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Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

blog.mozilla.org

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Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#61

Post by badubu »

toyg wrote: post #24
zobzu wrote: post #4

"Congrats" - All that makes me feel personally is that the people who pushed for this are extremists as well. I don't know if that's a good move by Mozilla as well, although my guess is that it's a personal move from Eich who couldn't handle the pressure and the death threats (which, to be honest, I understand - even if some will say a CEO is supposed to be stronger than that).

> the people who pushed for this are extremists as well. Suffragettes were extremists. Worker-rights supporters were extremists. Gandhi was an extremist. M. L. King Jr. was an extremist. Sans-culottes were extremists. In the history of civilisation, there are winners and there are losers, and when the revelation of who is who eventually comes, it can be a bit ugly to watch.

co-opting a word is not a right

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#62

Post by crimsonalucard »

Oculus wrote: post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

The mob is definitely an emotional child but it doesn't have anywhere near unlimited power.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#63

Post by smirksirlot »

phillmv wrote: post #14

From the recode recap - http://recode.net/2014/04/03/mozilla-co-founder-brendan-eich... >“It’s clear that Brendan cannot lead Mozilla in this setting,” said Baker, who added that she would not and could not speak for Eich. “The ability to lead — particularly for the CEO — is fundamental to the role and that is not possible here.” The most damning aspect of this was their a) inability to predict this would be an issue…

Yes. I was waiting until he had the opportunity to actually put out a good response (despite the initial waffle). That interview destroyed any faith I had.

But I blame this entire trial and failure on the Board. It is their responsibility to vet candidates, and their inability see how this could blow up shows a horrible lack of judgment on their part.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#64

Post by dethstar »

return0 wrote: post #22
recusancy wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is "this mob"?

> We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better. So Mozilla has to "act" the way some people "expect them to act". There was not even a ballot, poll or evaluation of the man in the position. It was a pretty ridiculous move to avoid bad press. Talk about to sticking to values like meritocracy.

It wasn't just bad press, someone here posted a link to a "biggish" organization in, I think, Australia where they were asking people to boycott Mozilla by not using it's software.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#65

Post by coreymgilmore »

ZanyProgrammer wrote: post #47
coreymgilmore wrote: post #21

Well it happened. I think this is a little extreme and that he shouldn't have succumbed to the pressure. Apparently freedom of speech is no longer accepted by plenty of people in the US. It is okay to put money towards and protest for equal rights, but anytime someone says something negative against it all hell breaks loose. That being said, in general, I think people are a little too sensitive toward anything non-po…

Nah freedom of speech is alive and well. Freedom of speech does not mean you're immune from other people exercising their freedom of speech.

touche. touche.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#67

Post by wdewind »

andrewcooke wrote: post #30

i've stood my ground for my beliefs when people were ridiculing me for doing so. it's a lonely position to be in. i didn't share eich's views here, but he's free to have them, and the reason for the problem is, ironically, the intolerance of other people (people forcing their "tolerance" down his throat). he has my respect. not for his view on gays. but for staying true to what he did. i think this is a shame.

Except he didn't stand his ground at all. He never once explained his beliefs. If he had done that I think people would've been a lot more tolerant of him. I don't think it had to end this way.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#68

Post by vidarh »

Beliavsky wrote: post #15

From the article: "We have employees with a wide diversity of views. Our culture of openness extends to encouraging staff and community to share their beliefs and opinions in public." Clearly people with socially conservative views are not welcome at Mozilla.

Do you have any evidence of that? There's a wide gap between "ordinary employees", and a CEO position that includes responsibility for diversity and ensuring a workplace free of discrimination, as well as the public perception of the organization.

There are many views that can easily be reconciled with other roles that are very hard to reconcile with those responsibilities.

Re: Brendan Eich Steps Down as Mozilla CEO

#69

Post by conkrete »

Oculus wrote: post #6

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, Brendan Eich had some beliefs that were against Mozilla's core values, but on the other hand we just showed that when a mob on the Internet wants something - they get it. It's scary because this mob has global reach, unlimited power, but isn't always right.

In business the "Mob" is usually right. If the mob of people are saying they won't buy into your product, you usually conform to the mob.
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