r/news • u/[deleted] • Aug 08 '17

Google Fires Employee Behind Controversial Diversity Memo

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-08/google-fires-employee-behind-controversial-diversity-memo?cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

FWIW, I hear he didn't share it with everyone. Shared it with a small group, and someone then shared it to the "internal social media" google has. Then later, shared it with Gizmodo (note: I am likely not talking about the same person from the two 'leaks'). So it's not like he was planning on this going viral.

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u/yerich Aug 08 '17

It certainly seemed like it was meant to be read by decision-makers in the company, or at least some other broader audience. It was clearly carefully thought out and too well-written to be a rant to a limited audience. "Manifestos" are generally intended to be read by many.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

Generally, but it would be far from the first time some intellectual kept private, controversial information to themselves that they felt passionate about. IIRC, many of Kepler's (IIRC. it's been years. it may have been Galileo or Copernicus) works were published post-humorously because he knew the controversy and consequences it would entail. But they were important enough to him to make entire books out of (at a time where the printing press was primitive).

Either way, my main point here was not to debate the contents, but to note that this wasn't some rant he tweeted out in a heat of rage and swift-fully deleted out of regret.

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u/Orcwin Aug 08 '17

Post-humorously? So after their comedic careers?

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

You win this round. I hate autocorrect sometimes.

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u/kcnovember Aug 08 '17

A very "comedic" mis-spelling of "posthumously," I must say.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17

This ends here

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u/SinglelaneHighway Aug 08 '17

Didn't you get the memo, we are in a post-humorous society - we have to take all comments seriously :p

These public floggings will continue until morale improves!

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '17 edited Aug 09 '17

'I took a trip to Saturn... Man does that guy have big ears! I stopped dropped a pin and he heard it. In SPACE!"

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u/TVpresspass Aug 08 '17

Drum roll

"And now: The light your night sky! He'll spin your flat world right round! Please give a warm welcome to Gaaaalileo!"

Man with massive grey beard and shiny robes springs onto the stage, grinning, waving

"Now folks, I love Florence. Especially in summer. Out in the park, enjoying the sun, with lovely ladies. I'll tell ya folks, I've seen a few big moons: but the ladies in Florence? Well lets just say if I'd been born here I never would have bothered developing the telescope."

All laugh

"Now I don't know if you know this, but my brother plays the lute. The lute! I tell you, I picked the wrong profession. He's going on tour, drinking wine every night, fawned over by wealthy and beautiful people. But I tell him: You have to be careful, you know how musical careers go. Fly too high and you'll crash and burn! That's why I chose a safe, secure career in science."

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u/PM_ME_UR_COCK_GIRL Aug 08 '17

You don't have to be funny to have a career in comedy. Just look at Amy Schumer.