Live data from Hacker News

I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

facebook.com

221–230 of 493 posts

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a highly privileged position to be in to make a personal stand and leave your $250,000 job for another $250,000 job. Not judging this way or that, just saying.

It's not that simple or easy. Many of these guys are giving up tends of thousands of dollars in benefits (stock options/ bonuses). Also, the assumption that everyone with a good paying job at Facebook is going to be able to quickly pick up a comparable job in a short amount of time is a huge stretch. Ultimately developers leaving and people refusing to work for Facebook, drive up Facebook's costs and speaks to their…

> Also, the assumption that everyone with a good paying job at Facebook is going to be able to quickly pick up a comparable job in a short amount of time is a huge stretch.

Especially since at some companies such a public statement can put you on a no-hire list. Some companies avoid potential "trouble makers" or avoid hiring, which might be interpreted as making a point.

Still risk of high total loss is quite low for individuals from FAANG companies.

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#224
post #49

I don't understand why doesn't Facebook just: -Allow all posts -Allow users to customize what they want to see (e.g. "dont show me posts that glorify violence" or "only allow covid posts that match WHO guidelines" or "allow exceptions from political figures or of historical significance") and allow users to ban hide posts that are found untruthful by third parties (snopes, etc). To me effectively everyone wins. Faceb…

Facebook doesn't have anything more that the dream of a promise that some day they'll have AI smart enough to curate content as well as humans can. They don't even have a hope of doing so in a way that all humans can agree is fair.

They are criminally negligent in allowing themselves to be what they are: a publishing platform designed to divide humanity into smaller and smaller subgroups in order to ease marketing, without regard to public safety or any conception of common good. Social media does not care about the blood it spills.

Want the good old web back? Enforce responsibility for content published on the publisher. Let's see facebook moderate every post. Let hateful shitheads find a place to host them, and let them start their own blogs, with their identifiable information publicly available. Failing that, maybe we can do something like this idea I posted this morning. (https://www.reddit.com/r/socialmedia/comments/gwhiie/trust_a...)

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>For society to function, people need to be willing to work with others whose politics they find distasteful. Why? I am not on some high horse here, I am not sure what I would be willing to put up with if I had no other options but I certainly prefer working with companies that have values that are aligned with my own.

Because otherwise it becomes impossible to truly engage in politics. If everyone sorts themselves into liberal companies that only allow liberal values and conservative companies that only allow conservative values, how are we supposed to have an honest debate on anything?

I don't need to engage in politics in my workplace. I can work with people with differing political opinions in terms of activism and advocacy, though.

"Liberal" and "conservative" aren't the only political flavors, either. Lots of leftist activists don't work with liberals and lots of right-wing activists don't work with conservatives, for example. It's also difficult to work with someone whose beliefs conflict too much with your own or whose views are dehumanizing (like, I wouldn't want to work with someone who regards themselves as superior because of their race).

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#226

He’s standing up for what he believes. You can disagree with his convictions, but you should admire anyone who risks personal and financial consequences for sticking to their guns. That’s what actual morality is—not just a “belief” that is talked about but acted upon even when the results will be costly.

It’s a highly privileged position to be in to make a personal stand and leave your $250,000 job for another $250,000 job. Not judging this way or that, just saying.

Don't forget we are in the middle of a pandemic, it's not the easiest time to find a job.

Also I don't think it ads much to the conversation to try to minimize someones sacrifice, you don't know their personal situation, and even if its not that hard on them personally who cares, it's still a principled stand of where to invest ones time and energy.

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#227
post #138

He’s standing up for what he believes. You can disagree with his convictions, but you should admire anyone who risks personal and financial consequences for sticking to their guns. That’s what actual morality is—not just a “belief” that is talked about but acted upon even when the results will be costly.

He's trading practically 0 money (actually might be paid more in his next job if he selects one with a bit less growth potential) for a lot of virtue signaling value. I mean nothing evil, but not that admirable and altruistic. Real good deeds aren't announced.

> Real good deeds aren't announced.

Public announcements of resignation have two impacts: on fellow employees, and on the employer. Fellow employees may be waiting for validation of a sinking feeling that they're in the wrong place, before they quit themselves. When the employer sees numerous conscience quits in response to a bad action, they have an opportunity to reflect and change.

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#228
My solution has always been to not bother with Facebook. A few employees quitting was already on Mark's radar, he expected that and is willing to accept that. Honestly seems like Mark fears actions by Trump against social media - Mark cares about the existential threat, he can hire more people. A very large boycott of Facebook by its users might actually get Mark's attention. We seem to have forgotten how to effectively boycott for change.

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#229

Anybody working for Facebook is knowingly and willingly helping promote fascism. These people have some of the best job options out there, and they're actively choosing to work for a company that's actively harmful to society.

Facebook is promoting "facism" for not deleting Trump?

lol

Re: I'm resigning from my job at Facebook

#230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If that is a notable categorisation then what is the difference that makes forums better?

I feel the trigger of social media is getting dopamine-like reward signal when people like/share your posts. Its underlying acceptance of "you" aspect of it, rather than the idea itself that you share. In a forum, being an anonymous user, it doesn't affect you as much on a personal level which allows for a more rational discussion by detaching the "personal" side of you from it. Of course, that is only true in theory…

This website has rapid interaction from other users and visible upvotes that add up over time to create a personal score that nets you extra benefits. If I worked for Facebook, I'd like stronger evidence than amateur psychology for me to feel morally compelled to give up my livelihood.

Edit: furthermore many users post with real or pseudo-real names that reward them with real life social clout.

Post reply on HN