Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces • Hacker News Board

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#301

Post by duckfang » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:40 PM UTC

Dah00n wrote: post #97

One of the reasons I use HN is because of the No Political or Ideological fights rule (because I know I can't stop commenting from time to time even though I'd rather live a life without this crap). I wish rules were here to be enforced, not as guidelines hardly anyone follow.

EVERYTHING is political, when involving more than 1 person.

The DMCA is political, and is the basis in which most orgs allow public comment. Copyright is political. Patents are political. Cryptocurrency is explicitly political WRT being against governments. Most startups are political, in the way many break laws that the incumbents have to follow.

The people who "dont want to involve with politics" are primarily the ones whose needs are met, and don't care about others' needs. I would claim it's for selfish reasons.

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#302

Post by castlecrasher2 » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:40 PM UTC

lgleason wrote: post #247

Live by the sword, die by the sword. That said, firing him, like they did with Damore would have been more consistent. Because everyone is under arbitration agreements that always benefit the company, vs the courts where you might have a shot at justice, they have no incentive to do that. As repugnant as his past anti-semitic rant was, people change and sometimes say and do stupid things. In a sane world this guy wou…

>Google apologized for his comments and said he was being reassigned to a role on the company's STEM team.

He wasn't fired, just reassigned.

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#303

Post by vasilipupkin » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:41 PM UTC

Ozzie_osman wrote: post #201

kmonsen wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s a huge straw man. I am critical of some of Israel’s behavior, but by no means calling for its complete destruction.

This. You can be critical of Israel's actions. You can also be critical of Israel's existence specifically as a nation that discriminates against non-Jewish citizens. None of this means you are an anti-semite who wants the destruction of Israel, let alone Jews. By and large, for example, the UN security council resolutions that the US keeps single-handedly vetoing are not calling for any destruction. They simply cond…

This is technically true but ignores the complexity of the situation, which is that Israel is essentially at war with groups such as Hamas, which call for Israel's destruction and deny its right to exist. When Hamas starts firing rockets at Israeli civilians, it just isn't clear what response critics prefer Israel show. Israel has little choice but try to destroy and degrade the infrastructure used to fire those rockets. Israeli violent behavior is in response to attack on its civilian population. Ignoring this while criticizing Israel seems strange to me

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#304

Post by andrewclunn » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:41 PM UTC

lgleason wrote: post #247

Live by the sword, die by the sword. That said, firing him, like they did with Damore would have been more consistent. Because everyone is under arbitration agreements that always benefit the company, vs the courts where you might have a shot at justice, they have no incentive to do that. As repugnant as his past anti-semitic rant was, people change and sometimes say and do stupid things. In a sane world this guy wou…

'To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." They fear an open discussion about these issues because if the truth were the standard people might stop viewing such statements as repugnant.

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#305

Post by mythrwy » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:41 PM UTC

duckfang wrote: post #112

The Palestinians are also Semitic peoples. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic_languages Being against the peoples of Palestine makes you an anti-Semite as well. Edit: the downvote brigade is strong today. But as the top post says, there is a difference between Jewish genetics, Jewish culture, Jewish religion, and Jewish government. Smearing them is just as disingenuous as calling people anti-Semites (not knowing w…

Palestinians (aka Philistines) originally weren't Semitic fwiw.

They likely came from Southern Europe (the bible specifically mentions the island of Crete as their place of origin) arriving roughly the same time as the Hebrews who came in from the east. This was part of the "Sea People" migrations which is documented in Egyptian literature that occurred at the bronze age collapse.

They were more sort of a proto Greek and most likely spoke an Indo-European dialect initially.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philistine_language

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#306

Post by throwkeep » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:41 PM UTC

agentofoblivion wrote: post #40

Only the purest of the pure can lead a diversity effort. And it doesn’t count unless you were pure from the beginning. Growing to overcome past problems is not sufficient.

It's worse than that, only the purest of the pure can be employed. Look at Apple's recent mob firing of Antonio García Martínez. Who made the mistake of writing a best selling and critically acclaimed book just 5 years ago. Featured as one of NPR's best books of the year, recommended by NYT, Washington Post, etc. But now it's suddenly a fireable offense.

“An irresistible and indispensable 360-degree guide to the new technology establishment.... A must-read.” New York Times

“Incisive.... The most fun business book I have read this year.... Clearly there will be people who hate this book — which is probably one of the things that makes it such a great read.” New York Times

“Reckless and rollicking... perceptive and funny and brave.... The resulting view of the Valley’s craziness, self-importance and greed isn’t pretty. But it’s one that most of us have never seen before and aren’t likely to forget.” Washington Post

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#307

Post by NDizzle » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:42 PM UTC

agentofoblivion wrote: post #40

Only the purest of the pure can lead a diversity effort. And it doesn’t count unless you were pure from the beginning. Growing to overcome past problems is not sufficient.

For example, Obama could never lead a diversity effort. That's how pure you have to be.

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#308

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:42 PM UTC

tolbish wrote: post #272

sanity31415 wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They fired Damore for writing an email that was tone-deaf, insensitive, but largely supported by research Damore was asked for his feedback on Google's diversity policies, and that's exactly what he provided. Most of Damore's critics haven't actually read his memo[1], but rather formed an opinion based on the character assassination campaign against him, a campaign his employer publicly sided with. Over the 4 years…

People take issue with the following, but I don't recall Google confirming/denying if it is true: I strongly believe in gender and racial diversity, and I think we should strive for more. However, to achieve a more equal gender and race representation, Google has created several discriminatory practices: ● Programs, mentoring, and classes only for people with a certain gender or race ● A high priority queue and speci…

[deleted]

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#309

Post by vernie » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:42 PM UTC

frockington1 wrote: post #195

howeyc wrote: post #76

Wow, 14 years ago. I hope the current progressive correct-thinkers realize the takes they make today have to hold up over a decade from now, otherwise the next wave is going to cancel them.

And that is why I stopped calling myself a progressive years ago. In my youth I thought progressive meant trying to continually better yourself and your community. Now the focus seems to be on cancelling any viewpoint that conflicts with yours. The new trend of digging further and further back in the past makes it even more counter to my previous beliefs of the word

So what do you call yourself now?

Re: Google removes its head of diversity after 2007 blog post surfaces

#310

Post by metalliqaz » Thu, Jun 03, 2021, 3:42 PM UTC

agentofoblivion wrote: post #40

Only the purest of the pure can lead a diversity effort. And it doesn’t count unless you were pure from the beginning. Growing to overcome past problems is not sufficient.

if you hang around long enough, you can watch the woke eat the woke. what is "pure" changes, and some who have delighted in getting scalps in the past will have theirs taken by someone else once the goalposts change.

i'm thinking there is a decent chance trans-racialism will eventually become woke