Live data from Hacker News

Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

washingtonpost.com

81–90 of 290 posts

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#82
post #27
post #18

Honestly why I like WFH - I can stay away from people who "bring their whole selves" to the office, while I just need a job. (I'm not at Google)

Well to be fair I imagine your workplace isn't also wading into a contentious geopolitical conflict with billions of dollars. I don't think I would ever protest in the manner described at my job but I would probably quit over it. If you want your employees to stay out of politics then you should probably lead by example.

As an outside observer, I just hear a lot of hyperbolic reasoning like:

"Tech workers are demanding that they have right to know how their labour is going to be used. With little clarity about the project, they fear the technology might be used for harm."

Is there actual specifics about Project Nimbus that "are helping it commit atrocities in Palestine", or is it just that Google is selling general cloud computing to Israel as a customer?

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#83
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you are mistaken that you cannot logically support both LGBT rights and Palestine. For example, I support LBGTQ+ rights and would not want people who opposed them in America to be treated the way Palestinians are.

OK, I see. I suppose my next question would be why we are somehow stoic on the Uyghur issue. But I would guess that the reason is that the US sends support to Israel while actively cutting ties (or going to war economically) with China.

Exactly, yeah. What's happening there is awful and very sad, but there's almost nothing I can do about it, whereas our government provides billions in weapons to Israel

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#84

Good. You're there to work. It also feels uniquely selfish. "I love the money but I still want to protest!" If you feel so strongly then quit but that would require sacrifice.

Absolutely. Have the courage of your convictions to refuse to work for a company you find immoral. I assume these people would have refused to work for an arms manufacturer or an oil company, but maybe they could try to change one of those from the inside.

Arms manufacturers do not actually start wars. While I understand why some people may find that line of work not aligning with your morals, there isn't you can really change within the company

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#85

> Google says that each worker it fired actively disrupted its offices, while the workers dispute the claims, saying some of those fired did not even enter the company’s office on the day of coordinated demonstrations against the company. Isn't this a pretty critical point that the Washington Post should have looked into a bit more?

You can disrupt an office without entering the office. Just stand outside and block the entrance, yell at people trying to enter the office, or bang pots and pans and create a disturbance.

(I have no idea what happened at Google. The article is behind a paywall for me.)

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#86
post #60
post #33

[flagged]

All politics should not be acceptable in some sense. As in it's fine to discuss your views with colleagues over lunch. It's fine to express concerns privately over appropriate channels. If you disagree with the contracts your company takes on you can always quit. There is no need to make your coworkers feel threatened for just doing their job.

The best way to make people get along is to tell them what's acceptable for them to talk about with each other.

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#87
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope I'm not considered a troll for asking this question; I will ask on my main account and hopefully people will check my comment history to understand I am not intending to be belligerent or intentionally dumb. But why is it that rainbow flags (pride, et al) are considered the pro-Palestinian side in the conflict. I might be old but I distinctly remember a humanitarian outcry in the 00's because Palestinians were…

In general, the pro-palistinian side is favored by the progressive left, the same group who are also pro-gay/pro-trans etc. In a lot of ways, the struggles are similar to BLM - there is a great injustice being done by a powerful force funded by the US government. Or again with opposing the US's global war on terror. The people in those groups aren't forced to be on the palenstinians side, but it is logically consiste…

Interesting.

I, uh, am not sure how a person can hold those views simultaneously.

Success of Palestine will mean oppression of the groups the cause seeks to protect (LGBTQ+ specifically).

Isn't this "paradox of tolerance"-esque, or is there a belief that if the Palestinian people were not being bombarded by an oppressive force: that they would be equitable to LGBTQ causes.

Or: does it not factor into it at all?

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#88
post #63
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>... the political divide has fallen such that LGBTQ+ people are almost forced to ally with Palestine. Short answer: they are often one and the same people - leftist activists who have opinions on more than one subject.

I'm sorry but I don't understand and I think I need a longer answer. I could interpret this three ways: 1) "Leftist Activists"; are a mixed group with some supporting pro-LGBTQ rights and others supporting Palestine. 2) "Leftist Activists"; are a homogenous group, including LGBTQ people, of which they support Palestine (and thus, support a regime that would wish them harm) 3) "Leftist Activists"; are a homogenous gro…

It's mostly 2. The harder point to prove, though I think it's true, that much of the pro-Palestinian rhetoric is as much anti-Israel, i.e anti-Semetic. It's hard to discuss subjects like this without nuance so most of my observations/opinions tend to be around trends. But a good comparison could be Ukraine and Russia. Much of the US widely supports Ukraine's plight and fully believe that Russia is a belligerent, colonialist nation fully at fault for the war. Nothing gray about it compared to the Israel/Palestine conflict. And yet you don't widespread hate and mistreatment of ethnic Russians in the US. You can't say the same about the treatment Jews, even those born and raised in the US.

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#89
post #13
post #5

Sure, if all it takes is raising a rainbow flag on top of the building and some words of the CEO they are all for it. But as soon as Google's bottom line is involved they behave pretty predictable.

[flagged]

Your misinterperting my point. I'm not making a political comment on the current conflict. My point is people think Google actually stands for something, but in the end they are a publicly traded company and will act in the interest of their shareholders.

Re: Google fires more workers after CEO says workplace isn’t for politics

#90
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Are you not aware of the Nakba or Israel using banned weapons on civilians for decades? I'm not saying hamas' actions are justified but there is no side in this conflict that can confidently claim moral superiority.

[flagged]
Post reply on HN