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SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

nytimes.com

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Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#891

To put things in context, the astonishing amount of five employees were fired. And more than 9400 employees weren't fired. It sounds like most Space X employees are doing fine. And we are talking about an example of "soviet management" here?

We have no idea how many other employees agreed with the five, and the point is that we'll never know, because the precedent of "speak up and you're fired" has now been set. Being an autocrat doesn't mean getting rid of everyone who disagrees with you, just the ones who dare to do something about it (or potentially might).

over 400 other employees signed the letter before it was taken down.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/17/23172913/spacex-complaint...

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#893

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worst thing? His influencing is central to his success. Unfortunately for civil discourse, it’s more effective to create controversial messaging that resonates with your followers, than sanitized messaging that is generally inoffensive. Controversial messaging makes your supporters increasingly loyal and attentive, as the noise from vocal ‘haters’ just keeps feeding your base. It’s perverse, it’s toxic, it’s exhausti…

That's a false dichotomy. In reality, there are more options than just "be boring" or "be sensational." Those other options just aren't in fashion right now.

So in practice those aren’t really options if you have to compete with what is in fashion currently.

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#894
post #559

Was this the "free speech" dude? Same dude as this? https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/03/elon-musk...

These aren't inconsistent. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences, if said consequences do not restrict future freedom of speech.

Can somebody explain me "free speech"? What does it even mean? Does it mean that you are "free" to speak out whatever you want, but after you have done that, we can decide to punish you? Or does it mean, you can speak out freely without the fear of punishment(consequences)? If I know I will be fired for speaking out, is it still free speech?

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#895

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is pretty hypocritical though for Mr. Free Speech to fire people who have concerns rather than address those concerns in a civil dialogue. Musk likes to whinge about “censorship” amounting to banning a Twitter account but seems perfectly okay firing someone and removing their livelihood for speaking critically of him. Also retaliation is very much still illegal, not that it matters.

This is pure nonsense. Neither Musk or his company owes you a job, and you certainly shouldn't work at his company if you disagree with his vison or politics. Shedding the woke weight has to feel good, for both Musk and for other employees, who no doubt had to endure constant whining.

The company doesn't owe Musk a job either.

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#896

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is pretty hypocritical though for Mr. Free Speech to fire people who have concerns rather than address those concerns in a civil dialogue. Musk likes to whinge about “censorship” amounting to banning a Twitter account but seems perfectly okay firing someone and removing their livelihood for speaking critically of him. Also retaliation is very much still illegal, not that it matters.

This is pure nonsense. Neither Musk or his company owes you a job, and you certainly shouldn't work at his company if you disagree with his vison or politics. Shedding the woke weight has to feel good, for both Musk and for other employees, who no doubt had to endure constant whining.

[deleted]

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#897
> In an email, Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president, said the letter had made other employees “feel uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied.”

Whatever the situation, this is just brazen propaganda techniques. How shameful and obvious. I'm a little surprised it hasn't been called out in this discussion.

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#898
"distraction and embarrassment"

That was the accusation by the former employees, but that seems more like projection. The small gang behind this is an embarrassment and causing distraction, and little else.

These 5 or so clowns also:

> made other staff feel "uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/spacex-fires-employees-in...

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#899

Twitter is the worst thing to happen to Musk. The social media addiction knows no class/age/wealth/religious/creed boundary. It’s like social cancer that slowly destroys your relationship to society. Musk has done great things but these days I think he’s at his lowest point. /I’ve said this about three times now in threads like these.

Worst thing? His influencing is central to his success. Unfortunately for civil discourse, it’s more effective to create controversial messaging that resonates with your followers, than sanitized messaging that is generally inoffensive. Controversial messaging makes your supporters increasingly loyal and attentive, as the noise from vocal ‘haters’ just keeps feeding your base. It’s perverse, it’s toxic, it’s exhausti…

> Unfortunately for civil discourse, it’s more effective to create controversial messaging that resonates with your followers, than sanitized messaging that is generally inoffensive.

Those aren't the options. You can - and many do, as a matter of course - create effective, powerful messaging that is not 'sanitized' or offensive. You can see it all the time on HN.

Re: SpaceX said to fire employees involved in letter rebuking Elon Musk

#900

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is pretty hypocritical though for Mr. Free Speech to fire people who have concerns rather than address those concerns in a civil dialogue. Musk likes to whinge about “censorship” amounting to banning a Twitter account but seems perfectly okay firing someone and removing their livelihood for speaking critically of him. Also retaliation is very much still illegal, not that it matters.

This is pure nonsense. Neither Musk or his company owes you a job, and you certainly shouldn't work at his company if you disagree with his vison or politics. Shedding the woke weight has to feel good, for both Musk and for other employees, who no doubt had to endure constant whining.

> you certainly shouldn't work at his company if you disagree with his vison or politics.

Vision maybe. Politics are irrelevant to work. It is impossible to achieve 100% alignment in an organization of more than one person. And even then I'm not sure it is possible.

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