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Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

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Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#301
post #91

> "were carried out through an Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppression lens" People have lost their damn minds. This is actual institutionalized racism . I wouldn't work for these people in a million years, but I really do wonder how I'd fit into their shallow models (I'm mixed race b/w).

Well, where exactly are you on the RGB scale? This a strict 8 bit operation. If you expect HDR level fidelity here, just move along.

Depends on the time of year. During the winter I trend toward toasted marshmallow but during the summer with ample sun I'm somewhere between Obama and Denzel.

Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Affirmative action in hiring for jobs in the US is illegal. University admissions are different, but it is straightforwardly illegal to say, "I'm hiring a software engineer, I have two candidates, I prefer the one who is black because of his race."

Companies sure don't seem to be following that law in hiring.

Consider: It is illegal but very difficult and expensive to prove in court. Not even your average software dev could easily eat the legal fees required, and therefore they are incentivized to shut up and look for another job.

Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#305
post #91

> "were carried out through an Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppression lens" People have lost their damn minds. This is actual institutionalized racism . I wouldn't work for these people in a million years, but I really do wonder how I'd fit into their shallow models (I'm mixed race b/w).

i think this is really a problem of the CEO living in a bubble (hard to imagine i know) and not running that by legal. I think the CEO really stepped in it with that statement. I can hear the clanging of all the attack lawyers coming out of their cages.

Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A person can both have advantages in society and yet have specific situations in their life that are much more impactful. You could have used the same arguments in 1860... Not all black people were enslaved, some were quite prosperous in fact! Therefore there was no benefit to being white.

And thus the exact problem. It's okay to observe that a whole class of people enjoy a privilege. Where it goes off the rails is when you use that knowledge to discriminate against individuals in an attempt to correct the historical injustice.

And thus we perpetuate the injustice indefinitely!

Your essential argument seems to be that once an injustice is over one generation old, it is as if it never happened, no matter if the after effects continue to cascade into modern day.

You cannot just magically pretend an individual is not part of a society.

Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kendi is one person with one interpretation and doesn't work for nor represent the policies of Twilio, a completely separate institution. I read the statement the same as the GP comment.

Given that Kendi has spoken at Twilio and they Reference him in several of the DEI Annual reports it should be assumed that Twilio shares Kendi's view of "Anti-Racism"

oh, that's interesting. I'm not from Twilio, but Dr. Kendi has spoken at our company as well.

Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#309

This line seems to be referenced a lot in these comments: > Layoffs like this can have a more pronounced impact on marginalized communities, so we were particularly focused on ensuring our layoffs – while a business necessity today – were carried out through an Anti-Racist/Anti-Oppression lens. Sounds like they are taking steps to make sure whoever was chosen for layoffs were not chosen for racist reasons. But so man…

I really need to make a HN bingo board one of these days, though it'll have to be like 12x12 or it'll be way too easy.

Re: Twilio to lay off 11% of workforce

#310
post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What evidence do you have that it was because your boss was black? X happened and the target was black doesn't mean X happened BECAUSE the target was black. Did the cop use any sort of racial insult? I can share all kinds of negative interactions I've had and other white friends and family members have had with police for reasons unknown - including with black officers.

I used to think like you - Wheres the evidence? They don't have a swastika tatooed on their face and didn't call you a slur, how can you know they were racist? But here's the thing, not all racism is overt. There's more subtle ways it plays out too - patterns of behavior and the like. When I was in my early 20s I worked at a bar owned by a black man, and I'm a white man. His role was basically manager, and I was basi…

More white people own businesses and there are more white people in the USA. It was likely an innocent assumption where no offense is intended. Not everything is as sinister as "anti-racists" claim. I refuse to subscribe to their conspiracy-based hidden racism theories.

I'm "glad" you were able to claim your "white privilege". Coming from a low class background, I was not afforded such and have had to struggle to get where I am. However, according to your own definition, you are now guilty of the racism you decry. You assume because you took advantage of "white privilege" every white person had the same. Not all white people are well connected or come from money. The percentage might be higher but that means zero to those of us that did not have an easy go like you.

But hey, do whatever you need to do to assuage your guilt. I have no such burden and I resent people like you for trying to lay one at my feet. It seems like most of your response is based on projection.

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