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Many folks are asking about/assuming that there was a host of extreme behaviors promoting specific parties, policies, or religions within Basecamp. That some gross acts, discussions, or promotion was happening to trigger this set of policy changes. Well, here’s my experience…
Almost all political and social discourse happened within 2 totally opt-in places: 1) Our “Civil Solace” social space, and 2) our newly formed (like in the last 2-3 months) DEI council project.
(Civil Solace space is now closed and archived, DEI has a 2-week timer to wrap up.)
(Civil Solace space is now closed and archived, DEI has a 2-week timer to wrap up.)
Predominant topics I saw were things like:
- Treating all people with kindness, love, and equal rights
- Solidarity against racism, sexism, etc
- Expressions of sorrow over killing, hate crimes, and other injustices
- Treating all people with kindness, love, and equal rights
- Solidarity against racism, sexism, etc
- Expressions of sorrow over killing, hate crimes, and other injustices
Occasionally “political” or “social” issues bled into broader company discussions, like when some objected to titling Jason & David’s most recent book using the word “crazy”, or when folks shared thoughts on how mocking people’s non-anglo names is a stepping stone towards racism
We are largely talking about _human_ issues, not “political" ones. It shouldn’t be taboo to mourn another shooting with your co-workers. It shouldn’t be forbidden to work with co-workers to improve our internal systems when they’re frustrating for some, or just plain unfair.
And yeah, Jason & David have given us their approval (
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Gesicht mit rollenden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit rollenden Augen">) to discuss whatever the hell we want in our free time with our co-workers — as if they ever had a say in that anyway.
To me it seems reasonable to talk with my co-workers about the stuff going on in our world, country, and lives in the place where we actually see each other? You know…at work. Especially when the majority of that connection happens in opt-in spaces for those with an interest.
