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One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

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Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#591

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All the essay shows is that your representation of his beliefs is obviously false.

Damore's essay seems to be a kind of Rorschach test. People sympathetic to Damore's views (or at least, to his approach to debate) seem to trust that he's arguing in good faith. People strongly opposed to his views seem to think he's being disingenuous.

Also known as a scissor statement [0]

0: (posted here regularly) https://slatestarcodex.com/2018/10/30/sort-by-controversial/

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#592

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. An asexual office is indeed one where sex is kept out of the office. Nobody really bothers to call their office "asexual" because almost all offices are asexual. If an office instituted a policy where sex was allowed in the office, and now you have co workers having sex in the cubicle next door and making sexual advances towards you, then that absolutely is intervening in emplo…

So to the original point, if you are not having sex, _are you being sexual?_ Or, if you are not discussing politics, _are you being political?_

> if you are not having sex, _are you being sexual?

No.

> Or, if you are not discussing politics, _are you being political?_

No.

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#593

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try to elaborate on why they are against gays marrying without the reasoning sounding homophobic.

It is a motte and bailey argument, most people agree with gays having access to legal marriage, the contentious part is religious marriage. Should we force preachers who don't believe that homosexuality is kosher to wed gay couples? A lot of people don't think so, and then they say they are against gay marriage even though they would be fine with legalizing them getting a legal marriage. For example, do you think tha…

The idea that gays are going around forcing religious people to marry them against their will is contrived and demonizing to gay people. Nobody forces someone to officiate their marriage. The question of gay marriage is entirely about the widespread legal ban on gay marriage and whether that is/was justified.

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#594
post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know, in most parts of the world and in many parts of the United States, being accepting to gay people is the outlier. See TikTok's banning LGBT content and Facebook's banning HIV drug awareness ads.

TikTok is not (only) banning LGBT content, they are banning political stuff altogether.

Being LGBT isn't the same as being political. It's not a subset of politics. Being accepting of gay people or prejudice against them might align with the two parties in the United States but someone's existence and visibility isn't inherently political. The point is that China (and many others in the world) are taking a stand against LGBT people, not just to preserve their hold on political power.

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#595
post #296

What we are seeing are the consequences of "Employee Capture". Google captured the hearts and minds of its employees for workplace productivity. Its side effects are varied. The real world only sees highlights. Googled created a bubble from which its employees can socialize without ever needing to do so with the outside world. Why talk politics with the outside world? Stay with us, where it is safe, people are intell…

With 20 years experience under my belt, it is my firm belief that the workplace is not a place to discuss politics, religion, or other highly personal and divisive issues. Obviously, this extends even more to the workplace itself bringing these topics up. I'm not aggressive or even obvious about this disposition, I just gently steer clear of violating it. I feel the same should apply to companies, fine if you want to…

[deleted]

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#596

What we are seeing are the consequences of "Employee Capture". Google captured the hearts and minds of its employees for workplace productivity. Its side effects are varied. The real world only sees highlights. Googled created a bubble from which its employees can socialize without ever needing to do so with the outside world. Why talk politics with the outside world? Stay with us, where it is safe, people are intell…

> Your colleagues are not an authentic social network who you can organise with and pursue activism. This is absolutely, 100% false. This is exactly what you SHOULD do, and this is what unions are for. Always organise with coworkers. Otherwise you are giving employers more power over you than you should.

Unions are specifically for topics revolving around the work: its conditions and compensation. It's not general activism for arbitrary causes.

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#597

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The interesting thing is that the hypothetical "publishes views about how X are inferior" is considered OK if "X" is "male" or "white", say. I understand the arguments from a structural racism/sexism standpoint for treating those situations differently from the ones you describe, but the specific test you propose seems to fail just as much: can you trust someone who thinks men are inferior in a job where they might h…

It was meant to be gender-neutral. I ought to have used "they," for clarity's sake.

I appreciate the clarification!

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#598

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Management deciding whether or not to increase vacation days is a political act. No, it's a company policy. There is a contingent of people who believe everything is a political act, and perhaps you are among them. But know that this view is not as widely held as you might think. > Employees deciding whether they want to stand together in negotations with management or handle stuff individually is a political Inter…

Your argument boils down to "most people agree with me". Can you substantiate that claim? Even if you could, that doesn't make the popular claim right, but your don't even have a proof that most people agree with you, sot you?

Go around and ask your co-workers, "would you you consider a push by management to have fewer meeting a political act?". I sampled my co-workers and none of them considered it political.

This works both ways: what data do you have that workers consider adjustments to things like meetings political acts?

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#599

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your argument boils down to "most people agree with me". Can you substantiate that claim? Even if you could, that doesn't make the popular claim right, but your don't even have a proof that most people agree with you, sot you?

Go around and ask your co-workers, "would you you consider a push by management to have fewer meeting a political act?". I sampled my co-workers and none of them considered it political. This works both ways: what data do you have that workers consider adjustments to things like meetings political acts?

> This works both ways: what data do you have that workers consider adjustments to things like meetings political acts?

Well no, you made an unsubstantiated claim. I'm just noting it was unsubstantiated. Given when I work, I suspect a survey of my co-workers would reach a different conclusion than you would.

As for why it might be political: encouraging certain working styles is political, is it not? Pushing people to work independently as opposed to collaboratively is a highly political choice.

Re: One Google Staffer Fired, Two Others Put on Leave Amid Tensions

#600

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Views lead to actions. You can not draw a line between them and hope people will happily stand on one side of it. If you allow intolerant views, you normalise intolerance. If you normalise intolerance, you ALSO normalise intolerant acts, and they WILL follow naturally.

So you are arguing that people should be punished for thought crimes? You most certainly can draw a line between actions and views, and fortunately most laws do.

No, I am arguing that everyone can and should do all they can to condemn hatred. That regular people should make sure there are consequences for being a hateful bigot. And that people should not get tricked by "both-sides" bullshit, or empty appeals to "freedom of speech".

Don't be friends with a racist. Make sure they understand their views are not acceptable. Do your part today.

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