7 ms·

>It's possible that there really is fire here, but that's a textbook example of how not to blow the whistle and be seen as credible. For some reason, this stat

by vaidhy 6y ago

>It's possible that there really is fire here, but that's a textbook example of how not to blow the whistle and be seen as credible. For some reason, this statement strikes me as being cruel to someone who is willing to take a stand on moral principles. For someone to buck the orders, it takes a lot of courage and be able to stand up under pressure. There are no textbook examples of how to whistleblow and I think we owe these people who are willing to call out problems as they see it a more charitable hearing.

gowld 6y ago
Problem is "someone who is willing to take a stand on moral principles" looks the same as "someone who was caught with their hand in the cookie jar and claims to be a victim".
- CydeWeys 6y ago
  Do you think that's relevant to this particular situation though? What did she do that counts as getting her hand caught in the cookie jar?
  - downerending 6y ago
    One big problem is the timing of all of this. In a typical government job, you could stab a co-worker to death, and management will sit around for three months mulling what to do about it. In this case, it sounds like they told her to make a change, she said she disagreed but made the change anyway. And then they fired her? For what? This just doesn't ring true. The coverup idea doesn't make much sense either. Apparently the "deleted" data was minor detail that would be published in a day or two anyway. Is it even material? Would anyone even be looking at it, aside from this scandal? Also sounds off. My guess is that (right or wrong), she was already on someone's shitlist, and this was the last straw. The "my successors will be liars" thing certainly wouldn't make me want to work with her. There will be an investigation, as there should be. I suspect there's little or no fire.
    - kaitai 6y ago
      I actually agree with the beginning part of your comment, but then it makes much more sense to me that she was fired for political reasons. Pissing someone off or making them look bad is one of the few ways I see a fast firing happening in government these days.
      - zo1 6y ago
        One thing to add to that is that: Yes, it may be political, but it may be a very localized political situation (like a coworker or a PM or just this person's boss). The media/news/articles/discussion appear to be portraying this event in such a way as to portray the local governor/state-government in a bad light and as somehow responsible. See all the talk about the governor in this thread, the orders about nursing homes, etc.
downerending 6y ago
> I think we owe these people who are willing to call out problems as they see it a more charitable hearing. In general, whistleblowers should be attended to, due consideration should be given to what they are risking. But if you're going to do it, you need to build up a case and make it carefully and dispassionately, and above all maintain your professionalism. This reads more like a divorce proceeding.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- hitekker 6y ago
  > But if you're going to do it, you need to build up a case and make it carefully and dispassionately, and above all maintain your professionalism. Last time I checked, the whistleblower wasn't raving or cursing on the way out. It sounds like you're just generally uncomfortable with questioning authority.
  - downerending 6y ago
    Wrong number.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
- alexashka 6y ago
  If you're going to be dispassionate, you'll never whistle blow - nobody weighing the pros/cons dispassionately would consider ruining their career to expose one of the millions of shit companies a worthwhile endeavour.
JackFr 6y ago
> For someone to buck the orders, it takes a lot of courage and be able to stand up under pressure. But it doesn’t mean she’s right, it just means she feels strongly about it.
jeegsy 6y ago
Maybe its the morality of society in general or maybe its the Trump effect but I think we have been too quick to assign hero status and moral uprightness to people at the slightest opportunity. I'm not calling this woman a liar but as long as I can imagine a plausible scenario that provides an alternative explanation to whatever has been claimed especially considering that I dont know this person personally, I think I for one will not be so hasty with the canonization.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
koheripbal 6y ago
Or maybe she just overreacted and didn't understand the nature of the epidemiologist's data change?

by vaidhy 6y ago

gowld 6y ago

Problem is "someone who is willing to take a stand on moral principles" looks the same as "someone who was caught with their hand in the cookie jar and claims to be a victim".

CydeWeys 6y ago
Do you think that's relevant to this particular situation though? What did she do that counts as getting her hand caught in the cookie jar?
- downerending 6y ago
  One big problem is the timing of all of this. In a typical government job, you could stab a co-worker to death, and management will sit around for three months mulling what to do about it. In this case, it sounds like they told her to make a change, she said she disagreed but made the change anyway. And then they fired her? For what? This just doesn't ring true. The coverup idea doesn't make much sense either. Apparently the "deleted" data was minor detail that would be published in a day or two anyway. Is it even material? Would anyone even be looking at it, aside from this scandal? Also sounds off. My guess is that (right or wrong), she was already on someone's shitlist, and this was the last straw. The "my successors will be liars" thing certainly wouldn't make me want to work with her. There will be an investigation, as there should be. I suspect there's little or no fire.
  - kaitai 6y ago
    I actually agree with the beginning part of your comment, but then it makes much more sense to me that she was fired for political reasons. Pissing someone off or making them look bad is one of the few ways I see a fast firing happening in government these days.
    - zo1 6y ago
      One thing to add to that is that: Yes, it may be political, but it may be a very localized political situation (like a coworker or a PM or just this person's boss). The media/news/articles/discussion appear to be portraying this event in such a way as to portray the local governor/state-government in a bad light and as somehow responsible. See all the talk about the governor in this thread, the orders about nursing homes, etc.

downerending 6y ago

> I think we owe these people who are willing to call out problems as they see it a more charitable hearing. In general, whistleblowers should be attended to, due consideration should be given to what they are risking. But if you're going to do it, you need to build up a case and make it carefully and dispassionately, and above all maintain your professionalism. This reads more like a divorce proceeding.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
hitekker 6y ago
> But if you're going to do it, you need to build up a case and make it carefully and dispassionately, and above all maintain your professionalism. Last time I checked, the whistleblower wasn't raving or cursing on the way out. It sounds like you're just generally uncomfortable with questioning authority.
- downerending 6y ago
  Wrong number.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
alexashka 6y ago
If you're going to be dispassionate, you'll never whistle blow - nobody weighing the pros/cons dispassionately would consider ruining their career to expose one of the millions of shit companies a worthwhile endeavour.

JackFr 6y ago

> For someone to buck the orders, it takes a lot of courage and be able to stand up under pressure. But it doesn’t mean she’s right, it just means she feels strongly about it.

jeegsy 6y ago

Maybe its the morality of society in general or maybe its the Trump effect but I think we have been too quick to assign hero status and moral uprightness to people at the slightest opportunity. I'm not calling this woman a liar but as long as I can imagine a plausible scenario that provides an alternative explanation to whatever has been claimed especially considering that I dont know this person personally, I think I for one will not be so hasty with the canonization.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

koheripbal 6y ago

Or maybe she just overreacted and didn't understand the nature of the epidemiologist's data change?