3 ms·

Context matters and specifics matter. There aren't a lot of useful conclusions we can come to from willfully abstract discussions of messy realities.

throwaway0255 9y ago
I disagree. The only variable he changed between the two options was the religion involved, so we can have that discussion. Disparaging Christianity would be mostly acceptable and would receive a warning at most. I've personally witnessed this, no problems. I think disparaging Islam would instantly earn you a reputation that you would never shake during your entire time at the company, you would 100% receive a warning at the very least, and depending on your coworkers, might be outright fired. If you weren't fired, you'd live the rest of your days at the company as a pariah. That all seems self-evident to me, and I find that pretty interesting. Why is discussing it off-limits?
- Avshalom 9y ago
  "in general" covers all changes of all variables.
  - rhapsodic 9y ago
    >"in general" covers all changes of all variables. What I meant when I wrote "in general" was "as a group." For example, Anil Dash, CEO of Fog Creek Software, makes a blanket statement about Christians in this tweet: https://twitter.com/anildash/status/928815535206424576 https://twitter.com/anildash/status/928815535206424576 "No other religion’s followers in America insist on every public official being of their faith." That is a statement, not about a specific individual or group of Christians, but Christians in general. And it's offensive and ridiculous. I know many Christians, but not one of whom for which that statement holds true. Well, I suppose it could be true for some, but most, I know for a fact, it's not. It's like someone saying "Jews are cheap." It's a blanket statement that I think is offensive and ridiculous. However, I've had Jewish relatives who were, in fact, the cheapest people I've ever known, beyond caricature, and I said that about them, in particular, on more than one occasion.

throwaway0255 9y ago

I disagree. The only variable he changed between the two options was the religion involved, so we can have that discussion. Disparaging Christianity would be mostly acceptable and would receive a warning at most. I've personally witnessed this, no problems. I think disparaging Islam would instantly earn you a reputation that you would never shake during your entire time at the company, you would 100% receive a warning at the very least, and depending on your coworkers, might be outright fired. If you weren't fired, you'd live the rest of your days at the company as a pariah. That all seems self-evident to me, and I find that pretty interesting. Why is discussing it off-limits?

Avshalom 9y ago
"in general" covers all changes of all variables.
- rhapsodic 9y ago
  >"in general" covers all changes of all variables. What I meant when I wrote "in general" was "as a group." For example, Anil Dash, CEO of Fog Creek Software, makes a blanket statement about Christians in this tweet: https://twitter.com/anildash/status/928815535206424576 https://twitter.com/anildash/status/928815535206424576 "No other religion’s followers in America insist on every public official being of their faith." That is a statement, not about a specific individual or group of Christians, but Christians in general. And it's offensive and ridiculous. I know many Christians, but not one of whom for which that statement holds true. Well, I suppose it could be true for some, but most, I know for a fact, it's not. It's like someone saying "Jews are cheap." It's a blanket statement that I think is offensive and ridiculous. However, I've had Jewish relatives who were, in fact, the cheapest people I've ever known, beyond caricature, and I said that about them, in particular, on more than one occasion.