Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing • Hacker News Board

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#541

Post by 0x10c0fe11ce » Sat, May 22, 2021, 4:57 AM UTC

langitbiru wrote: post #508

ThinkBeat wrote: post #371

One part of the article: This is about a guy who wrote a book on his own time, published it outside of work. Someone did not like some parts of the book and the guy had to quit his job? There is nothing to suggest the man acted improperly at work. I write fictional stories in my spare time (never at work), I enjoy doing it. Some people enjoy reading them (I can't figure out why) It is a sad day for a Democracy when I…

I think in the future, people will start to embrace pseudonymous accounts. People will not share any opinions with their real identities. But they'll do it with their pseudonymous accounts. This can go further than sharing opinions. People's livelihood will be based on their pseudonymous accounts. It happens already in cryptocurrencies projects. Some accounts who work in these projects are pseudonymous accounts. They…

Imagine a society similar to the internet where people roam hiding their identities while doing whatever comes to their head. We have great times ahead, in Mars. I’m seriously starting to consider buying those tickets after all.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#542

Post by noelsusman » Sat, May 22, 2021, 4:57 AM UTC

ThinkBeat wrote: post #371

One part of the article: This is about a guy who wrote a book on his own time, published it outside of work. Someone did not like some parts of the book and the guy had to quit his job? There is nothing to suggest the man acted improperly at work. I write fictional stories in my spare time (never at work), I enjoy doing it. Some people enjoy reading them (I can't figure out why) It is a sad day for a Democracy when I…

"He wrote some stuff and somebody didn't like it" isn't a good faith description of what actually happened. I also don't know what it has to do with democracy.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#543

Post by lanstin » Sat, May 22, 2021, 4:58 AM UTC

anon7725 wrote: post #499

content_sesh wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Campus activism is much older than 10-20 years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Philadelphia_student_demo... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_strike_of_1970 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_University_protests_o...

Yes, but this particular flavor is new.

Shutting down college campuses? Hear of the 1960s? Sit Ins? We had a little of that in the 80s around Sout Africa and, oh Alaska ANWAR. Shutdown wallstreet toxics campaign. It is different now but in just the way everything that the Internet touches changes.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#544

Post by spoonjim » Sat, May 22, 2021, 4:58 AM UTC

ThinkBeat wrote: post #371

One part of the article: This is about a guy who wrote a book on his own time, published it outside of work. Someone did not like some parts of the book and the guy had to quit his job? There is nothing to suggest the man acted improperly at work. I write fictional stories in my spare time (never at work), I enjoy doing it. Some people enjoy reading them (I can't figure out why) It is a sad day for a Democracy when I…

Most people like yourself are publishing pseudonymously.

If you are building your personal brand with your writing and can’t publish pseudonymously, then maybe don’t, until you’re free enough to not need the Apples of the world.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#545

Post by spoonjim » Sat, May 22, 2021, 5:00 AM UTC

randoramax wrote: post #453

narrator wrote: post #431

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would never be able to hire a felon for anything since on that theory, the felon had done something outside of work that being a criminal act, might scare someone at work who had to work around them, even though their behavior at work was perfect.

Ex-Felons have paid their debt to society, or at least get should be considered as such. And still, it's harder for them to get jobs.

They absolutely have not “paid their debt to society” unless they can undo the felony. You can’t pay back the debt of raping someone or stabbing them or killing them. Even if they let you out of jail.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#546

Post by lanstin » Sat, May 22, 2021, 5:01 AM UTC

sl1ck731 wrote: post #384

ridaj wrote: post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That may be your point of view, but can you hire a lot of people with this attitude? Companies in tech successfully attract talent on the basis that they provide an opportunity to "have impact in the world". I work in tech and I hear this all the time from candidates in interviews, when asking why do you want to work here. Nobody says they just want to make a lot of money for the shareholders and a little for themsel…

"Have an impact in the world" is a canned answer. I seriously doubt a large percentage of candidates really care, its just not appropriate (unfortunately) to say we're here for the money.

A lot of people get into software because we love to make things that are useful and we love world of elegance and beauty that algorithms and abstractions allow us. We tolerate but don’t support the people that want to become some rich and famous person. I cannot tell the difference during an interview, fortunately, but you can after a while of working with people.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#547

Post by TimTheTinker » Sat, May 22, 2021, 5:02 AM UTC

eloff wrote: post #323

casefields wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's Christopher Hitchens in his 2001 book, Letters to a Young Contrarian: >Beware of Identity politics. I'll rephrase that: have nothing to do with identity politics. I remember very well the first time I heard the saying "The Personal Is Political". It began as a sort of reaction to defeats and downturns that followed 1968: a consolation prize, as you might say, for people who had missed that year. I knew in my b…

I miss Christopher Hitchens' way with words. He truly had a talent for expressing himself richly and convincingly. The ultimate irony is he deconverted me from the religion of my childhood posthumously because I saw the news of his death and then googled him. Which lead to a fascinating summer of YouTube videos of debates and conversations.

Agreed. I've listened to and enjoyed several of his debates (as a Christian, no less) and mourn the loss of him.

He was a formidable and worthy opponent on the debate stage, and by all accounts one of the most kind, thoughtful, personable, and affable people off the stage.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#548

Post by spoonjim » Sat, May 22, 2021, 5:04 AM UTC

hellbannedguy wrote: post #532

Kye wrote: post #466

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You act like this is something new. Writers have used pseudonyms for as long as writing has existed, often to avoid this issue.

I haven't figured out why more people don't use pseudonyms in this era? Of all times in history, this seems like the time to use a nom de plume? I haven't figured out if it's ego preventing people from anonymity, or they think their name will eventually get out there---so why not happily sign my name to my work? I do get it that publishing has vastly changed over the years. It seems like the most talented writers wil…

A lot of publishing is for building ones personal brand so you can get jobs, speaking engagements, invitations to cool parties, etc. can’t really do that psuedonymously.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#549

Post by narrator » Sat, May 22, 2021, 5:06 AM UTC

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #480

narrator wrote: post #431

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You would never be able to hire a felon for anything since on that theory, the felon had done something outside of work that being a criminal act, might scare someone at work who had to work around them, even though their behavior at work was perfect.

I think there are some types of felons that probably don't get hired as managers after release, no matter how long it's been since their crime. For exactly the reason we're discussing. Who in their right mind would put a man who had been convicted of rape in charge of women? How much potential liability would the company be taking on if he were to happen to harm one of his reports? It would be astronomical. Who would…

What if it was assault and battery or grand theft? Wouldn't someone feel justified that they were going to be punched in the face or have their phone stolen while around the person thus creating a hostile work environment? In this case, it was something someone said outside of work which is a whole other level of paranoia.

Re: Woke at Work: Why tech firms are trying to run away from politics and failing

#550

Post by sudosysgen » Sat, May 22, 2021, 5:07 AM UTC

steverb wrote: post #73

jdgoesmarching wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was about to say, this is the most chilling HN sentence I’ve ever read. The totality of our existence from 8-5 is not owed to someone who profits from our labor and skills because they got lucky with some seed money or an inheritance a decade ago. That’s just the divine right of kings with extra steps.

Your labor and skills are not owed because they got lucky, they are owed because that is what you are exchanging with the owner for money. They may tolerate (and even enjoy) your personal quirks and causes, but they are paying you to get things done that they don't have the time or skill to do themselves. [Edit: Accidentally left ou a letter]

"Your labour and are not owed because they got lucky, they are owed because that is what you are exchanging with the lord for the privilege to work this land"

"Your labour and skills are not owed because they got lucky, they are owed because that is what you are exchanging with the owner to pay back your debt and earn your freedom"

You can use that logic to justify any oppression as long as you frame it in the language of property. It's not a valid argument - you don't have a choice but to exchange for money because you're in a position where you have no choice but to engage in oppressive social structures or face the violence of the state if you want to survive.

It's not a choice. You have a (metaphorical) pistol to your head to engage with the system as it is, die, or be killed.

Its really not so different from what your ancestors as serf or as debt slaves in antiquity might have lived.

As long as you live in a society where private property in absentia (ultimately based on theft, might I add) exists, the "choice" to exchange is colored by violence and is far from truly free.