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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  3923 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Brendan Eich steps down as Mozilla CEO

I'm going to leave this here as a relatively convincing counterargument: http://www.zdziarski.com/blog/?p=3140.

I don't agree with the above article, but I do think it's an interesting point.





coffeesp00ns  ·  3922 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Here's the problem that I see:

    Mozilla has now joined the ranks of many large organizations in adopting what once was, and should be considered taboo: lack of corporate neutrality.

Considered taboo? maybe. But don't lie to yourself that "corporate neutrality" has ever really existed, and when it has existed, its sole purpose has been to create a market. Gun runners, for example, don't care who their clients are or what they are doing with their product. Hospira, on the other hand, stopped creating the drug Sodium Thiopental (known as Sodium Pentothal) after it became the primary drug used in U.S. lethal injections (and also because they moved the factory to Italy, who wouldn't let them export it unless they could guarantee it would never be used for executions).

Frankly, most of this guy's post reads as "these companies support actions that are popular, and the public applauds them. A company or person support other actions that are growing less and less popular, and they are crucified. What's up with that?" To which I say, no shit Sherlock. A smart company will do one of two things: 1.) Support public opinion that they agree with, or see the writing on the wall about, or 2.) Keep their damn mouth shut. THAT is what helps the bottom dollar and makes the shareholders happy.

By giving money to a Pro-Prop8 fund, Eich, in effect, opened his mouth, and opened himself, and Mozilla up to criticism. Implying anything else is either naïve or disingenuous.

    We’re all in this together, too, by the way. Christians are just as discriminated against as any other class, so I know what you’re dealing with.

Excuse me as I laugh into a pillow. At least I acknowledge that I'm privileged as fuck for being born white and middle class. Call me back when you've been pulled over for "Driving while Black", or dismissed in an intellectual conversation because you're a woman, or beaten because you wear a turban (which happened just this past weekend in new york. The man is Sihk, he's not even muslim). I'm not saying suffering should measured like a penis game, where everyone drops trow and compares, but perspective is certainly important when you get up on your soap box.

pseydtonne  ·  3922 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It's an interesting point, but it's also a long-winded way of saying "I'm important enough that I think I'm next." Lots of people have been dying to be persecuted (heh) because they want the attention. They've seen the passion play and they want starring roles.