3 ms·

It is true that the law in general is a very imperfect tool and standard, for all the reasons you mention and more. But I do think many specific laws are good o

It is true that the law in general is a very imperfect tool and standard, for all the reasons you mention and more. But I do think many specific laws are good ones. For example, various laws says it's illegal to not hire or to fire someone based on some protected characteristics like e.g. race, gender or sexual orientation. (I'm aware that this isn't universal among US states.) I think this is a good thing. And I think political opinions (expressed in a private capacity) should also be a protected category, and for broadly the same reasons: to prevent segregation, to protect minorities, to encourage healthy democracy as opposed to all-out political war.

dalke 10y ago
My primary criticism was that you haven't shown that tech in the US is any different in this regard than other fields. I again assert that you (and I) have heard of these case primarily because we are in tech. FWIW, while Israel has laws which prohibit discrimination based on political beliefs (according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Israel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Israel ), for most part of the US "Political speech and activity, especially in private sector employment, is not well protected by anti-retaliation laws". Quoting http://www.workplacefairness.org/retaliation-political-activity http://www.workplacefairness.org/retaliation-political-activ... .
- danarmak 10y ago
  I never said that tech is different from other fields. If I implied that, it was unintentional. Quoting my reply to you from a different comment: > Finally, I don't know how much the US tech industry is different. I have a feeling it's more polarized than European or (in my case) Israeli tech, simply because US politics tends to be more polarized. Regardless, as a techie, I both care more and can influence more the tech industry than any other, and I'm more upset by such behavior in the tech field.
  - dalke 10y ago
    Good point. Had you made it more general I could have criticized you the other way. Your original observation is sound.

dalke 10y ago

My primary criticism was that you haven't shown that tech in the US is any different in this regard than other fields. I again assert that you (and I) have heard of these case primarily because we are in tech. FWIW, while Israel has laws which prohibit discrimination based on political beliefs (according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Israel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Israel ), for most part of the US "Political speech and activity, especially in private sector employment, is not well protected by anti-retaliation laws". Quoting http://www.workplacefairness.org/retaliation-political-activity http://www.workplacefairness.org/retaliation-political-activ... .

danarmak 10y ago
I never said that tech is different from other fields. If I implied that, it was unintentional. Quoting my reply to you from a different comment: > Finally, I don't know how much the US tech industry is different. I have a feeling it's more polarized than European or (in my case) Israeli tech, simply because US politics tends to be more polarized. Regardless, as a techie, I both care more and can influence more the tech industry than any other, and I'm more upset by such behavior in the tech field.
- dalke 10y ago
  Good point. Had you made it more general I could have criticized you the other way. Your original observation is sound.