essay had been published entirely anonymously, then it would have attracted no attention at all, like a dozen similar essays. The story is the source, not the content.

The story is not "a Google engineer wrote it". The story is "a large fraction of Google circulated and endorsed it". That's what makes this news.