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That's not the context of the article, "silencing" is used in the "actively silencing" sense. It's not about a bystander not getting involved.

stephc_int13 6y ago
It is about talking politics at work. From what I understand. I strongly agree with Basecamp here.
- sascha_sl 6y ago
  Discussing what the company's policy on hate speech, diversity and inclusion should be might be politics, but it's not the "spitting on MAGA hats" kind of politics people on twitter seem to think it is. I think it's work relevant. Gauging from votes, most people in this thread seem to see themselves more as mercenaries with no personal investment in their workplace (or they are not negatively affected by their lacking work culture, uh, privilege) than anything else, and that's fine, but don't assume someone wouldn't find personal fulfillment in making their workplace better.
  - stephc_int13 6y ago
    Would you refuse to work with a colleague because he voted for the other side? This is discrimination and this is obviously illegal, but this is a side effect of talking politics at work.
    - RhysU 6y ago
      I don't think this is a good idea but I don't see how it is illegal: "Alice, pick up the ticket for Bob." "No, Bob voted for X!" Then, sometime later, Alice is fined and/or sent to jail.
    - sascha_sl 6y ago
      Sorry for the late reply, HN "rate limits" got me. The short answer is that I pick my workplace based on culture. I have to. I am a very obvious queer looking person, so about half to a third of my interviews go at least slightly sour as soon as they start. It's a good filter in a way. The job I had while coming out turned out not to be so great, lots of rumors and hot takes and bad jokes about me going around. I don't need that sort of constant negativity in my life. (Also, I'm not exactly sure how I'd define "the other side", since I'm not in the US. It's more subtle here.)
  - luckylion 6y ago
    > don't assume someone wouldn't find personal fulfillment in making their workplace better That does sound like it, to be honest. Some people seek fulfillment by changing their workplaces after their ideals, other people want to get stuff done. I find it amazing that they launch new products despite having people who seem to be professional issue-seekers and problem-finders. I've worked along side similar people while working with unions and it was so unbelievably exhausting how slow they were in literally everything.
- valiant55 6y ago
  I mean it looks like its more than that to me. What do you do when politics comes knocking at your door but you've banned political discussion? Reading between the lines it sounds like there might have been planning of the Jan 6th riot on their platform. How do you not discuss politics in that situation?
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
SpicyLemonZest 6y ago
It's the same underlying problem. In order to effectively work with other people, you have to be able and willing to lose arguments. The author's strategy of being eternally bitter, and trying to revive the argument whenever you see a good opening, is fundamentally at odds with a happy, inclusive work environment.

stephc_int13 6y ago

It is about talking politics at work. From what I understand. I strongly agree with Basecamp here.

sascha_sl 6y ago
Discussing what the company's policy on hate speech, diversity and inclusion should be might be politics, but it's not the "spitting on MAGA hats" kind of politics people on twitter seem to think it is. I think it's work relevant. Gauging from votes, most people in this thread seem to see themselves more as mercenaries with no personal investment in their workplace (or they are not negatively affected by their lacking work culture, uh, privilege) than anything else, and that's fine, but don't assume someone wouldn't find personal fulfillment in making their workplace better.
- stephc_int13 6y ago
  Would you refuse to work with a colleague because he voted for the other side? This is discrimination and this is obviously illegal, but this is a side effect of talking politics at work.
  - RhysU 6y ago
    I don't think this is a good idea but I don't see how it is illegal: "Alice, pick up the ticket for Bob." "No, Bob voted for X!" Then, sometime later, Alice is fined and/or sent to jail.
  - sascha_sl 6y ago
    Sorry for the late reply, HN "rate limits" got me. The short answer is that I pick my workplace based on culture. I have to. I am a very obvious queer looking person, so about half to a third of my interviews go at least slightly sour as soon as they start. It's a good filter in a way. The job I had while coming out turned out not to be so great, lots of rumors and hot takes and bad jokes about me going around. I don't need that sort of constant negativity in my life. (Also, I'm not exactly sure how I'd define "the other side", since I'm not in the US. It's more subtle here.)
- luckylion 6y ago
  > don't assume someone wouldn't find personal fulfillment in making their workplace better That does sound like it, to be honest. Some people seek fulfillment by changing their workplaces after their ideals, other people want to get stuff done. I find it amazing that they launch new products despite having people who seem to be professional issue-seekers and problem-finders. I've worked along side similar people while working with unions and it was so unbelievably exhausting how slow they were in literally everything.
valiant55 6y ago
I mean it looks like its more than that to me. What do you do when politics comes knocking at your door but you've banned political discussion? Reading between the lines it sounds like there might have been planning of the Jan 6th riot on their platform. How do you not discuss politics in that situation?
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

SpicyLemonZest 6y ago

It's the same underlying problem. In order to effectively work with other people, you have to be able and willing to lose arguments. The author's strategy of being eternally bitter, and trying to revive the argument whenever you see a good opening, is fundamentally at odds with a happy, inclusive work environment.