Eidos Employee Fired Over "Hate Speech" on Facebook

[cathou]

@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.

I think we are a dozen or so, just not all very active

On OP, I think it was a good business decision, better fire him than get a very bad public image, it's a very emotional subject this week, our first political assassination attempt in 150 years or so, and only less than one hour after she was elected...

Capcha : Teflon president

Teflon won't stop bullets capcha...

 

[Sight Unseen]

I've been on vacation for almost a month... fucking Pauline Marois got into power? God damn separatists, man.

It's a very weak minority government so I really doubt she'll be able to push too much of her separatist agenda, at least not at this point.

Okay, I'm American, and WHY HAVE I NOT SEEN ANYTHING ON THE NEWS ABOUT A FREAKING ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON A POLITICIAN'S LIFE?

We all know how reliable the american media is at reporting, you know, actual news... Maybe they were too pre-occupied with the obviously more important inner details of some poor celebrities life. Or attacking Dems/Republicans for stupid shit that probably had nothing to do with the parties, depending on the channel

 

[viranimus]

Who cares what sort of restrictions we put on facebook? Society has become so asinine with this inane hyper tolerance and strict adherance to political correctness that people willingly block their own ability to express thoughts or formulate opinions that deviate from the herd.

From the same people who brought you societal conformism collectively indoctrinated via imported culture.

Yep... its another "Weep for the future" day. They seem to be coming more frequently as they allow more and more things to be ruined and laid asunder. Honestly I would make every effort to remove the plague like stain myself if it not for a horrendously annoying nagging voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me "All these shitty things they do? It might be the first, required stage to changing human nature that will allow the world to actually change for the better" Even though every other fiber in my being tells me this is wrong and a path toward oblivion.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Interpreting this as the Evil Corporate Machine suppressing the Common Man's voice is kind of short-sighted.

In an ideal world, we wouldn't need to censor ourselves for the good of our job or coworkers. Thing is, the Internet is so open that anything any employee says ultimately becomes akin to unsupervised and sometimes unwanted PR.

Eidos Montreal couldn't let this slide - even if I'm fairly sure d'Astous would tell you he supports freedom of speech as much as anyone else. Eliminate the need for PR and corporate reputation from the face of the map, and then we'll talk about not having to resort to doublethink online. Because the fact is we do.

Like I said in an earlier post - check your six. If you're too heated about a given subject or if some topic is too close to home, cool yourself off or don't comment. It's hard, it's not exactly what I'd consider to be part of human nature - we like flipping our lids, generally speaking - but it needs to be done.

 

[viranimus]

snip

You do realize that this guy was condoning murder and advocating the assassination of an elected official, right?

And you do understand the difference between literal and figurative, right? He wasnt condoning literal murder. He was using figurative language and a dark sense of humor to vent a distressing situation.

But the fact that here we are with this pretty much reinforces and illustrates what I was saying, though I can see where you dont follow.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Unpopular opinion time I suppose: Unless his Facebook page did link him pretty strongly to Eidos, I don't think he should have been fired. We all have opinions, and it's a fiction to think that people who work for a company don't. As far as I'm concerned, if he's not speaking as a representative of Eidos, he should be able to voice any opinion he wants.

 

[viranimus]

I'm sorry but this:

"I give this ***** a month before someone with better aim comes forth and does what must be done"

Doesn't sound figurative to me at all. Nor does it sound like an attempt at dark humor. It sounds like he wants this woman killed. It also sounds like he doesn't care that someone else was killed (and others were wounded) during the first attempt. If I were at in charge EA I wouldn't want him working for me either.

Yes.. I know, that is why I said it illustrates what I was talking about. I mean you do get that wanting someone dead, or not caring that someone was killed/injured is what makes it "dark" right? Making a joke about somes ability to continue living, is still a joke.

You simply have to read the context to understand that difference between literal and figurative. If it were any more apparent It would be pummeling a deceased equine into oblivion, so I am not sure if I could point to anything to make it any more noticeable.

I mean perhaps you might not want to look past the first quote and omit what makes the context in order to get to the second one where the context is not as pronounced. Also better appreciating the idea of schadenfreude would be beneficial in this instance. Edit: Perhaps if you do not ask yourself the question "do * I * find this funny might also remove a hindrance.

 

[lacktheknack]

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

Just Saiyan.

We don't have your precious free speech constitutional rights up here. We operate on the "Don't Be An Idiot" approach.

Just Saiyan.

OT: This is why Facebook is a force of GOOD. It lets us know who's a thoughtless idiot and who isn't.

 

[lacktheknack]

Unpopular opinion time I suppose: Unless his Facebook page did link him pretty strongly to Eidos, I don't think he should have been fired. We all have opinions, and it's a fiction to think that people who work for a company don't. As far as I'm concerned, if he's not speaking as a representative of Eidos, he should be able to voice any opinion he wants.

Eidos don't give care what "should" be allowed in terms of opinions. All they know is that them keeping him on board will sent a terrible message to many people, and will possibly cause minor boycotts, which can and do damage profits.

Eidos is not a person, its a conglomeration vying for maximum public appreciation. It doesn't matter whether or not the man is a representative, it matters whether people think he is.

Don't like it? Complain to human dumbness.

 

[lordmardok]

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

Just Saiyan.

I get what you're saying but try and remember: This is not a 'free speech' issue. Someone legitimately DIED over this and he went on a public social networking site and lamented only that the murderer MISSED HIS INTENDED TARGET. That dead guy had family, friends, loved ones, maybe even children. So yeah, this guy deserves to get fire, he deserves to get pummeled by the law. He deserves whatever he gets because that was the wrong thing to say and it cripplingly stupid to say it.

On the lighter side, since we mostly all agree that he's stupid, at least the government is removing his dumb ass from the genepool, at least temporarily.

 

[Chiave]

Oooh that's great, don't actually address anything I said!

What you said is irrelevant and I'm not going to waste time defending a position I never once stood on (i.e. deflecting against accusations which were the result of poor inference and prejudice)

What I meant was: I hate when what I see actually supports a stereotype.

I love how you start this with "What I meant was..."

How convenient. Listen, your prejudice is a reflection on you, not me.

Congratulations, by the way, on doing absolutely nothing to show otherwise.

Congratulations! You sound like your God! T.V.

 

[andy_h007]

I don't know if Eidos is in the right here or not.

On the one hand, what the guy said was definitely stupid. I would never wish death on another person. I have been happy for certain peoples deaths, such as bin laden, and most people would agree that maniacs like that are better off dead than killing innocent people. But for someone who only made a comment of that sort, dumb as it was, was only expressing his right to free speech.

Now Eidos finds his comment and fires him for it even though he had nothing to do with the attempted assassination and most likely would never be apart of any attempt in the future other than believing it was for the greater good?

I don't know about Canada, but in the US it is illegal to fire someone for their political/religious/personal beliefs. From my point of view, this man could sew Eidos for unlawful termination and win hands down.

Just saying one more time that I don't agree with killing a political figure just because I might disagree with their policies, but I don't think firing someone for their own opinions it right.

Just my two cents.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

People take stuff said on social networking sites way too seriously. If the guy was seriously considering to assassinate a public figure he probably wouldn't have tweeted about it. He was merely unsatisfied with the fact that guy was elected and he exaggerated. I wouldn't have fired him. If he does his job well I don't give a fuck what he says to whom in his free time. Hell, I wouldn't even care if he tweeted that during his working hours. I'd tell him to stop tweeting while on the job and that's it. The guy only said what most people think anyway. There's a politician that deserves to be killed. That's not even news.

 

[Smooth Operator]

This is why you post on small forums that your employer doesn't frequent or even know about.

No this is why you do not ever associate random rants with your real name because that shit will be up there for decades to come and everyone to read and google will list it at some point, so anyone who wants to get some dirt can have a field day with your ass.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

I wonder when people will realize that freedoms of speech do not protect you from the consequences of said speech...

OT: It's no wonder some of us in America haven't heard about it, even though we practically next-door neighbors!

Then again, if the media won't report on stuff like this...


...then I don't find it too difficult to believe that the media would ignore something like an assassination attempt on a politician's life. Especially when we consider our own history with these kinda things.

 

[Epic Fail 1977]

"raison d'être"

I see what you did there.

 

[iniudan]

On OP, I think it was a good business decision, better fire him than get a very bad public image, it's a very emotional subject this week, our first political assassination attempt in 150 years or so, and only less than one hour after she was elected...

I think you forgot Pierre Laporte.

 

[aceman67]

our infrastructure isn't so bad.

Tell that to the families of the 5 people who were crushed to death when an overpass collapsed in Laval. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2006/10/01/overpass-collapse.html

Also: Health care system =/= infrastructure. Infrastructure is Roadways, Power Transmission lines, Telecommunication systems, and waterworks/sewage.

OT: If Quebec does separate, one, if not all, of the following will happen:

1. The first nations won't let Quebec have their lands and will elect to stay with Canada, regardless of a separation outcome, which is 80-90% of the province.

2. Parliament will say "Tough cookies" and enact eminent domain (Look it up, the Government has the sovereign right to say 'this land is ours, get out') on the provinces natural resources and flip the 'Parti Quebecois' (AKA Treasonous scum) the bird.

3. Canada will invade, and here's why: Canada won't let the country be (literally and figuratively) split in two, as it would cause undo harm to the nations interests. (This is the opinion of my Father, a retired 25 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces)

4. Since over 10,000 people have already put their homes up for sale to move to Ontario because of this situation, I think many many more will follow, leaving what ever 'nation' that comes from this in a sorry state.

 

[WindKnight]

Slightly off topic...

but is it weird that, as a UK resident, the assassination attempt was covered here on primetime news, and thus I knew about it, but it seems to have slipped under the radar in the US?

On topic...

what he said was pretty extreme and nasty, no defence at all. Eidos definitely made the right decision.

 

[draythefingerless]

our infrastructure isn't so bad.

Tell that to the families of the 5 people who were crushed to death when an overpass collapsed in Laval. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2006/10/01/overpass-collapse.html

Also: Health care system =/= infrastructure. Infrastructure is Roadways, Power Transmission lines, Telecommunication systems, and waterworks/sewage.

OT: If Quebec does separate, one, if not all, of the following will happen:

1. The first nations won't let Quebec have their lands and will elect to stay with Canada, regardless of a separation outcome, which is 80-90% of the province.

2. Parliament will say "Tough cookies" and enact eminent domain (Look it up, the Government has the sovereign right to say 'this land is ours, get out') on the provinces natural resources and flip the 'Parti Quebecois' (AKA Treasonous scum) the bird.

3. Canada will invade, and here's why: Canada won't let the country be (literally and figuratively) split in two, as it would cause undo harm to the nations interests. (This is the opinion of my Father, a retired 25 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces)

4. Since over 10,000 people have already put their homes up for sale to move to Ontario because of this situation, I think many many more will follow, leaving what ever 'nation' that comes from this in a sorry state.

I dont think you need to be so adamantly hateful of the Partis Quebecois. like america, canada was a sorry colony the british lost hold over, and they didnt even fight like the americans did, for it. Im not in favor of Quebec separating, i think in a world where were trying to be more globalized, more united, segregating sounds stupid.
I dont think you need your own country, to have your own fucking culture. And on the French thing, languages like french, spanish, and others, will slowly diminish all over the world, not just quebec. if it is a language to die, so be it. but hey, latin died eons ago and we still teach it, so...i wouldnt be worried about it.
Regardless of my thoughts on Quebec, i wouldnt hate PQ. I just hope they do the smart thing and improve Quebec, not harm it by suicidal separation.