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Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

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Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#11

Post by edgefield »

gtirloni wrote: post #3

Could you define the set of beliefs that comprise "right-leaning"? That should help here.

Unfortunately, right leaning in the US has come to include views that run counter to science, diversity/inclusivity, and human rights for all (right to vote, right to choose). Are these views welcome in tech companies? Not generally.

Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#13

Post by pseudo0 »

It depends, but some areas of tech are more welcoming than others. If you're more libertarian right-leaning, fintech is probably a decent bet. If non-libertarian right-wing, you could always get a clearance and work for one of the many defence contractors in NoVA or MD.

You'd likely be miserable in SF or Seattle though. In some circles it isn't enough just to shut up regarding certain topics - "silence is violence" and you're expected to enthusiastically applaud the zeitgeist of the week.

Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#14

Post by mmalla »

The uncomfortable truth is that this in large part predicated on the culture set by the founders of the company. Only founders have the leeway to dictate what is culturally apropos. Although, I believe that there are strong regional forcing functions that heavily encourage founders to lean one way (in silicon valley, this is usually left). In particular these forcing functions are ability to recruit, form business partnerships and generate positive peer/user sentiment. If you are part of the political out group this can severely hamper your ability to do many of the things necessary for success which is why you don't see any companies riding against the wave (it's hard enough as it is).

Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#15

Post by eddof13 »

evv555 wrote: post #10
eddof13 wrote: post #6

I could say I don't support or believe in tech censorship, vaccine passports, virtue signaling, BLM, critical race theory, white guilt/privilege and that I don't believe that trans women are women. However, I suspect that it's true that an employer would not approve of that, and that right leaning beliefs or believers don't get a fair shake in this climate. So I think it's best to not be open about and say such thing…

The "Milgram Experiments" were successful because of people "just doing their jobs". If the situation has regressed to the point of being a bystander then I'm not sure what's best here.

Ideally a law where a person can't be fired because they have offensive political beliefs or opinions, I like tenure in universities

Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#16

Post by lostcolony »

edgefield wrote: post #11
gtirloni wrote: post #3

Could you define the set of beliefs that comprise "right-leaning"? That should help here.

Unfortunately, right leaning in the US has come to include views that run counter to science, diversity/inclusivity, and human rights for all (right to vote, right to choose). Are these views welcome in tech companies? Not generally.

Those views aren't welcome in most companies, period. Hence the op's rather important question "what views". Just because the hateful and anti-science groups have found a home in the modern day GOP doesn't mean that a given conservative shares them, even when holding their nose to vote.

Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#17

Post by genkimind »

I lean right (fiscally) and sometimes my comments are perceived as unwelcome in group chats. Such topics include afghanistan, covid statistics, are seemingly discouraged. Comments talking about how terrible, racist, and sexist the company is are totally cool. In fact creating a woman's right's channel where the whole purpose is to bash our own employer is also cool. @hereing #general with stories about sexism and how it is rampant in society and white males are no problem. But not afghanistan. Not ok. I imagine most people must hate the obnoxious BS but nobody wants to shout back in 2021.

Re: Ask HN: Can you be openly politically right-leaning in tech in North America?

#19

Post by genkimind »

pseudo0 wrote: post #13

It depends, but some areas of tech are more welcoming than others. If you're more libertarian right-leaning, fintech is probably a decent bet. If non-libertarian right-wing, you could always get a clearance and work for one of the many defence contractors in NoVA or MD. You'd likely be miserable in SF or Seattle though. In some circles it isn't enough just to shut up regarding certain topics - "silence is violence" a…

Moving the opposite direction, just discovered west coast social justice issues. Jesus christ.
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