The infamous Google Diversity Memo - Author Fired

[osan]

Google’s Ideological Echo Chamber

Go to this page for chart and live reference links: http://diversitymemo.com/

I've only skimmed the memo, but judging by what I've read, I'd not have fired this man but given him a promotion where he could do some good.

This memo has a feel as if I'd written it, so it must be good.

That they indeed fired him because of his memo only serves to reinforce with great strength what was written therein. Google strikes me as a dangerous entity - far greater a threat than Microsoft ever imposed, so far as I can see. Yet, M$ faced antitrust threats from "government" that included "divestiture" and a settlement stipulation that barred them from going into the hardware business... which appears to have perhaps expired?

It is interesting to note how there seems to have been little to no talk of going after Google on similar bases as were the pretexts for doing so with M$. I am not saying anyone should go after them; it is the apparent hypocrisy that I find worthy of note.

I would add that Google is a suspicious player in the first place. Never in the known history of the world has a company gone from zero to king of the hill in nearly so short an interval as has Google. Perhaps this is all well known, but I am not aware of whence Google came, where the money came for them to develop their technologies, and how it is that they managed to fly so high so quickly. It could be what it superficially appears to be, but I am doubtful that it is so.

Finally, it pays well to once again note how anyone introducing the least shred of basic human sense into the "social" arena is quickly and unequivocally dispatched with stern prejudice. I would also note that if the memo went truly "viral", it further underscores the truth of its content. If that many people agree with the message but the company is not in the turmoil of a pending rebellion... well, do the math.

I for one avoid Google. Duckduckgo seems to provide equivalent results in searching and I could give the least damn about "social media". I use FB, for example, for one primary purpose: to communicate with people important to me. I read and post an occasional political tidbit, but do not spend my life there as it seems some do, so Google with all its fancy freebies holds no attraction for me. As for Sketchup, feh - serious engineers use serious software, whether AutoCAD, Solidworks, SoldEdge, Dassault, Microstation, etc. But the Google play to corner the information market is indeed very telling and once again brings me to the question of why there has been no big governmental outcry by Justice to investigate/prosecute them for anti-trust violations. Very telling, indeed.

 

[specsaregood]

That they indeed fired him because of his memo only serves to reinforce with great strength what was written therein. Google strikes me as a dangerous entity - far greater a threat than Microsoft ever imposed, so far as I can see. Yet, M$ faced antitrust threats from "government" that included "divestiture" and a settlement stipulation that barred them from going into the hardware business... which appears to have perhaps expired?

I recall reading a while back that prior to the antitrust suits MS never actively lobbied in DC or did any fundraising for politicians. All that changed after they had to deal with those antitrust suits. Google on the otherhand has always been very active on both of those fronts.

 

[PierzStyx]

Silicon Valley isn't tightening its grip on free speech. Companies have the right to hire and fire whom they please for the reasons they please. If the man's opinions were counter to the corporate culture Google wants then they have every right t fire him and his freedom of speech hasn't be limited in any manner. And it isn't strangling teh free exchange of ideas simply because you have no right to their services and they have ever right to set the terms & conditions of their services, which you then can willingly enter into or reject.

And of course if you really dislike their policies, stop using them and their products.

Don't like Google? Use Apple.

Don't like YouTube? Use Daily Motion.

 

[specsaregood]

Silicon Valley isn't tightening its grip on free speech. Companies have the right to hire and fire whom they please for the reasons they please.

They SHOULD have that right; but the law says they don't. Don't like it, don't do business here?

 

[dannno]

Silicon Valley isn't tightening its grip on free speech. Companies have the right to hire and fire whom they please for the reasons they please. If the man's opinions were counter to the corporate culture Google wants then they have every right t fire him and his freedom of speech hasn't be limited in any manner. And it isn't strangling teh free exchange of ideas simply because you have no right to their services and they have ever right to set the terms & conditions of their services, which you then can willingly enter into or reject.

And of course if you really dislike their policies, stop using them and their products.

Don't like Google? Use Apple.

Don't like YouTube? Use Daily Motion.

Uh, ya, you aren't paying attention at all.

 

[timosman]

Uh, ya, you aren't paying attention at all.

But I am the smartest person on this board. How can this be?

 

[Swordsmyth]

Silicon Valley isn't tightening its grip on free speech. Companies have the right to hire and fire whom they please for the reasons they please. If the man's opinions were counter to the corporate culture Google wants then they have every right t fire him and his freedom of speech hasn't be limited in any manner. And it isn't strangling teh free exchange of ideas simply because you have no right to their services and they have ever right to set the terms & conditions of their services, which you then can willingly enter into or reject.

And of course if you really dislike their policies, stop using them and their products.

Don't like Google? Use Apple.

Don't like YouTube? Use Daily Motion.

The issue is not whether they can fire him but whether they should.
In a private company free speech is not a right but it is still the right thing to do unless someone really goes too far, the famous memo did not.

 

[timosman]

The issue is not whether they can fire him but whether they should.
In a private company free speech is not a right but it is still the right thing to do unless someone really goes too far, the famous memo did not.

PierzStyx is trying for the PR position at Google.

 

[Swordsmyth]

PierzStyx is trying for the PR position at Google.

Are we sure that is not his current job?

 

[osan]

I recall reading a while back that prior to the antitrust suits MS never actively lobbied in DC or did any fundraising for politicians. All that changed after they had to deal with those antitrust suits. Google on the otherhand has always been very active on both of those fronts.

Sadly, this may explain a lot.

 

[UWDude]

Silicon Valley isn't tightening its grip on free speech.

Yes it is. Whether it has the right to or not is the question. But whether they are doing it is unquestionable.

Sargon of Akkad just had his twitter permanently banned today.

 

[dannno]

The issue is not whether they can fire him but whether they should.
In a private company free speech is not a right but it is still the right thing to do unless someone really goes too far, the famous memo did not.

The memo was actually a response to something that the company sent out related to company diversity, that was inviting responses.

 

[PierzStyx]

Uh, ya, you aren't paying attention at all.

I'm paying attention. I'm just not whining about a company doing something I don't like. This whole page is the "libertarian" equivalent with big, fat, salty tears.

 

[dannno]

I'm paying attention. I'm just not whining about a company doing something I don't like. This whole page is the "libertarian" equivalent with big, fat, salty tears.

So, not only are you not paying attention to what is going on, or the content of the OP, but you also are not paying attention to the discussion that has ensued.

Great contribution.

 

[Swordsmyth]

I'm paying attention. I'm just not whining about a company doing something I don't like. This whole page is the "libertarian" equivalent with big, fat, salty tears.

Culture is just as important as politics, we can and will express our opinions while not calling for government to enforce them.

 

[PierzStyx]

Culture is just as important as politics, we can and will express our opinions while not calling for government to enforce them.

*Yawn*

Like I said, whiny rightists crying over their "culture.". You've heard of the SJW? Well, you all are just a bunch of CJWs, "Culture Justice Warriors."

 

[PierzStyx]

So, not only are you not paying attention to what is going on, or the content of the OP, but you also are not paying attention to the discussion that has ensued.

Great contribution.

I am paying attention. Most of it is the empty babbling of CJWs whining that their "culture" is being attacked while attacking a private enterprise for daring to decide how their property should be used.

 

[PierzStyx]

Yes it is. Whether it has the right to or not is the question. But whether they are doing it is unquestionable.

Sargon of Akkad just had his twitter permanently banned today.

Boo hoo?

You're like a bunch of whiny politicians complaining a newspaper owner won't let their political party use the newspaper's press. Your freedom of speech is in no way limited or infringed by any of this in any way. You're just butthurt they don't agree with you. Well, deal with it you big babies.

 

[Swordsmyth]

*Yawn*

Like I said, whiny rightists crying over their "culture.". You've heard of the SJW? Well, you all are just a bunch of CJWs, "Culture Justice Warriors."

Culture produces politics, and if you want to invent that label then I will wear it with pride, unlike "SJWs" we don't want to use force on those we disagree with, but we are perfectly within our rights to advocate what we believe in and to avoid using google or any other Alphabet (agencies) company.

 

[PierzStyx]

Responses in bold.

Culture produces politics,

Sure. And here is your culture proudly marching on:

The only kind of politics your cultural fascism creates are oppressive, corrupt, Fascist CJW garbage.



and if you want to invent that label then I will wear it with pride, unlike "SJWs" we don't want to use force on those we disagree with,

Yeah you tooooootally don't use force on those you disagree with. Totally.

but we are perfectly within our rights to advocate what we believe in and to avoid using google or any other Alphabet (agencies) company.

I suggested you stop using Google in my first post. Even gave you some alternatives. You want to do so? Go ahead. But that doesn't make your argument that your free speech is somehow being limited by Google any less bullcrap.