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Comment by virtualized | Hacker News Reader

I see another problem: If you can't be openly sexist (or whatever you call it), you will still be in secret.

I see yet another problem: if you're a rational person who happens to hold wrong beliefs on the topic, you will have less chance to discover and correct your mistake, because the only way the others are willing to engage with you is with stupidity and violence.

This low standard of discourse hurts everyone.

Except... wait for it... the employer: Google.

Employees at work: shouldn't be discussing issues that distract them; shouldn't be socializing with each other because work and personal life should obviously be separate; they should just keep their heads down and keep working.

There's no doubting that all recent controvertial topics have led to the ideas that: divide up society into individuals afraid to express their opinions; human expression is not an important goal and that the workspace where you spend most of your time is ONLY to do the job like a machine.

Recent discussions have unearthed this plot twist: Google soliticed employees' opinion on the topic. They asked people what they think, then sacked an employee who did what they asked.

Nobody cares if you have sexist thoughts and opinions if you keep them to yourself and treat women with the respect and dignity they deserve. So I would say this is a step in the right direction.

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