This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
IBM had a role in the holocaust. Those numbers tattooed on everyone in the concentration camp? Those were IBM ID numbers for the punch cards.
If IBM staff protested about their role, it’s been lost to history. But it’s repeating today with Gaza and the staff who speak out are being demonized. Israel’s Lavender AI is being used to kill civilians. History will prove this woman and the other employees right in the end.
Microsoft has recently been added to the BDS list. Do not forget to give their apps a review.
Only trouble is Microsoft clearly doesn't care about negative reviews of their applications, because they've been receiving negative reviews for years now.
It's not like you can even avoid using their products, personally you can install Linux but you're probably going to still have to use a Windows device at work, and business is where they make most of their profit anyway.
They still have presence in for example the Play store. A review can cost little time to place, yet it can affect a lot. Though avoid mentioning certain words censored by the play store.
the best thing i did was spend last month deleting the partitions in my desktop and laptop and installing mint.
I’ve been on Arch for a little while now, and Kubuntu before that. After Valve launched Proton on Steam, I found myself almost never booting into Windows. Once I ran out of disk space, it was an easy decision to completely purge Windows from my machine. Haven’t looked back in years.
Fuck Microsoft for trying to control my computer. Finally nice not having it reinstall Candy Crush after every update. And none of that copilot or online account bullshit.
Mint is the best flavor of linux. I recommend it.
I'm actually allergic to mint. Can anyone suggest a version of Linux that doesn't have any mint in it.
Heh, flavour
(I like Fedora, but it obviously doesnt taste as good)
I tried a variety of distros when I made the switch 9 or 10 years ago, Mint is by far my favorite. I've been running it continuously for at least the last 8 years.
I would have been surprised if they hadn’t fired her. Good on those two for causing a ruckus for a cause they believe in though. Nonviolent one too, well done.
They were probably going to quit over personal morality anyway, so good for them for using their exit for positive. At least they can leave with their self-respect and dignity intact, and the respect of their co-workers and the world. Somewhere there is a moral employer who will appreciate them.
The fact that they're asking her to apologize is Just ass backwards.
They should apologize, and look into the issue, and possibly, stop, war profiting.
That's okay. They're going to lose a lot of Windows users, forcing them to upgrade Perfectly good computers.
I wish that were the case. But I doubt most people will ditch Windows. They’ll just pony up for a new computer. They’ll certainly lose some users. But Windows will still remain as top dog, most likely. And I doubt that’ll ever change so long as traditional desktop computers and laptops still exist.
Windows isn't the issue here. The war profiteering is coming from the AI and cloud divisions
i agree with what you're saying from an ethical standpoint. i think she's right to protest.
but it's not "an issue", it's a huge fucking client of theirs. from a business standpoint its a huge ask to fire a whole military as a customer.
"We cant stop selling to war criminals. They are among our biggest customers."
Sounds more like a company that needs to be dismantled and have their leadership face prison sentences. Given the size of Microsoft they could take the hit economically w.o. much hassle. They dont have to be evil. They want to be evil. And we need to punish them for it by boycotting their shit as much as possible.
Surely there's an option between "drop major client" and "punish the person pointing out problems"
So a choice between money and ethics.
There is never any question which one companies choose.
Certainly not the one with a carreer in scumbaggery.
Disrupting a meeting like that was always going to end in getting fired.
Can't help but think of this book wrt your comment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_and_the_Holocaust
the email to Aboussad reads. “It is also concerning that you have not apologized to the company, and in fact you have shown no remorse for the effect that your actions have had and will have.”
Obviously there were going to fire these employees, especially the one who gave notice then did this.
But why the fuck would anyone be like “yOu DiDn’T eVeN aPoLoGiZe To ThE cOmPaNy”? That’s the stupidest god damn thing I’ve heard since “Liberation Day”
But why the fuck would anyone be like “yOu DiDn’T eVeN aPoLoGiZe To ThE cOmPaNy”?
Frame the debate. MS doesn't have to justify their profiteering if they can talk about the employee. The attention span of the public is limited.
That email was almost certainly written by lawyers with the intention of supporting MS in court, should it come down to that.
Bingo. Lots of stupid things at this level boil down to legal protection. You'll see it everywhere once you learn and look.
“Lucky we’re not countersuing! Oh the damages you are certain to be causing in the futureeee, the burns”
Actually now that I think about it maybe this was a multimillion dollar protest. The headlines have been published for and wide. I bet a few people spent more time feeling guilty than working right after as well - imagine one of them quitting. Still somewhat hard to believe it would lose them contracts but perhaps there will be potential customers who want to avoid connection with Microsoft until this blows over.
Apologized? Did they berate her for not "wearing a suit" too?
Or speaking without permission with a vagina?!
The impertinence!
"I'll apologize when you apologize for building tools that killed children."
What about "you haven't even thanked us!" to Zelensky?
Same energy.
Hey, when's the last time you showed remorse to your multi-trillion market cap employer? Next you're gonna tell me something really outrageous like you didn't even swear an oath of fealty to them.
C-suits don't live in the same world as the rest of us. Simple as that.
Have you even said Thank You?!?
Ah, yes, nothing quite like retaliating against someone who says you did a bad thing. Sure showed them!
Cancelled Xbox game pass and installing PopOS. Fuck Microsoft
The penguin calls, and the good folks answer.
I am not worried about the firing part. This lady and her friends must have been added to the DHS list. They are going to deport her if she is on any visa or PR.
We have been deporting citizens for years.
https://immigrationimpact.com/2021/07/30/ice-deport-us-citizens/
That was by mistake. This lady will be deported with intent to the infamous El Salvador prison.
The fact that she's a lady might actually save her from that hellish place because they apparently refuse to take women and turn them back. But of course there are other hellish places.
Microsoft has policy that prevents it from retaliatory actions against human rights violations. Court should rule Microsoft violated its own policies...
