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Comment by endtime | Hacker News Reader

I have a strong preference for non-activist workplaces. If I'm not values-aligned with an employer I can always leave. So I'm glad to see Google take a firm stance here. I'd expect the same reaction if the protesters were chanting about the Israeli hostages held by Hamas rather than in support of the other side.

Meta: this thread is much more useful and relevant to HN as a discussion of workplace culture than a flamewar about Israel.

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I suspect for many of the employees this was an intentional way of leaving. Personally I could never work for a company that profits from war like Lockheed or Raytheon. Few people think of Google in that light, so bringing attention to it on your way out seems reasonable. That's not how I'd handle it, but it seems understandable to me.

Google's motto used to be "don't be evil." If someone is looking for a company that aligns with their values, Google might've seemed like a good fit. They work hard and become invested in their workplace. It's not absurd to see how several people would be disenchanted with Google's stances on a very controversial and deadly war. And in an effort to live up to the motto "don't be evil," the workers took a stand to change Google's actions. That's a good thing to do.

If people think that workers should just keep their heads down and politely obey, well, I don't know what to say. That's bleak. That's a sad society. It's like the American propaganda representations of sad, dreary authoritarian communist countries. Stay quiet and work, or face the consequences.

I dont want to be chanted at during the commute while the freeway is blocked. Chanted at during lunch at the cafe. Chanted at while looking at artwork defaced with mashed potatoes.

I dont care about your values. I trade time for money. Go away and stop telling me what to care about, I have a life of my own.

What are your values? What do you care about in your life?

something like individualistic hedonism. i dont spend anytime trying to change other people or the world at large.

You're missing the fundamental problem, which is that people have different opinions about what is evil. There may well be more Googlers who think it would be evil to _stop_ working with Israel.

And it's not just counterproductive, but corrosive, to have a workplace environment where employees are debating these things.

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