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That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

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Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you fire someone for a few insults on Twitter then you belong in Kindergarten, not in a management position. Boy, I'm so happy I don't work for anyone, I'd hate to have to deal with sensitive pricks that think they can dictate what their employees say on social media.

I'm curious, as a self-employeed worker, do you find freedom in saying "fuck you" to your clients publically online?

There's a great Mike Monteiro talk about contracting titled, "Fuck you; Pay me", so yes, it's not unheard of at all.

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#93
I’m an IT contractor working in gov, and I’ve worked in a huge number of autocratic governments around the world that would be considered “the bad guys”. Many of the regimes that mistreat their citizens and workers.

And you know who’s always there with big contracts and consultants?

That’s right: VMware (and oracle and others…)

If one were to start virtue signaling (which I’m clearly not prone to do given my work history) I think it’s hard to argue that the DOD is worse than VMWare.

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#94

I would have fired this person as soon as humanly possible for basically (actually) telling customers of the company to go F themselves, and making horribly insensitive and inappropriate jokes at their expense. imho the point of this article seems to be to tell the story where big bad VMWare or the target of VMWare’s employee’s ire stomped on poor VMWare employee, but I think it makes the employee look bad. I would a…

I'm not a free speech absolutist[0], but if there's one speech one ought to be free to do, it's to write mean things about a government body (or deals with one) in a country that has a constitutional right to free speech.

[0] neither is the US, despite what it says; I am however a free-speech maximalist, and the differences between these positions includes but is not limited to acknowledging that some speech chills other speech.

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#95

I would have fired this person as soon as humanly possible for basically (actually) telling customers of the company to go F themselves, and making horribly insensitive and inappropriate jokes at their expense. imho the point of this article seems to be to tell the story where big bad VMWare or the target of VMWare’s employee’s ire stomped on poor VMWare employee, but I think it makes the employee look bad. I would a…

If you fire someone for a few insults on Twitter then you belong in Kindergarten, not in a management position. Boy, I'm so happy I don't work for anyone, I'd hate to have to deal with sensitive pricks that think they can dictate what their employees say on social media.

If you maliciously and repeatedly attack people on Twitter, customers no less, while at a work conference on work’s dime then you belong in kindergarten, not having a professional job. Thankfully VMWare fixed that.

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you read the rest of my comment, I don't actually have a problem with accusing people of war crimes. I think it's assinine to think one could do so and hope to continue to be paid by those people though. I would think that someone so ready to stand on this moral high ground wouldn't want that money but I guess when it actually comes to backing up her morals, she'll take the money instead.

So, free speech doesn't extend to criticism of the government? People should lose their jobs because they said mean words on Twitter?

You’re free to say funny words on twitter, they’re free to fire you for it. Everyone wins.

Or you think you can be obnoxious clown without repercussions?

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Considering the previous tweet said "fuck you", yes it is an attack.

"Fuck you" has so many different tones, and is so ubiquitous. It can be playful, jocular, intense, deadly serious, all over the place. Fuck you is not, by default, a personal attack, imo. It's also almost certainly culturally different on different coasts, online, in person, etc. A tweet is like, nothing.

This is incredible mental gymnastics. Unless it's clear otherwise, especially in public, it's a personal attack.

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#98

I would have fired this person as soon as humanly possible for basically (actually) telling customers of the company to go F themselves, and making horribly insensitive and inappropriate jokes at their expense. imho the point of this article seems to be to tell the story where big bad VMWare or the target of VMWare’s employee’s ire stomped on poor VMWare employee, but I think it makes the employee look bad. I would a…

If you fire someone for a few insults on Twitter then you belong in Kindergarten, not in a management position. Boy, I'm so happy I don't work for anyone, I'd hate to have to deal with sensitive pricks that think they can dictate what their employees say on social media.

If you insult people on twitter then you belong in the kindergarten.

Re: That Time I Posted Myself Out Of a Job

#99
post #24

> "Being as I’m not an idiot, I elect to bring a witness of my own (@lizthegrey ). She slightly livetweeted that conversation until VP VMware tells her to stop. " This, I think, is the point that caused the firing. It's pretty clear that if you choose a witness who then posts everything publicly that you are not discussing in good faith. Like, it's your right to speak your mind, and maybe you think you are in the mor…

You are allowed to discuss workplace conditions. That's like, protected concerted activity 101. If the business was uncomfortable with their treatment of their employees being public, maybe that activity wasn't ethical.

It's the "live-tweeting" aspect. You're not showing a basic level of respect to the nature of the conversation.
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