Eidos Employee Fired Over "Hate Speech" on Facebook

[MrMunchies]

I don't get why you guys are afraid of Quebec becoming a country. It won't happen. Ever. There are just too much different cultures in the province to think that a referendum could ever be successful. Personnaly, I couldn't care less about this bs.

On the other hand, I voted PQ, but it's only because Jean Charest and his party made a piss poor job during their 10 years of power, and this year events just shows how much they fucked up.

Now, I completly agree with Eidos's decision. This was a stupid and inconsiderate comment to make right after an event of this nature.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

U.S. resident here, so I'm a little in the dark about this whole thing. I haven't seen anything about this shooting on the news, but it sounds like a big deal. Did this just happen today, or a few days ago?

Anyway, can't believe that guy posted that. Not because he was dumb and didn't think it would get him fired, but just the open threat itself. An innocent person was killed and he doesn't even care. That's disturbing to me. Hopefully they do file charges and lock him away.

 

[Baldr]

While not a direct threat, it does seem to be advocating an assassination. I'm not sure what the laws are in Canada, but if you say the equivalent thing in the US, you should know you just asked the police, FBI, or even Secret Service to come arrest you.

Actually no. According to Watt vs United States Supreme Court decision only ?true ?threat?? is not protected. Advocating is protected speech under the first amendment.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Not in Canada, it isn't.

Unless you're a Muslim, in which case you can hate all you want and the law won't touch you. "Hate" speech depends entirely on who's defining "hate."

Well that has less to do with the laws themselves and more to do with those who's job it is to interpret and enforce the laws.

 

[renegade7]

"Hate Speech" is analogous to "Free Speech."

Just Saiyan.

Hate speech and threats =/= free speech.

It hurts people and incites hatred and violence, not to mention really frightens some people.

If he had just said some trash about her, it wouldn't likely have been a problem.

Implying that she should be killed comes off as offensive and threatening to some people.

OT: Really? WOW! Something someone posted on the Internet can be found by other people? Including your boss?!! What a revelation! Maybe I should use some common sense about what I say online.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Still, I fucking hate the Separatists. I don't think they realize just how nasty things could get if they actually leave. Their infrastructure is shit, their construction companies are filled with corruption, and they are bleeding the Maritimes dry with hydro bills.

You're almost right. Almost. Apart from our health system, our infrastructure isn't so bad. Corruption is the order of the day pretty much everywhere else, and Canada hasn't really done much to help us dam the influx of mafiosi into the close circles of government officials. With or without the RCMP, that won't really change.

As for the Maritimes, you've also got decent hydroelectric capital. Why not invest in it?

Oh, and if it's the ideology that bothers you, let's be realistic. The PQ won't be able to push for a referendum anytime soon. Why? Because it won by a minority, with the Liberals and the CAQ riding on its coattails. Bringing up the question of independence in a climate like that would be tantamount to political suicide.

This is coming from a guy who's been born and raised in a seriously pro-separation family. Our generation doesn't give a fuck, and the local student body tried to host "anti-election parties", last week. My age range hasn't been quite as indifferent as it usually is, but it's pretty clear that anyone between 25 and 35 doesn't really have any point of reference with any of the major parties - the PQ included.

So, honestly? Don't "fucking hate" us. That's insulting, for starters, and we're seriously not worth it. French is undergoing a landslide as the primarily spoken language in Montreal's metropolitan area, and most guys my age speak English fluently enough. I'm just sick and tired of hearing Anglophones shake in their boots as soon as someone from the PQ steps up - as if having some sort of sense of identity to protect was akin to having a vial of the Bubonic Plague to spread around.

We're not going to kick anyone out of the province for not speaking French. Point in fact, separating would allow us to prove just how unique Quebec is, with its myriad of cultures all intersecting in such a tight population basin.

I honestly doubt it'll ever happen - the conditions for it were way back in the mid-to-late sixties - but I was still raised by folks who thought it would do us a world of good.

We have enough shit to fix as it is; like the Liberals' utterly corrupt approach to governance, and the whole tuition fees kerfuffle. I haven't been able to set a foot in class for six months, I'd much rather take of that than foster ideals that, while noble, aren't as plausible as they could have been.

 

[Doom972]

It's not like he tried to kill her or even threatened her. He just let people know that he would like her to die. Is simply wanting her to die (and not doing anything about it), justifies firing him from his job and arresting him? Extremism is bad from both sides.

 

[disgruntledgamer]

French Quebecer or Anglophone? I just think it's a disaster waiting to happen. The Separatists are pissed off about shit that happened a couple centuries ago. They need to get over it, like the rest of the province.

French from Québec city, and yeah it is a disaster waiting to happen, we live off the oils sand money from Alberta to pay overs abundants services that we don't have the means to pay for

As an Ontarian I agree with this, it's Fing stupid, when the US criticizes us for our environmental regulations you know were in the wrong.

As for Marsh getting fired not right IMO. At least he has the balls to say this up front and not hid behind an alias. unless he's saying he's personally going to do something or directly persuading people he has the right to say what he wants.

 

[sethisjimmy]

He deserved it.

I think people see the "hate speech" part of the headline and think it's another case of people overreacting, but that's not true.

A completely innocent man died because someone tried to kill a politician, and yet all this retard can think about is that it's a shame she's still not dead? That's a disgrace. Fucking politics, it turns people into idiots. I mean that politician is still a real person, who has a family and FOUR CHILDREN. If you disagree with her then campaign against her and defeat her politically, don't fucking try to assassinate her.

Another thing is that so many fucking people fail to understand how facebook works. It is not private. You can pick and choose your friends and heighten your privacy settings, but even then it's never fully private. You wouldn't stand in front of your boss and say "that person needs to fucking die", because you'd be fired on the spot. Same goes for when you post something on facebook with your fucking name attached to it.

 

[ResonanceSD]

"Hate Speech" is analogous to "Free Speech."

Just Saiyan.

Your freedoms are fine till they infringe upon someone else's health and safety.

Just saying.

Someone actually took a shot at her?

Super-appropriate avatar.

 

[KeyMaster45]

While not a direct threat, it does seem to be advocating an assassination. I'm not sure what the laws are in Canada, but if you say the equivalent thing in the US, you should know you just asked the police, FBI, or even Secret Service to come arrest you.

People say they wish various public official were dead every day here in the states and they're not carted off by the feds. They just get put on a list and are spied on for the rest of their lives. Crazy people who really are planning to knock off a public official don't go spreading the word on facebook. Angry people looking to vent steam into the proverbial ether, however, do.

 

[Di-Dorval]

Still, I fucking hate the Separatists. I don't think they realize just how nasty things could get if they actually leave. Their infrastructure is shit, their construction companies are filled with corruption, and they are bleeding the Maritimes dry with hydro bills.

You're almost right. Almost. Apart from our health system, our infrastructure isn't so bad. Corruption is the order of the day pretty much everywhere else, and Canada hasn't really done much to help us dam the influx of mafiosi into the close circles of government officials. With or without the RCMP, that won't really change.

As for the Maritimes, you've also got decent hydroelectric capital. Why not invest in it?

Oh, and if it's the ideology that bothers you, let's be realistic. The PQ won't be able to push for a referendum anytime soon. Why? Because it won by a minority, with the Liberals and the CAQ riding on its coattails. Bringing up the question of independence in a climate like that would be tantamount to political suicide.

This is coming from a guy who's been born and raised in a seriously pro-separation family. Our generation doesn't give a fuck, and the local student body tried to host "anti-election parties", last week. My age range hasn't been quite as indifferent as it usually is, but it's pretty clear that anyone between 25 and 35 doesn't really have any point of reference with any of the major parties - the PQ included.

So, honestly? Don't "fucking hate" us. That's insulting, for starters, and we're seriously not worth it. French is undergoing a landslide as the primarily spoken language in Montreal's metropolitan area, and most guys my age speak English fluently enough. I'm just sick and tired of hearing Anglophones shake in their boots as soon as someone from the PQ steps up - as if having some sort of sense of identity to protect was akin to having a vial of the Bubonic Plague to spread around.

We're not going to kick anyone out of the province for not speaking French. Point in fact, separating would allow us to prove just how unique Quebec is, with its myriad of cultures all intersecting in such a tight population basin.

I honestly doubt it'll ever happen - the conditions for it were way back in the mid-to-late sixties - but I was still raised by folks who thought it would do us a world of good.

We have enough shit to fix as it is; like the Liberals' utterly corrupt approach to governance, and the whole tuition fees kerfuffle. I haven't been able to set a foot in class for six months, I'd much rather take of that than foster ideals that, while noble, aren't as plausible as they could have been.

^
This

The fact is the we have a lot of governmental companies worth more than the debts the other parties are trying to scare people with. Our debt isn't that high when you know that selling Hydro Québec alone would cover it all... if we really were in deep shit.

But a referendum would never pass atm. People are too scared about the incertitude it would bring and Pauline Marois is miles away to have the charisma necessary for this. (Interesting fact about the referendum with René Lesvesque: commercials accords where already in place with other countries assuring Québec economic stability if we would have became independant.)

And we are different than the rest of Canada. Just look at the federal elections where the NPD won almost every seat in Québec while remaining the same in Canada. We indeed are more left-incline and progressives than the other provinces.

 

[Talvrae]

Someone actually took a shot at her? Wow.

Still, I fucking hate the Separatists. I don't think they realize just how nasty things could get if they actually leave. Their infrastructure is shit, their construction companies are filled with corruption, and they are bleeding the Maritimes dry with hydro bills.

Plus could you imagine just how bad congestion would get on the bridges over the Ottawa River if they had to set up fucking border stations? My home is five minutes drive to Quebec, and putting a border gate at fucking Portage-Du-Fort? It's a pissy little town that's only contribution is a convenient cheap liquor store.

So why are they seperating? whats the deal?

We are not separating

On why some us want to separate from Canada? Well here are a few of theyr reasons
1) To protect the french langage within our borders
2) To have sovereinety over our ressources
3) For control over our immigration
4) They belive we lost money in transfert to the federal (it's wrong we actually get more from the federal than what we send there but go arguing with them on that good luck)
5) To protect our culture
6) To get a seat at the UN (like if that did anything)

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

What an idiot. You'd think people would understand that you can get fired for this shit by now.

Except he shouldn't be. Nor should he be under investigation for making a threat. He did no such thing.
Nor did, if I understand correctly, he say this in any official capacity, or on a company account. Now, not having seen his account, he may in fact have plastered his facebook with reference to the fact that he worked for the company, and THEN he might deserve to be fired. But he still didn't threaten anyone

The truth is, your employer has no right to your internet activity, unless said activity happens on the job. If you use company resources to log on to facebook and rant about how much they suck, then yes, that's something to be fired over.
However, they should not be allowed to police your thoughts or actions on your own time. And as much I need a job, were I informed my employment was conditional upon access to my internet accounts, I would refuse.

Now, not knowing the political situation in canada, I won't presume to say whether or not this man is JUSTIFIED in his offensive behavior, but he shouldn't be in this much trouble either way

 

[Talvrae]

^
This

The fact is the we have a lot of governmental companies worth more than the debts the other parties are trying to scare people with. Our debt isn't that high when you know that selling Hydro Québec alone would cover it all... if we really were in deep shit.

Québec seperated would do also well. Like it or not we have one of the most effective public function of Canada. We give a lot more services of better quality than the other provinces by dollar spent. And we actually gives more to Canada then we receive back.
But a referendum would never pass atm. People are too scared about the incertitude it would bring and Pauline Marois is miles away to have the charisma necessary for this. (Interesting fact about the referendum with René Lesvesque: commercials accords where already in place with other countries assuring Québec economic stability if we would have became independant.)

And we are different than the rest of Canada. Just look at the federal elections where the NPD won almost every seat in Québec while remaining the same in Canada. We indeed are more left-incline and progressives than the other provinces.

To consider Hydro-Québec like this we would have to be able to sell it... wich will never happen... Hydro-Québec can,t be used to cover the debt becasue it can,t be sold

Does we send more money to Otawa than we get back the answer is no, we actually get more with the perequations and the services Otawa spend in québec, look back at your numbers
And on NPD victory... you realise the only reason why Québec city area voted NPD was to punish the coservator to not have delivered on the coliseum and not on ideological disagrement? And that the beauce area still have voted for the conservative party? Québec is not a Lefties monolitic block

 

[Gilhelmi]

"Hate Speech" is analogous to "Free Speech."

Just Saiyan.

do they have free speech in canada o.o

Wow. I hate stereotypes as much as the next guy, but you guys are really playing up the "ignorant american" thing...

Free Speech is the freedom to say anything you like in public without fear of reprisal from the government. Your employer sure as shit is free to fire you, even for saying you like the wrong sports team, if they like and "Hate Speech" doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone, you just can't get arrested for it.

As for "do other countries have free speech?", I don't even... I mean Canada? Can you really watch the news and think Canada comes close in any way to Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iran, etc? Because those are what countries without free speech look like...

I WAS going too call them out on that, but Now I do not need too. Thank you, Mr. Tea, are a mind-reader and a decent person.

OT: If you threaten or advocate the assassination of another person, then it is illegal. The KKK tried to claim "Free-Speach" when they were talking about killing *censored (first word F, sencond word N*. Do they have the freedom to threaten anyone who is Catholic, Black, Irish, or supports equallity for all? NO!!

I do not like President X. but if I threaten too kill Pres. X, then the Secret Service would be busting down my door, and I would be meeting a guy, in prison, for some cuddling.

Threats are not covered under Free Speech.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

@Talvrae @Di-Dorval -
I just gotta say, I never thought I'd see the day where I'd bump into another francophone Quebec native. I do speak French, it's just that, uh, with this being The Escapist, I feel like doing that would weird out about 99% of the other forum members.

Feel free to PM me in French, though, if that's more up your alley. It'll be a welcome change of pace.

 

[chadachada123]

As far as being fired, yeah, I would fire that jackass too.

As far as the law is concerned, I don't think that what he said should necessarily be illegal, since I highly doubt that he is an actual threat and is not making any threats in his statement.

Still, people need to realize that you need to be careful when choosing your words, and not say things like "i give this ***** a month" and "do what must be done." If he does end up being arrested, I will understand how it COULD be argued to be a threat, even if I think it was just a guy being retarded.

 

[Knight Captain Kerr]

I don't think this employee deserved to have this happen to him. I mean all he did was say he thinks that somebody should die. He never made a threat on her life or did anything to directly try and harm her.

 

[chadachada123]

I WAS going too call them out on that, but Now I do not need too. Thank you, Mr. Tea, are a mind-reader and a decent person.

OT: If you threaten or advocate the assassination of another person, then it is illegal. The KKK tried to claim "Free-Speach" when they were talking about killing *censored (first word F, sencond word N*. Do they have the freedom to threaten anyone who is Catholic, Black, Irish, or supports equallity for all? NO!!

I do not like President X. but if I threaten too kill Pres. X, then the Secret Service would be busting down my door, and I would be meeting a guy, in prison, for some cuddling.

Threats are not covered under Free Speech.

Wow. I hate stereotypes as much as the next guy, but you guys are really playing up the "ignorant american" thing...

Free Speech is the freedom to say anything you like in public without fear of reprisal from the government. Your employer sure as shit is free to fire you, even for saying you like the wrong sports team, if they like and "Hate Speech" doesn't have to be tolerated by anyone, you just can't get arrested for it.

As for "do other countries have free speech?", I don't even... I mean Canada? Can you really watch the news and think Canada comes close in any way to Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iran, etc? Because those are what countries without free speech look like...

Nice job not reading the freaking article. He's being investigated and may have charges put against him despite not threatening anyone. The two quoted posters asking about free speech did not clarify whether they were talking about him being fired or him being investigated, but you guys are assuming that they were only talking about being fired.

The second of the two quoted posters EVEN SAID THAT HE WAS FIRED FOR A LEGITIMATE REASON. Here, let me repost it for you both since you clearly didn't even read what he said:

"Hate Speech" is analogous to "Free Speech."

Just Saiyan.

do they have free speech in canada o.o

OT: Well, at least he was fired for a legitimate reason unlike most testers.

Jumping to conclusions (and not reading, in respect to what you did to FallenTraveler's post): Stop doing it.