5 ms·

I'm a googler, going anonymous for soon-to-be obvious reasons. While I think this headline is overblown, I think the change would be for the better. For the pa

I'm a googler, going anonymous for soon-to-be obvious reasons. While I think this headline is overblown, I think the change would be for the better. For the past couple of years working at Google has been like what I'd imagine it's to work for the Trump administration: constant scandals, people around you being outraged, constant diversion of internal attention to issues unrelated to the core business etc. Nominally the internal culture is all for open communication and being yourself. However, it's far easier to express an opinion that signals your 'good' and 'acceptable' values by eg. demanding Google shuts down anything that's even remotely suspicious. This leads to the loudest voices being the most extreme ones and makes you feel like you're alone with your opinion if you happen to favor nuanced debate over knee jerk reactions. For example, I think Dragonfly is a good idea and something we should pursue - but honestly, I'm only comfortable expressing that opinion to a select few coworkers in a private setting. This brings me to my point of why I think more company control over worker organization might be good. I take pride in my work ethic. My dad raised me to respect the work I do. And every time a new scandal comes along and the internal company focus gets diverted to an issue on which only a small part of the company feels comfortable expressing their opinions of, my attention gets diverted and my work suffers. As does the company as a whole. As a stock owner, having an internal company culture less focused on outrage would be a great improvement.

endofcapital 8y ago
It seems, from the outside, that Google has quickly pivoted over the past 5? years from an innovative tech company to an entrenched, political operation trying to preserve status quos and revenue streams. Is that naive impression off base or is the kernel of truth there?
cf141q5325 8y ago
I dont think anyone is arguing it wouldnt be better for stock owners. Workers rights are generally the opposite of an improvement for stock owners. Thats not what they are there for. Its targeted at improving and safeguarding workers and in a broader sense society. In this case its so employees arent just silently doing what they are told matter the consequences those actions will have for the rest of the world.
- malvosenior 8y ago
  He's also speaking as an employee who is uncomfortable with the current state of Google. Do workers rights include the right to not be constantly bombarded with political messaging you don't agree with and to be intimidated into keeping your own opinions silent? This poster's message and the internal dialog that came out during the Damore hearing make Google sound like a horrible place to work that is aggressively overly politicized. So yeah, the stock holders would benefit from this but so would the employees.
  - cf141q5325 8y ago
    >Do workers rights include the right to not be constantly bombarded with political messaging you don't agree with and to be intimidated into keeping your own opinions silent? As a said, workers but also in a broader sense society. edit: Maybe a more concrete example would help, lets take Whistleblower protection for example
  - nailer 8y ago
    > the internal dialog that came out during the Damore hearing make Google sound like a horrible place to work that is aggressively overly politicized Sundar Pichai made almost the same argument as Damore - that interest in CS may be gender based - in an interview a few months later. Nobody tried to destroy him.
- googlerthrowaw 8y ago
  You're missing the point. I'm saying I'm completely willing to exchange some ease of worker organization for a more peaceful (some might even say thoughtful) workplace due to the current mess the culture is.
  - pmiller2 8y ago
    Those who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.
    - googlerthrowaw 8y ago
h0undawg1 8y ago
This is just what it's like to work at a large tech company in the Trump era. Emotions run too hot, and the vocal minority runs the show. I'm just waiting them out, their lack of focus on their actual work will be their downfall.

endofcapital 8y ago

It seems, from the outside, that Google has quickly pivoted over the past 5? years from an innovative tech company to an entrenched, political operation trying to preserve status quos and revenue streams. Is that naive impression off base or is the kernel of truth there?

cf141q5325 8y ago

I dont think anyone is arguing it wouldnt be better for stock owners. Workers rights are generally the opposite of an improvement for stock owners. Thats not what they are there for. Its targeted at improving and safeguarding workers and in a broader sense society. In this case its so employees arent just silently doing what they are told matter the consequences those actions will have for the rest of the world.

malvosenior 8y ago
He's also speaking as an employee who is uncomfortable with the current state of Google. Do workers rights include the right to not be constantly bombarded with political messaging you don't agree with and to be intimidated into keeping your own opinions silent? This poster's message and the internal dialog that came out during the Damore hearing make Google sound like a horrible place to work that is aggressively overly politicized. So yeah, the stock holders would benefit from this but so would the employees.
- cf141q5325 8y ago
  >Do workers rights include the right to not be constantly bombarded with political messaging you don't agree with and to be intimidated into keeping your own opinions silent? As a said, workers but also in a broader sense society. edit: Maybe a more concrete example would help, lets take Whistleblower protection for example
- nailer 8y ago
  > the internal dialog that came out during the Damore hearing make Google sound like a horrible place to work that is aggressively overly politicized Sundar Pichai made almost the same argument as Damore - that interest in CS may be gender based - in an interview a few months later. Nobody tried to destroy him.
googlerthrowaw 8y ago
You're missing the point. I'm saying I'm completely willing to exchange some ease of worker organization for a more peaceful (some might even say thoughtful) workplace due to the current mess the culture is.
- pmiller2 8y ago
  Those who would trade liberty for security deserve neither.
  - googlerthrowaw 8y ago

h0undawg1 8y ago

This is just what it's like to work at a large tech company in the Trump era. Emotions run too hot, and the vocal minority runs the show. I'm just waiting them out, their lack of focus on their actual work will be their downfall.