Google Memo Author Sues, Claiming Bias Against White Conservative Men

Main discussion on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16098676

Over 820 comments.

As somebody who followed the story and also counter-intuitively a $GOOG shareholder I think he has a valid claim. I recently left San Francisco because of the absurd hypocrisy. It's counterproductive to go into specifics on Hacker News (I'm in the minority here), but James was unfairly treated and if he were instead a female and non-white and fired for speaking on the other side the outraged in SF would be huge.

Regardless of what we can debate about the arguments Damore laid out, does anyone feel that he should have been fired for the memo?

From Sundar Pichai's public statement after the fact:

> First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.

I find this inherently contradictory. How is actual expression supposed to occur if a well-intentioned argument can cross an ill-defined line that leads to removal from the workplace?

I can't say he's wrong here for suing.

I mean, even if you follow all policies and laws, and treat people according to the prevailing wisdom/popular opinion - you're more likely than not to be fired for voicing an opinion which is contrary to it - even more so if your opinion leaks out of the company.

I may be on the side of workplace equality, but silencing people will not achieve it - you can't change minds if you can't talk about issues - real or imagined.