Scoble’s Link Blog

http://adamjh.blogspot.com/2005/04/microsoft-gay-rights-and-bloggers.html

Weblog: Consumption Junction
Source: Microsoft, Gay Rights, and Bloggers
Link: http://adamjh.blogspot.com/2005/04/microsoft-gay-rights-and-bloggers.html

Previously, I briefly mentioned the “Microsoft Caves on Gay Rights” story. Thanks to all of you who emailed me days after my own post with the New York Times Article </sarcasm>.

Over the last couple of days, I’ve thought long and hard about both the issue itself, and about whether or not I should write my own opinions in my blog. I decided not to do so. Call me old fashioned, but I still think it’s usually a bad idea to challenge your employer (or in this case, future employer) publicly. I still believe that if you have a problem with the way your company is doing something, you work from within to change it. You challenge authority — internally. You don’t publicly scorn your leaders, or publicly express your discontent. To do so brings your company into the spotlight with a bombardment of negative press. When you and your fellow employees wake up every morning only to see something negative about your company on the front page of the New York Times, or the front page of Slashdot, or you receive multiple emails from friends and family on something negative your company is doing, you become jaded and the discontent only increases. Of course, such feelings are contagious, so sooner or later your negativity rubs off on your coworkers, many of whom are going through the same experiences as you are.

Maybe I’ve taken this to the extreme. Maybe we’re entering some new era where companies aren’t harmonious entities that strive for a succinct message and public image. Maybe companies are becoming more like governments, and employees more like citizens, each with their own opinions and with a blog as their mouthpiece.

I’m watching this specific issue like a hawk. I saw it originate at AMERICABLOG, spread to Robert Scoble’s blog, make Slashdot, make The New York Times and other major news outlets (currently 126+ Google News results).

I saw Robert Scoble inform the public about the existence of an internal memo from Steve Ballmer. I saw Microsoft give Robert permission to post the memo publicly, and then I saw Robert disagree publicly with the CEO of Microsoft on a policy decision, and question his leadership:

Steve, I’m sad. Very sad. This is leadership? What if we were a company in Germany in the 1930s? Would we have taken the same position you just did? After all, most of the churches back then were on the wrong side too. It took the Catholic church about 60 years, for instance, to issue an apology for their part in the Holocaust.

Robert also disagreed publicly with his direct manager.

I saw another employee, Adam Barr, call portions of Steve Ballmer’s memo “a crock”.

So, I still haven’t said anything about the issue at the heart of this controversy, Microsoft pulling its support for House Bill 1515. I don’t think it’s the real story here. I’ve talked to many friends about it, and the truth is, I’m still forming my own opinions. I invite you to comment on this post, or email me if you would like to chat about it further — and please, no more New York Times article emails.

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