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Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

theregister.co.uk

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Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#51

Post by claudeganon »

baalimago wrote: post #13

Reminds me of Peter Handke's recent Nobel prize in literature, where the committee were/are heavily criticized for judging only by literature, and not by Handke's political viewpoints. Maybe politics doesn't need to be involved in every single part of society, only the political aspects of it.

What are the bounds of the “political aspects” of society though and how are they negotiable? If we’re to preclude “politics” from the workplace, we would have to have also explain how most of the rights we enjoy as workers are the direct byproducts of labor struggle and its “politicization” of the economy and business practices.

Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#52

Post by dvt »

mosselman wrote: post #41
dvt wrote: post #21

GitLab are being hypocritical[1][2]. Let's not pretend the "women in tech" and LGBT movements aren't political. Frankly, I think more women in tech and LGBT representation are probably good things, but GitLab is being profoundly disingenuous with their guidelines. To clarify my point: if you open the gates to the marketplace of ideas, make sure it's an actual marketplace . [1] https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2018/10/08…

What do you mean? I am honestly asking, not flaming or anything. What is the point you are making?

That they are being hypocritical. Frankly, I think more women in tech and LGBT representation are probably good things, but GitLab is being profoundly disingenuous.

Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#56

Post by maximente »

sokoloff wrote: post #15
jswizzy wrote: post #3

When was it ever okay to discuss politics at work?

Whenever you have reasonable adults working together? I think I’ve, on appropriate occasion, discussed politics with friends and colleagues at every workplace I’ve ever been at. [Edit: some senior leadership] openly supports the DNC and has commented to that effect at town halls. To pretend that people are apolitical or to ban all political discussions because some people can’t seem to handle disagreements in a profe…

you do you but i'd be very, very careful about volunteering your identity as well as CEO's political points of view (trivial to associate via your profile) without his consent on a widely trafficked web site

Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#57

Post by yawgmoth »

milesward wrote: post #29

Human rights aren't politics, they're non-negotiable.

Agreed. I am reminded of MLK Jr's Letter From A Birmingham Jail: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham....

The salient point being that indifference at scale is worse than individuals with explicit bias.

Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#58

Post by mosselman »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #22
jswizzy wrote: post #3

When was it ever okay to discuss politics at work?

When things some people classify as "politics" directly affect work. When you're trying to get your company to make improvements to the state of the world. When you're talking about corporate culture, inclusion, and solving problems. When you're arranging for your company to make a donation, or sponsor an event, or advising against doing so due to potential ramifications. When you're making travel plans and need to k…

> We're not just talking about the stereotype people standing around a water cooler declaring affiliations and throwing political talking points past each other.

Who said they aren't talking about just that?

At one of my first jobs people got a bit upset in a discussion at some point about religion. My then boss said 'I have learned to never talk about politics and religion at work.'. He didn't forbid it, but the point is valid: why talk about things that gets people unreasonably fired up?

Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#59

Post by lordCarbonFiber »

JohnFen wrote: post #16
jswizzy wrote: post #3

When was it ever okay to discuss politics at work?

Nearly every place I've worked at (in the US) over the last 20 years has had an explicit prohibition against discussing politics or religion in the workplace. I'm not saying if it's OK or not as a philosophical matter, but it does help make the workplace more pleasant.

Which is great, right up until you work with people that aren't straight cis white men. Nonaction is and always will be political; it's just the politics of upholding the status quo.

When a regular political talking point is whether it's ok to fire you for existing the hypocrisy of the "don't put politics in my " becomes painful (and certainly less than pleasant).

Companies should be free to declare they support the status quo, but they should never get a free pass as if that's some sort of neutral, objective opinion. They've chosen to make a stance and should be appraised as such.

Re: Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

#60

Post by umvi »

dang wrote: post #31
dvt wrote: post #21

GitLab are being hypocritical[1][2]. Let's not pretend the "women in tech" and LGBT movements aren't political. Frankly, I think more women in tech and LGBT representation are probably good things, but GitLab is being profoundly disingenuous with their guidelines. To clarify my point: if you open the gates to the marketplace of ideas, make sure it's an actual marketplace . [1] https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2018/10/08…

Those are great questions. But please omit the flamebait. (Edit: dvt kindly took the flamebait out—see below.) If flames take over, only the people who enjoy flaming will remain in the debate. That's a strict loss for thread quality, which is one reason for the guideline I asked everyone to remember above: " Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive. " https://news.y…

Or, more succinctly: "Generate light, not heat"
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