Republican engineer fired by Google hits back • Hacker News Board

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#21

Post by traderjane » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 12:51 AM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #18

cbanek wrote: post #6

> “I very much regret joining Google,” he says. “I figured it would be a good place to see intelligent arguments through." Um, here I thought it was a place to get some work done, not have political arguments? I don't see why so many people bring politics into the workplace unnecessarily. I have very strong political feelings, and I just try to keep them to myself at work, and talk about them outside of work. Especia…

It's the nature of work today. The lines between "work" and "life" have been blurred. The whole "burnout" phenomenon is a direct result of the fact that people are more emotionally invested in their work than ever, so it's not really fair to suggest that employees leave "politics" at home when society is prodding you to bring your whole self to work everyday.

Some companies or organizations are also brazenly and proudly political or religious. You could just not work there but then you lose out on work opportunity.

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#22

Post by BurningFrog » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 12:54 AM UTC

cbanek wrote: post #6

> “I very much regret joining Google,” he says. “I figured it would be a good place to see intelligent arguments through." Um, here I thought it was a place to get some work done, not have political arguments? I don't see why so many people bring politics into the workplace unnecessarily. I have very strong political feelings, and I just try to keep them to myself at work, and talk about them outside of work. Especia…

I think the point is that leftists at Google freely bring politics into the workplace as much as they like.

But when a conservative tries to participate in the conversation he gets bullied and fired.

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#23

Post by calciphus » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 1:45 AM UTC

mrbonner wrote: post #16

You know, free speech is a right in this nation. But, when I go to work I would leave my views of religions, politics and now guns at home. I just want to go to work, get things done and get the heck out. Heck, I don’t even want to stay after dark to socialize anymore. I am really concerned that if I say something stupid after a few drinks, I would be vilified like a sexist, antisocial or whatever the label is nowada…

Relevant xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1357/

Free speech refers to the speaker and the government. It does not mean you are free from the personal or professional consequences of speech.

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#24

Post by wyclif » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 1:57 AM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #18

cbanek wrote: post #6

> “I very much regret joining Google,” he says. “I figured it would be a good place to see intelligent arguments through." Um, here I thought it was a place to get some work done, not have political arguments? I don't see why so many people bring politics into the workplace unnecessarily. I have very strong political feelings, and I just try to keep them to myself at work, and talk about them outside of work. Especia…

It's the nature of work today. The lines between "work" and "life" have been blurred. The whole "burnout" phenomenon is a direct result of the fact that people are more emotionally invested in their work than ever, so it's not really fair to suggest that employees leave "politics" at home when society is prodding you to bring your whole self to work everyday.

Whatever our personal philosophies or politics, I think it's obvious that the nature of technical work has changed in America. Google's campus is lifestyle-designed. It's meant to maximise the time engineers spend on campus, with meals, laundry, massages, snacks, and other amenities.

Is it any wonder that, even if employees try to create a mental/emotional strict separation between work and home life, they would be tempted to bring their personal beliefs into work with them? It's human nature and inevitable, and Google, Facebook, et al opened the Pandora's Box on this effect.

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#25

Post by WaxProlix » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 4:14 AM UTC

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #11

WaxProlix wrote: post #5

I wonder what he was actually saying on these boards. Sometimes people clothe fairly repugnant stuff in 'political free speech'. Being toxic in the workplace shouldn't be tolerated, even if the would-be bully happens to claim some political leaning or another. The fact that the most damning quote we saw called him a "toxic asshole" and not a "conservative asshole" or something seems to imply he was just a not so grea…

Hard to say. If I'm mad at you because you're conservative, I can still call you "toxic" because it sounds worse. I can even justify it if, from my perspective, all conservatives are toxic by definition. Note well: I'm not saying that's what happened. I'm just saying that someone choosing that word doesn't tell us much.

Sure, it just seems like if there were anything more damning the guy would likely want it front and center (unless there are legal terms around that sort of thing etc).

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#26

Post by thedevilslawyer » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 5:51 AM UTC

julienreszka wrote: post #12

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does closing the message boards make work more alienating? Or does their existence make work more alienating (for most of the workers)?

Just look up the definition of alienation. Parent poster suggested to not bring your whole self to work.

That's fine? Maybe just bring your work-self to work. And leave political self for non-work?

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#27

Post by dvfjsdhgfv » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 6:10 AM UTC

julienreszka wrote: post #12

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does closing the message boards make work more alienating? Or does their existence make work more alienating (for most of the workers)?

Just look up the definition of alienation. Parent poster suggested to not bring your whole self to work.

I don't bring my whole self to work and don't feel alienated in the slighest. I have fun, I can joke about neutral things with my colleagues, but unless I'm close friends with some of them, I don't touch sensitive subjects that might offend people in all possible ways. And doing it on a public forum seems like a recipe for disaster.

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#28

Post by julienreszka » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 8:12 AM UTC

calciphus wrote: post #23

mrbonner wrote: post #16

You know, free speech is a right in this nation. But, when I go to work I would leave my views of religions, politics and now guns at home. I just want to go to work, get things done and get the heck out. Heck, I don’t even want to stay after dark to socialize anymore. I am really concerned that if I say something stupid after a few drinks, I would be vilified like a sexist, antisocial or whatever the label is nowada…

Relevant xkcd: https://xkcd.com/1357/ Free speech refers to the speaker and the government. It does not mean you are free from the personal or professional consequences of speech.

Stop thinking that this is some universal definition of free speech. Free speech can only fully be free speech if it's everywhere otherwise it should be called liberal speech.

Lookup the difference between freedom and liberty

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#29

Post by finnthehuman » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 12:23 PM UTC

julienreszka wrote: post #12

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does closing the message boards make work more alienating? Or does their existence make work more alienating (for most of the workers)?

Just look up the definition of alienation. Parent poster suggested to not bring your whole self to work.

Nobody gets to bring their "whole self" to work. Not unless “theirself” never steps outside social protocol for an office. It's a con. They want your mental investment, but what extra leeway do they give you to be yourself beyond what you already had?

Being yourself especially doesn’t exist in tech. Everything is so non-conformist conformist. I can't even have a conversation as myself at work. My roommates work in the trades, how I talk to them at home would get me fired so fucking fast if I tried it at work.

Re: Republican engineer fired by Google hits back

#30

Post by aries1980 » Fri, Aug 02, 2019, 12:40 PM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #18

cbanek wrote: post #6

> “I very much regret joining Google,” he says. “I figured it would be a good place to see intelligent arguments through." Um, here I thought it was a place to get some work done, not have political arguments? I don't see why so many people bring politics into the workplace unnecessarily. I have very strong political feelings, and I just try to keep them to myself at work, and talk about them outside of work. Especia…

It's the nature of work today. The lines between "work" and "life" have been blurred. The whole "burnout" phenomenon is a direct result of the fact that people are more emotionally invested in their work than ever, so it's not really fair to suggest that employees leave "politics" at home when society is prodding you to bring your whole self to work everyday.

Do these thing happen at other companies where people spend 60+ hours at work? E.g. in Japan or financial companies like Goldman Sachs?