General Discussion

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

19. I think it depends, and it's a thorny issue.

Mon Oct 5, 2015, 04:46 PM

Oct 2015

One, people have the right under the 1st Amendment to express their opinion, even if their opinion is obnoxious, bigoted or even hateful.

But conversely, people ALSO have the right to express their indignation with that opinion, presumably to the point of bringing that indignation to the attention of the employer.

I guess for me the question would be how egregious are the statements (i.e. "i dont like #####" vs "we should send all ##### to the gas chamber", etc) combined with how much of a public presence does this person's job have and is it related or potentially impacted by their views.

In that vein i suspect an employer would be more likely to take action if this person were a public face of the company.

So i suppose much depends on the specifics of the situation.

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Racism: A recent story brings up a good question: [View all] MineralMan Oct 2015 OP

No, I don't think it's a good thing. Shandris Oct 2015 #1

So, if you encounter blatant racism, you do nothing? MineralMan Oct 2015 #2

Yes, it 'works'. So does a lobotomy. Shandris Oct 2015 #3

Racism puts many people's livelihoods and families at risk. MineralMan Oct 2015 #4

Okay. Shandris Oct 2015 #8

There is a difference between disagreement and racism. MineralMan Oct 2015 #9

I wonder if white people and Black people would answer this question differently randys1 Oct 2015 #54

As a mother who raised a black child I voted no. Boudica the Lyoness Oct 2015 #59

Apparently, yes. MineralMan Oct 2015 #60

I think so. qwlauren35 Oct 2015 #67

I'm really torn about this... OneGrassRoot Oct 2015 #7

Thank you for linking to that article. MissB Oct 2015 #24

You witnessed blatant racism not so long ago and did nothing. Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #45

Exactly, like if you experience it first hand R.A. Ganoush Oct 2015 #101

Not even close to the same thing. MineralMan Oct 2015 #102

Hey, I just call them like I see them R.A. Ganoush Oct 2015 #103

OK. But the situations weren't the same at all. MineralMan Oct 2015 #104

how is abhorring racism in any way "buying into propaganda"? do you really think that is a value bettyellen Oct 2015 #25

No, not that particular value judgement. I'd wager it's self-evident enough to... Shandris Oct 2015 #27

I hate to break it to you- but "the mob" has been at it forever- and their victims were largely POC bettyellen Oct 2015 #31

I couldn't care less if it happened to men, women, or ferrets. Shandris Oct 2015 #37

YOU SAID this was a new phenomenon "unleashed", so was just explaining how wrong you are. bettyellen Oct 2015 #43

Sure thing, that's nice, mhm, have fun, yes run along now. Shandris Oct 2015 #44

I don't need to look a few years back to know you're mistaken now. But thanks! bettyellen Oct 2015 #93

just so you know this person used support for the anti gay bigot Ben Carson JI7 Oct 2015 #91

LOL, the excuse people make around here for looking the other way- sad. bettyellen Oct 2015 #92

For those answering 'yes', a question B2G Oct 2015 #5

I don't post racist comments on Facebook, MineralMan Oct 2015 #6

"It's okay because it doesn't have to apply to me." Shandris Oct 2015 #10

You know, being an open racist isn't the same as simply MineralMan Oct 2015 #11

You explain that to the people who are hurt when someone loses... Shandris Oct 2015 #13

We didn't ruin their life. They were stupid and very cruel in a very public way. It's on them. bettyellen Oct 2015 #32

Right, it's about personal responsibility. A company has the right to employ whom they choose.If underahedgerow Oct 2015 #95

Eactly. nt B2G Oct 2015 #12

If I worked for a RW employer qwlauren35 Oct 2015 #70

I say yes. countingbluecars Oct 2015 #14

"Other": I might report it if it were MY employer too and I felt it impacted the company. Hortensis Oct 2015 #15

Now see, I'm with this. Shandris Oct 2015 #17

I'm with you too. No "online mob thing" ever, or offline. Hortensis Oct 2015 #46

No Egnever Oct 2015 #16

In most cases, I would say no. Brickbat Oct 2015 #18

I think it depends, and it's a thorny issue. Warren DeMontague Oct 2015 #19

The internet lynch mob mentality worries me. Throd Oct 2015 #20

"will fire up the mob" and "burn the witch" ? Funny! Because there already IS a war on women bettyellen Oct 2015 #26

No. I'm not a fan of employers punishing people for... rollin74 Oct 2015 #21

Having read the situation in question, that dude DEFINITELY deserved to be fired. Warren DeMontague Oct 2015 #22

Agreed. He was ridiculing a coworker's child. Invited racist spew to be directed at this child. salin Oct 2015 #28

it depends on what kind of job or power the person has, geek tragedy Oct 2015 #23

Oh my ... DU does it again! ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #29

Probably never rbrnmw Oct 2015 #39

Calling out racism I witness? My business. Brickbat Oct 2015 #57

Okay. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #61

It should be your business. This is why racists persist. kwassa Oct 2015 #82

oh look down thread- someone seems to think this thread is about income equality...... bettyellen Oct 2015 #89

I'm wondering if the hypotheticals I'm imagining are the same as the ones others imagine. Brickbat Oct 2015 #97

It's interesting, which is why I posted the poll. MineralMan Oct 2015 #64

Unfortunately, I am finding it less puzzling and more disappointing of those ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #78

Yeah, it shocked me too. qwlauren35 Oct 2015 #73

Yeah ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #79

The nets can be hackable setups for hurting people. ancianita Oct 2015 #30

"which is just talk,really" . you want to protect those who racially insult coworkers? and minimize bettyellen Oct 2015 #33

He stepped over a whole bunch of lines, starting with posting a picture of someone else's kid w/o Warren DeMontague Oct 2015 #34

and his waitress friend- referring to the kid as "a slave", does not deserve to work with the public bettyellen Oct 2015 #38

Certainly if you take a big poop in public Warren DeMontague Oct 2015 #47

No, I think that if someone reveals a hateful ideology, you can fairly assume it taints their bettyellen Oct 2015 #49

I meant taking a poop in public rhetorically, not literally. Warren DeMontague Oct 2015 #72

Yep. But I don't know a thing about "the story." I'm talking generalities here. In good faith. ancianita Oct 2015 #63

The OP wrote about racism on Facebook. The talk standard doesn't apply in the workplace, obviously. ancianita Oct 2015 #35

so, you'd keep an employee who was marching with the KKK because that was on his time off? bettyellen Oct 2015 #41

Here are the boundaries for firing. ancianita Oct 2015 #48

So prejudice speech "floating around" in the workplace is no big deal- for you. Love the bettyellen Oct 2015 #51

The OP doesn't get to be vague on details and then everyone argue what he means. I'm answering ancianita Oct 2015 #56

I'm happy to judge the character of people who spew bigotry @ work, and get, you're more forgiving.... bettyellen Oct 2015 #58

Have at it. I ain't got time for cheap attacks on some wording in my effort-posts. ancianita Oct 2015 #62

I was obviously responding to your thoughts. I have been in the actual position of having an bettyellen Oct 2015 #65

I told you. I don't know "the story." I don't make light of workplace hostility. Ever. If you think ancianita Oct 2015 #69

Ah, using MLK to try and persuade people to back burner their racial concerns, thank you.... bettyellen Oct 2015 #71

There really ARE a lot of ways to solve problems of racism, and they don't all involve niggling ancianita Oct 2015 #74

" adults trying to reach the goal of structural fairness"- what a patronizing bit of tripe. bettyellen Oct 2015 #87

k & r ancianita Oct 2015 #52

Question ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #50

granted? melman Oct 2015 #81

Yes GRANTED ... 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #83

Look above for an interesting rationalization for looking the other way..... bettyellen Oct 2015 #90

Yes ... I Know. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Oct 2015 #96

no thread is too off topic to be about the 99% vs the oligarchy, WOW. bettyellen Oct 2015 #99

I saw that earlier & understand this: If I ever ran into any of those people....... WillowTree Oct 2015 #36

If we suspect they're republicans yes....tattle away. ileus Oct 2015 #40

His employer found out one way or another and dealt with it. WillowTree Oct 2015 #42

Should you have gotten fired for the horrible things you said when you were on FR? Heddi Oct 2015 #53

Good point... Fumesucker Oct 2015 #68

X-posted in A&A. F4lconF16 Oct 2015 #55

For me qwlauren35 Oct 2015 #66

Early in my career I was fired twice when it was found out I'm an atheist Fumesucker Oct 2015 #75

I've railways been open, but not blatant, MineralMan Oct 2015 #77

In a perfect world JackInGreen Oct 2015 #76

A grain silo has less rats than this place. nt edgineered Oct 2015 #80

My employer warns all of us every year .... kwassa Oct 2015 #84

I'm going to say no, but only because it would wind up backfiring BarstowCowboy Oct 2015 #85

That's always the risk, isn't it? Dr. Strange Oct 2015 #86

Exactly that BarstowCowboy Oct 2015 #88

Excellent High Sparrow! n/t ellisonz Oct 2015 #94

Note: Nobody seems to have noticed the conditional nature MineralMan Oct 2015 #98

If that was my kid damn right I'd want someone to tell me/my boss Blue_Tires Oct 2015 #100

How about criminal charges? Dr. Strange Oct 2015 #105

Pass. Yes if the person was part of the criminal justice nc4bo Oct 2015 #106