Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

cnbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

201–210 of 368 posts

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#201

Post by smashah »

dekhn wrote: post #172
smashah wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I don't work for Google (anymore). I did work in cloud and supported their efforts to work with the US military and the militaries of our allies. I'm going to stop responding to this thread because comparing the IEF to the SS is not a worthwhile thing to do in an internet thread about protests.

Why not? Palestinian children are exploded into a million pieces and scattered throughout the road and rubble by US-funded munitions signed with pithy 3000 year old history lessons, the least we can do is accept the wanton disregard for human life by America's most important ally is akin to others in our modern history.

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#203

Post by 3np »

lordfrito wrote: post #125

Lately it seems that more and more rank-and-file employees believe that a company has some sort of moral obligation to take their political opinions into consideration. Corporations aren't democracies. Unless you're an executive or high ranking decision maker, you're along for the ride. I don't ask my kids for their opinion about my home budget, what house I should buy, etc. So it is at work. Expecting a company to k…

“I refuse to build technology that powers genocide.” is not a political consideration, it's an ethical one. The notion that the employer should take ethical concerns into consideration is not a recent trend. Though perhaps the politiciation of it is.

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#204

Post by moribvndvs »

duxup wrote: post #34

I'm all for some good old civil disobedience as far as every day choices go in the outside world. However, I also think if you're employed somewhere there are reasonable expectations as far as workplace behavior goes that would prohibit the same "protest" or "civil disobedience" type behavior. It is interesting that the protestor immediately declares that they don't wan to work for such a company. It sorta begs the q…

I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect that because you took a position, you forfeit any rights to decide a company has crossed your ethical line in the sand, or that you shouldn’t use a unique opportunity–even at your own risk–to appeal to other employees and leadership to adjust course. Growing up, I was told by family, mentors, educators that you effect change from within. Protest only when it’s safe and convenient is easily dismissed thus counterproductive.

It’s up to the individual to decide if this employee was right or wrong about the issue at hand, but puzzling over whether or not they’re some sort of fool for strongly believing in something seems a bit obtuse.

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#205

Post by shrimp_emoji »

dekhn wrote: post #172
smashah wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

I don't work for Google (anymore). I did work in cloud and supported their efforts to work with the US military and the militaries of our allies. I'm going to stop responding to this thread because comparing the IEF to the SS is not a worthwhile thing to do in an internet thread about protests.

Yep. It's not like VW defending the Nazi regime.

But it could be, in an alternate universe.

And that still sucks. For me, it's a principles thing. Personally, I think charging Israel with "genocide" is stupid. But I also think it's shitty he got fired. But I also think companies have a right to fire people. Short of some insight or prescription coming out of those set of opinions, it just makes me hate Google more than I already did. :D

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#206

Post by shrimp_emoji »

smashah wrote: post #201
dekhn wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't work for Google (anymore). I did work in cloud and supported their efforts to work with the US military and the militaries of our allies. I'm going to stop responding to this thread because comparing the IEF to the SS is not a worthwhile thing to do in an internet thread about protests.

Why not? Palestinian children are exploded into a million pieces and scattered throughout the road and rubble by US-funded munitions signed with pithy 3000 year old history lessons, the least we can do is accept the wanton disregard for human life by America's most important ally is akin to others in our modern history.

So everyone who kills civilians is like the Nazis?

Wow, I guess everyone who has ever fought in war is like the Nazis.

What a wild worldview.

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#208

Post by archagon »

lordfrito wrote: post #125

Lately it seems that more and more rank-and-file employees believe that a company has some sort of moral obligation to take their political opinions into consideration. Corporations aren't democracies. Unless you're an executive or high ranking decision maker, you're along for the ride. I don't ask my kids for their opinion about my home budget, what house I should buy, etc. So it is at work. Expecting a company to k…

If enough employees want it to be so, a company can certainly be coerced into becoming more democratic.

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#209

Post by archagon »

throwaway118899 wrote: post #182
jodleif wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can’t figure out if this is some sort of advanced joke or not- considering the original meaning of “idiot”

[flagged]

Says the dude with a throwaway.

Re: Google fires employee who protested Israel tech event, shuts forum

#210

Post by schmookeeg »

surfpel wrote: post #188
mise_en_place wrote: post #22

My old manager put it best: No politics and religion in the workplace. Seriously, it's as simple as that. We are here to work, not philosophize about politics and current events.

> My old manager put it best: No politics and religion in the workplace. No politics for you . The corporate strategy, governance, hiring, dealmaking, etc... will all be politically informed. All your work will contribute to the political beliefs of leadership. It's such a strange abstraction to believe that you're somehow separate from that.

When I have my client's money rattling around in my bank account, I find other avenues to express my annoyance with them. Mainly complaining to my wife :) If the annoyance becomes unbearable, I quietly find some new position to work at.

It's ingratitude at some level. If workers should not be grateful to their employers for their jobs, that's a different conversation, but yeah, sabotaging an external PR event -- what employer is going to giggle, clap, and congratulate this person's "bravery" ?? termination had to be expected here.

Amusingly, the employee now gets 6+ months of unemployment benefits to contemplate the means of their activism.

Post reply on HN