4 ms·

I find it somewhat hypocritical that this article describes Google as a safe haven of dissent and open discussion, while it is pretty unanimous that expressing

by pcstl 7y ago

I find it somewhat hypocritical that this article describes Google as a safe haven of dissent and open discussion, while it is pretty unanimous that expressing even slightly right-of-center opinions at Google will have you ostracized and possibly fired.

esoterica 7y ago
I'm willing to bet you have a pretty wild idea about what "slightly right of center" means. The most recent "conservative" Googler in the news whining about being fired (Cernekee) was an open white supremacist.
- theflyinghorse 7y ago
  I'll bite just because I'm curious. I support strong border control and Canadian style immigration (point based/merit based). Where on the spectrum do you believe this idea lies?
compiler-guy 7y ago
Google circa 2010 and Google circa 2019 are very different companies.
- bogwog 7y ago
  The article did a good job of explaining the events that led to that. Basically just a bunch of internal controversies involving shit-slinging, leaks, and basically what has become the standard for internet discussion in the past few years have combined to erode the trust and protections employees had to openly discuss even their far-right/left beliefs without retaliation.
jayd16 7y ago
I can't really speak from experience but almost certainly it follows that open dissent will be greeted with open dissent. As for retaliation, that's something else.
einpoklum 7y ago
This line is a gem: > “Everyone thought Google had an absolute right to stop you from talking about anything related to Google" So, safe and open - as long all speech and action is completely controlled by the company. PS - Google's corporate political line and that of most of its employees, from what it looks like, seems to have been aligned with the corporate/right-wing of the Democratic party, i.e. right of center even of US public opinion.
- skybrian 7y ago
  "Completely controlled" is not accurate, but yes, not talking about Google outside work was the deal. It was a good deal. That's what made it work, up until the company started leaking like a sieve. Have you ever worked under those conditions? It's incredibly distracting. The alternative to trustworthiness and self-control is Apple-level secrecy. (And even they are leaking a lot these days.)

by pcstl 7y ago

esoterica 7y ago

I'm willing to bet you have a pretty wild idea about what "slightly right of center" means. The most recent "conservative" Googler in the news whining about being fired (Cernekee) was an open white supremacist.

theflyinghorse 7y ago
I'll bite just because I'm curious. I support strong border control and Canadian style immigration (point based/merit based). Where on the spectrum do you believe this idea lies?

compiler-guy 7y ago

Google circa 2010 and Google circa 2019 are very different companies.

bogwog 7y ago
The article did a good job of explaining the events that led to that. Basically just a bunch of internal controversies involving shit-slinging, leaks, and basically what has become the standard for internet discussion in the past few years have combined to erode the trust and protections employees had to openly discuss even their far-right/left beliefs without retaliation.

jayd16 7y ago

I can't really speak from experience but almost certainly it follows that open dissent will be greeted with open dissent. As for retaliation, that's something else.

einpoklum 7y ago

This line is a gem: > “Everyone thought Google had an absolute right to stop you from talking about anything related to Google" So, safe and open - as long all speech and action is completely controlled by the company. PS - Google's corporate political line and that of most of its employees, from what it looks like, seems to have been aligned with the corporate/right-wing of the Democratic party, i.e. right of center even of US public opinion.

skybrian 7y ago
"Completely controlled" is not accurate, but yes, not talking about Google outside work was the deal. It was a good deal. That's what made it work, up until the company started leaking like a sieve. Have you ever worked under those conditions? It's incredibly distracting. The alternative to trustworthiness and self-control is Apple-level secrecy. (And even they are leaking a lot these days.)