It is starting to worry me how little the responses by tech firms will do to fix the problem of extreme views instead of just driving them underground. A good deal of the reason for this is the excessive focus firms now have on how they are run. Companies tend to be run tactically, with officials more likely to make decisions that will seem to make a problem go away within a quarter but that do not deal with the cause of the problem. For instance, stock buyback programs do push up stock prices — but they do nothing to increase company value.
"Many of the efforts to create diversity and remove racism have focused on removing the visible representations of it, not on changing minds."
Very good thought!
However, does a tech company have the resources, or moral authority to change people's minds--and hearts? Rob, if even your parents tried but couldn't change your thinking, how can some unconnected-to-you corporation whose bottom line is profit (and not psychological or spiritual counseling) have any real influence on anyone's beliefs?
It seems that you're proposing that that tech companies can help by becoming educators, and this is a noble idea. But as you point out, "Forty years after aggressive attempts to end discrimination and racism in the U.S., both seem stronger than ever." Unfortunately, the progressive idea of education, coupled with legislation, haven't done it. The problem is deeper.
Loading ...
What Tech Companies Are Doing Wrong With Extremists
Posted by: Rob Enderle August 21, 2017 10:58 AMIt is starting to worry me how little the responses by tech firms will do to fix the problem of extreme views instead of just driving them underground. A good deal of the reason for this is the excessive focus firms now have on how they are run. Companies tend to be run tactically, with officials more likely to make decisions that will seem to make a problem go away within a quarter but that do not deal with the cause of the problem. For instance, stock buyback programs do push up stock prices — but they do nothing to increase company value.
Very good thought!
However, does a tech company have the resources, or moral authority to change people's minds--and hearts? Rob, if even your parents tried but couldn't change your thinking, how can some unconnected-to-you corporation whose bottom line is profit (and not psychological or spiritual counseling) have any real influence on anyone's beliefs?
It seems that you're proposing that that tech companies can help by becoming educators, and this is a noble idea. But as you point out, "Forty years after aggressive attempts to end discrimination and racism in the U.S., both seem stronger than ever." Unfortunately, the progressive idea of education, coupled with legislation, haven't done it. The problem is deeper.