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Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

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Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#31

The problem is that what constitutes politics? Guns shouldn't be political, who you have sex with shouldn't be political...but in our current climate, they are both considered political. ..and no debating? Most people at Google are shades of left. It sounds like they are just trying to drown out dissenting views once again.

Why do you feel the need to talk about sex at work or guns?

This actually made me laugh - I couldn't agree more. Since when is sexuality an open topic at work?

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#32

How about we do our jobs instead? Yes please!

This is exactly right. At my small startup we may have heated discussions about monads, or tabs vs spaces, but you'll never hear any talk about any elected official or laws or current events. It's not that we don't care. It's just that it's not the reason we spend 8+ hours/day together.

[deleted]

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#33
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your attempt to argue this is somehow vague or a slippery slope is silly - most workplaces seem to have not a tremendous amount of trouble with this, even though it is not rigorously defined.

Agreed. I am transgender, lesbian, asexual and polyromantic, and none of these things have I ever had so much as a discussion about at my office, nor have they sparked any 'political' discussion. (I work at one of the major 5 banks in Canada).

"transgender, lesbian"

Wait what

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#34

The problem is that what constitutes politics? Guns shouldn't be political, who you have sex with shouldn't be political...but in our current climate, they are both considered political. ..and no debating? Most people at Google are shades of left. It sounds like they are just trying to drown out dissenting views once again.

Another important point is that big tech is a topic this election cycle. Talking about google is political.

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#35

I think they just overestimated the ability of their employees to respect each other when they hold differing world views. That's kinda natural once you reach a certain size and your colleagues may as well be randos on the street. To be fair, that's a learning most businesses stumbled upon decades ago, it's the new generation of "re-invent management" companies that are speedrunning HR policy.

Time to re-read "I can tolerate anybody except my out-group."

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#37

The problem is that what constitutes politics? Guns shouldn't be political, who you have sex with shouldn't be political...but in our current climate, they are both considered political. ..and no debating? Most people at Google are shades of left. It sounds like they are just trying to drown out dissenting views once again.

> who you have sex with shouldn't be political

Sexuality has been a political issue (covered by legal or religious restrictions) in almost every society that has ever existed.

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#39

How about we do our jobs instead? Yes please!

This is exactly right. At my small startup we may have heated discussions about monads, or tabs vs spaces, but you'll never hear any talk about any elected official or laws or current events. It's not that we don't care. It's just that it's not the reason we spend 8+ hours/day together.

Beyond that if you're going to spend 8 hours with someone, you also might not want to argue every time Trump or Pelosi does something radical.

Re: Google Doesn’t Want Staff Debating Politics at Work Anymore

#40

I think they just overestimated the ability of their employees to respect each other when they hold differing world views. That's kinda natural once you reach a certain size and your colleagues may as well be randos on the street. To be fair, that's a learning most businesses stumbled upon decades ago, it's the new generation of "re-invent management" companies that are speedrunning HR policy.

I think they overestimated just how willing certain people are to not do their jobs and sit around arguing while being paid.
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