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Comment by tapatio | Hacker News Reader

You are not forced to work at Google. Go work somewhere else.

not sure why you're getting downvoted for this. Those working for Google (or any large Silicon Valley firm) are usually among the top in their league and should be able to decide where they want to go based on their ideals/values, not because they have no other choice. Compared to the gazillions of engineers out there who are part of a 2nd or even 3rd party outsourcing chain (on crap salary and without rights in the company), Google employees are there because they want to. If the general opinion (in light of what we learned) now shifts towards a believe these companies are evil (which IMO they are) then I hardly feel sorry for the individual engineers. Googlers, Facebookers, Palantir guys should adapt and adjust or read "Who moved my cheese". Time for making these changes are now IMHO.

They are also smart enough to know that their opinions matter within the company, and they can affect positive change. This open letter is one mechanism for doing that.

More like they are smart enough to not think and protest about negative effects of Google ad machine which pays their perks and salaries.

The true test will be if after realizing Voice doesn't work, that they need to Exit.

Corollary to that is that they're not forced to work at Google. Google should work on ethical things if they want to keep their employees.

There are plenty of future employees ready to fill the empty spots.

Yes, and there are plenty of future employers ready to take the ex-Googlers.

They are also not forced to not voice their concern.

Not necessarily. Case in point: James Damore.

There’s a lot of disconcerting “shut up and mind your own business” quips against these Googlers in this thread.

Whatever happened to standing up for what you believe in?

In case I was misunderstood, my comment above is in favor of them voicing their concern.

The parent said something to the effect "if they don't like it, they are free to go find a job elsewhere", and to that my reply is in the sense, "well, they are also free to voice their concerns".

Sorry, me as well! I wasn't aiming at you, but rather doubling down on your sentiment.

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