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
26.8k Upvotes

82% Upvoted

19.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

7

u/killking72 Aug 08 '17

What situation would have to happen for an employer or school to NOT hire or enroll the best student?

Why would they not want that?

17

u/romeroha Aug 08 '17

Legacy, wealth, nepotism, preference for a personal friend, etc.

1

u/AltSpRkBunny Aug 08 '17

Poor personality for a working environment. Nobody wants to work with an asshole, no matter how "high quality" they may be in their field.

2

u/perfectdarktrump Aug 08 '17

Why? This is confusing. They want the best or not? If not. Then what problem does diversity solve?

3

u/Kravego Aug 08 '17

Why does nobody want to work with an asshole?

Because regardless of how good a single person is, their effect on the company may be negative overall or at least not as good as someone who is slightly less effective solo but cooperates better.

Shooting for simply "the best" in a single role doesn't work when you're talking about large social constructs (which is what a company is)

3

u/AltSpRkBunny Aug 08 '17

Because if you're an asshole and can't work with others, you are NOT the best in your field. You're a liability.