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Can someone explain why Google seems to be such a hotbed for stuff like this? I ask this question in earnest. Perhaps this is just bias in what the media choose
by nilkn 7y ago
Can someone explain why Google seems to be such a hotbed for stuff like this? I ask this question in earnest. Perhaps this is just bias in what the media chooses to report, or perhaps the cross-section of news that I read fails to find other examples, but social uproar seems overwhelmingly more common at Google than most other workplaces in both the software industry and most other industries in general.
As for the memo itself, I do highly recommend reading it directly first rather than commentary on it:
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmjvy3/heres-the-memo-about-the-burden-of-being-black-at-google https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zmjvy3/heres-the-memo-abo...
- hguant 7y agoGoogle has long had a policy of 'bringing your whole self to work.' The company actively encourages (or at least, encouraged) its employees to be political, and to be 'true to themselves' in the workplace.
- kgwgk 7y agoThey are encouraged to express their political opinions as long as they choose wisely what are their opinions.
- josteink 7y agoThey are encouraged to express their political opinions as long as they are not republican views. I think that more accurately sums it up. Edit: Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-google-employees-are-blacklisted-lawsuit-alleges-2018-1 http://www.businessinsider.com/conservative-google-employees...
- TomMckenny 7y agoWhere the call for "diversity" is twisted to mean that more overtly bigoted persons and statements should be brought in and entertained? The call that claims "diversity" should include movements towards less diversity?
- Udik 7y ago- The call that claims "diversity" should include movements towards less diversity? Of course it should. It's the diversity of opinions. Otherwise you're calling for an exterior diversity (I'm black, you're Asian, she's transgender) but a complete uniformity of opinions and worldviews.
- TomMckenny 7y agoThen I imagine they are quite happy since their desire for less diversity would be met by (the imagined policy) excluding those who want less diversity. Unless of course the objection is not to diversity per-se but some particular groups. If the anti-diversity crowd are under represented in tech, it's probably for they same reason the highest productivity areas are the most liberal in their countries and formed mostly from those that left other areas.
- bluthru 7y agoOf course people should be able to advocate against diversity, especially when diversity is creating so much avoidable strife.
- TomMckenny 7y agoSure, but not in a work place. That is not the appropriate place to denounce other workers as "inanely inferior". Even so, there are plenty of workplaces that practice anti-diversity, pro-discriminatory behavior. I believe even US govt contractors are allowed to discriminate on sexual orientation now. So there are plenty of workplaces for those uncomfortable in tolerant environments and preferring a more bigoted work place. But apparently that is insufficient: apparently they want _no_ work place to be diverse. And indeed, whatever strife there is will end the instant those who resent equality overcome their internal angst.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- gowld 7y agoGooglers are very politically active on Twitter, and Google allows employees free expression, and Google is hugein people's lives, so the Internet iis able and interested in Google gossip. "Big Company has some wealthy, elitist, casually racist employees" isn't news, except when the company is Google, for some reason. But Google doesn't fire people for airing dirty laundry.
- josteink 7y ago> Googlers are very politically active on Twitter, and Google allows employees free expression But if you post something which doesn’t pander to the extreme left on a internal discussion group, you get your memo “leaked” out in public and are fired in less than a week (Ref James Damore). Google only encourages leftist politics, and nothing else.
- patchworkguilt 7y agoJames Damore was fired for misogyny, which is not a valued viewpoint anywhere on the mainstream political spectrum.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- BadassFractal 7y agohttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/no-the-google-manifesto-isnt-sexist-or-anti-diversity-its-science/article35903359/ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/no-the-google-manife...
- tracker1 7y agoPointing out that statistical variance between female and male hiring is influenced by behavioral differences with men and women isn't misogyny. In a free society, where men and women are encouraged to take whatever career they want, men and women tend to choose careers in differing ratios. Unless you think women should be forced against their will to be software developers?
- rwz 7y agoCould also be related to the fact that Google is hiring a ton of people fresh out of college, given how politically active and sheltered from any kind of dissent views current college kids are.
- tootie 7y agoAside from any intrinsic reasons to Google, it's also a huge and diverse company with a big public spotlight on it at all times. Every public flap involving Google gets amplified more than it would for any second-tier place.
- ericmcer 7y agoIt’s just what’s hot right now? Look at hacker news. There are several articles on interesting technical topics on the front page right now and this thread has almost triple the comments of any other. People love to have opinions on this stuff.
- B-Con 7y agoDefinitely some bias in reporting. If this happens at a small company no one cares, it's just another day. Also I feel like Google had attracted some idealistic people who are surprised when real life doesn't conform to their expectations, then their reaction is disproportionate and overly centered on the work environment.