Evolve Community Mgr Fired After Tweet on Donald Sterling - Update

[Phrozenflame500]

Update: Turtle Rock Studios has apparently removed Olin from his position as community manager as a result of his statement.

**SHOCKING NEWS**

I mean, absolutely nobody could have saw this coming, right?

 

[T_ConX]

Thought experiment:

I want you to try and remember the most embarrassingly bigoted thing you have ever said in private (either alone or with one other person hearing you) during the last year. Doesn't even have to be racist! Could be sexist or homophobic or whatever. Maybe a joke you told a friend that you trust to keep quiet.

Now, I want you to assume that what you said has been recorded, and that recording is in possession of an individual or organization that is more than willing to vilify you for page-views.

How fucked are you?

It's kind of troubling to see that the response to this tweet is 'Fire the guy'. Everything up until the last three words is completely reasonable. As to the 'He's a victim'... That's kind of open. You could say Sterling is a victim of his own bigotry or infidelity.

But we didn't get any of this. All we got was a hasty bus-throw.

Donald Sterling is an ass, but he has every right to say whatever he wants to say. Likewise, everyone else has the right to voice their disapproval and withdraw their financial support of his product. I'm not a lawyer, but I assume that the NBA has the power to strip him of his ownership of the team as part of an ownership agreement that Donald Sterling probably signed. Turtle Rock certainly has the right to fire the guy.

And I also have the right to not buy Evolve.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

I think this update bears another response.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING.

The exact thing that I hate happening has happened...as a result of discussion about ITSELF.

This man defends the right of someone to have a private opinion that may be intolerant, whilst not even holding that private opinion himself, and is fired over the controversy for the exact same reason the incident occurred in the first place.

Because the public can't just fucking let someone have an opinion, and have created this fucking culture where if anything controversial is said by an employee, the safe thing to do is fire them, even and especially if it has nothing at all to do with their work.

Cannot fucking believe this.

 

[kaizen2468]

As long as the dickhead wasn't infringing on anyone's rights and was saying these things in his own home I don't really care. It's getting a little stupid that someone can say something, even if it's negative in their own home and have it held against them outside of it. I mean even people who make remarks about it are liable to get fired of this nonsense. It's all totally insane.

 

[DEAD34345]

Just because someone is a prick doesn't mean they cannot be wronged. Donald Sterling deserved to be fired for all the racist things he did, but that's irrelevant. He was wronged when someone illegally taped his private conversation and used it to shame him publically (leading to him being fired), and the person that did this should be punished by the law. Sterling is a victim, in this specific context, and in this specific instance.

Also, siding "with" a bigot on one particular viewpoint does not mean you share all of the same views as him, some people seriously need to calm down. I can understand the people who proclaim their hate for Sterling, but those angry at Olin and the video-game he is related to simply because of this tweet are just being ridiculous and petty. My respect for the people on this forum has dropped a few notches while reading these replies. It's depressing.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Reading his expanded argument, I can sort of understand his position even if I have no sympathy over his firing.

He broke three cardinal rules here:

1) He used Twitter to try and explain a complicated opinion on a controversial topic (PSA: NEVER DO THIS EVER)

2) He framed his argument in a (ironically) sensationalist and provocative way.

3) Did the previous two on his personal twitter, with his job being a community manager (i.e. literally tasked with representing the company).

He made a gargantuanly stupid move and I completely understand why he was fired. However I do kinda sympathize with the idea that the media immediately went to the private recordings instead of reporting on the fact that his entire team was protesting against him due to his incredibly abusive behaviour. Sterling is an asshole, but he's an asshole because of what he did, not because of what he believes.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

I wonder how many people would be speaking up if Sterling had been exposed as a pedophile.

 

[jetriot]

And... he's been fired.

"Game studio Turtle Rock (Left 4 Dead, Evolve) has let go of their community manager following a controversial tweet in which he called disgraced L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling "a victim" who "has the right as an American to be an old bigot in the security of his own home."

http://kotaku.com/community-manager-fired-after-calling-donald-sterling-a-1570567303

Well, that didn't take long.

Cue a lot of people patting themselves on the back and moving on and the underlying issues continuing to not be solved because everyone moved on to something else, I suppose.

The people that boycott people for having opinions different than their own are no better McCarthy era witch hunters in my book. I understand boycotting a Nazi, I even understand boycotting Sterlin... but boycotting a company because an employee had an opinion about a racist??!?! Its anti-democratic, pro-fascist behavior to want to destroy people that disagree with you at such a mundane level.

The same can be said for the Mozilla CEO issue. A man fired because he donated to a cause that at the time was supported by a majority of California and was supported by President Obama himself. I hope the people that said they were going to boycott this game realize that their inner fascist won yet again this day... Perhaps someday they can crush all descent to their narrow world view. Although maybe in the future instead of just blacklisting people we disagree with we can just get it over with and start burning them alive like actual fascists would. That would be the fastest route to cleansing the world of unholy world views after all.

 

[Scorpid]

Cool, it looks like I have one less game to buy!

It's his right to be an old bigot, but it's my right to not support anyone who roots for him.

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of speech without consequence. The NBA isn't the government, they can do as they please.

Sure, the choice to not support someone with views we disagree with is just as good. But I don't think that's what they're saying. This man is being banned from sporting events and other places because of those personal views. It is directly contrary to the freedom of speech.

This is another one of those "I may not agree with what you say but I'll defend with my life your right to say it" scenarios. Racist ass or not, the correct response to someone expressing unpopular views is not to ban him from events or demand he lose/sell his business. For you and me, it means not supporting anything he touches. But to demand his speech not be free flies in the face of basic human rights.

I'm sorry, but he is a victim here. He is a racist bigot too. It's just that the two things are not mutually exclusive. We have a lot of old racist people. They grew up in a time where they were taught these awful things by their parents and teachers and this is the result of society's programming. These people will go away and our generation will take it's place. No doubt with our own problems too.

I don't think anyone is saying to arrest him for being an old raciest asshole, so no his rights are not being trampled.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

Thought experiment:

I want you to try and remember the most embarrassingly bigoted thing you have ever said in private (either alone or with one other person hearing you) during the last year. Doesn't even have to be racist! Could be sexist or homophobic or whatever. Maybe a joke you told a friend that you trust to keep quiet.

Now, I want you to assume that what you said has been recorded, and that recording is in possession of an individual or organization that is more than willing to vilify you for page-views.

How fucked are you?

It's kind of troubling to see that the response to this tweet is 'Fire the guy'. Everything up until the last three words is completely reasonable. As to the 'He's a victim'... That's kind of open. You could say Sterling is a victim of his own bigotry or infidelity.

But we didn't get any of this. All we got was a hasty bus-throw.

Donald Sterling is an ass, but he has every right to say whatever he wants to say. Likewise, everyone else has the right to voice their disapproval and withdraw their financial support of his product. I'm not a lawyer, but I assume that the NBA has the power to strip him of his ownership of the team as part of an ownership agreement that Donald Sterling probably signed. Turtle Rock certainly has the right to fire the guy.

And I also have the right to not buy Evolve.

But he wasn't joking, and actually acted out on his bigoted tendecies by forcing black people from the tennants he purchased, throwing remarks to his players while on the court, and telling his girlfreind that she shouldn't bring black players to their games.

He has the right to say racist things, and the government can't interfere, but at the same time, NBA can fire the shit out of him and people can hate him like the scum of the Earth

I don't get what the people defending him don't understand this. If you say racist shit and sexist shit frequently, and do nothing to hide it, you're gonna get fired.

 

[Draconalis]

This is not a issue of privacy and it never was.

Except... it is.

This whole thread is not about Sterling, it's about Olin's defending Sterling's right to privacy. Not his first amendment right, not his right to his beliefs. He was defending his right to privacy.

The same thing he is now the victim of.

I'm sorry you lost your job Mr. Olin. At least I understood where you were coming from. And it's a shame everyone is too blinded by their own righteous fury to see what you were saying.

 

[Sarge034]

I can't stand people who defend bigotry or racism by using "hurr durr 1st amendment" like it's some sort of shield.If I had my way every bigoted or racist person would get fined for the filth they spew, and hardcore racists get the crap beat out of them by the group they throw bigoted slurs at.

[...]

The 1st Amendment should not be used as a shield for every bigoted asshole out there.

The problem is when you try to decide what is morally and socially acceptable on a large scale. Remember at one point black people were not classified as human beings, being LGBT would get you stoned to death, and if you weren't a white male you were not going to get a promotion. Why do I bring this up? Because using your oh so self-righteous plan those who supported emancipation and equality would be fined and beaten. Anyone who supported LGBT rights would be fined and beaten. Anyone who supported equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws would be fined and beaten. Now I know you're going to reply with, "Yeah, but this is obviously different because my side is right." News flash, every perspective generation believes their views are right.

If we don't protect everyone's right to express themselves how can you expect protection if you fall on the wrong side of the social norm?

That being said, I do not agree with what Sterling said but it was said inside the privacy of his home while he was being recorded in secret by someone with a grudge. I do not agree that it should have blow back like this. HOWEVER, for all the legally questionable and downright illegal discrimination there should be consequences. My question is why was nothing done for those actual actions but was for this statement? And as for Olin... I think he notices that internet mob mentality is becoming a dangerous entity that needs to be highlighted. He didn't defend the racist actions of Sterling, he didn't defend the racist things Sterling said. All he said was that Sterling's privacy was violated in the safety of his own home and that makes him a victim in this particular situation. Unless, of course, you're ok with people ignoring your privacy and telling the world your secrets. But after the NSA outrage and the Google privacy outrage I'm willing to bet this isn't the case...

Also to all the people who think it's petty to not buy something from a business because one of it's employees defends bigotry?You're wrong.Just like people have a right to be a bigoted fuck,everyone else has a right to not do business with them or anyone who defends this shit.

So you are willing to cause financial harm to hundreds or thousands of people based on one man's opinion? Even though, statically speaking, the vast majority of those people are a combination of views differing from Olin, views differing from Sterling, and black individuals? Seems pretty fucking petty to me. But what do I know? I'm not blinded by anger and self-righteous indignation...

 

[LetalisK]

Yes, his right to privacy probably was violated according to California law and he could probably sue the dog shit out of his (probably) ex-mistress. That doesn't mean the NBA has to cover their ears and pretend nothing happened, though.

 

[Redd the Sock]

It's kind of hard not to agree with Olin. The massive internet lynch mob that goes out when some public figure that dares to say things they don't like have been out in for in the last year or so, and one does begin to wonder if the media knows this and is just playing it for clickbait. Seems simple enough: when short on hit find some public or private comment or action that will get every internet slackivist hopping mad and visiting your website to denounce the sacrificial lamb of the month, or have the "free speech vs publicly accepted morality flame wars. I guess the papers have always done this, but it has usually been seen as bad journalism to act like the common tabloid out to get the sales first, and look for context, respect privacy, or even just ask how newsworthy it is second. All the problems in the world, but who cares if some famous person says something racist or homophobic. That'll get us far more attention.

 

[kajinking]

Reading his expanded argument, I can sort of understand his position even if I have no sympathy over his firing.

He broke three cardinal rules here:

1) He used Twitter to try and explain a complicated opinion on a controversial topic (PSA: NEVER DO THIS EVER)

2) He framed his argument in a (ironically) sensationalist and provocative way.

3) Did the previous two on his personal twitter, with his job being a community manager (i.e. literally tasked with representing the company).

He made a gargantuanly stupid move and I completely understand why he was fired. However I do kinda sympathize with the idea that the media immediately went to the private recordings instead of reporting on the fact that his entire team was protesting against him due to his incredibly abusive behaviour. Sterling is an asshole, but he's an asshole because of what he did, not because of what he believes.

Yeah kinda gotta agree with this, twitter is not a good place to try and relay complex ideas and when you're charged with representing a company bringing up these kinda issues is not a good idea.

When you're a PR guy for a game company stick to un-popular opinions on game related topics (say you though Sonic 06 was a good game or something) try to avoid more serious subjects.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

If you don't mind my saying, you bring up a very interesting point there. Sometimes it seems to be okay to be detestable, as long as it's an 'appropriate' kind of detestable.

I was referring more to the people defending Sterling's privacy, and how many wouldn't have a strong opinion about privacy if he had been admitting to sexually assaulting a young child, rather than making racist remarks.

Please. That is such a lazy jump to make, that it fails utterly in trying to make the point you were trying to make.

Aside from comparing apples to giant mutant lizards, there is such a morally and socially stark difference between being a racist and pedophile that not even Evel Knieval could gross that gulf with his best bike. Between the obvious inclusion of a victim with the latter, all the various repercussions it can have on said victim for the latter, etc. etc., it just doesn't work. I mean, the only way you could of taken that any lower was if you were going to try and say "what if he was hitler?"


And as for this? Sheer idiocy. Olin may of had a controversial opinion, but he was far from the wrong. His Mistress had released what was an otherwise completely private conversation out into the public for the sole reason of screwing him over. It was out of selfish spite, not moral righteousness or the like. If there was money exchanging hands between the two, that would be the reason this wound up coming out to the public ear.

That, and the fact she'll be getting plenty of attention and offers from news sites wanting to interview her (and paying her for her time of course). It's the same reason more than half the women who stepped up with Tiger Woods fiasco ever did so in the first place. Simple. Easy. Cash.


Like Olin said, the man should be allowed to say what he wants in the privacy of his home. That is, of course, excluding the claims of bigotry and racism outside of the home, but most news articles are choosing to ignore those because it just doesn't get the kind of clicks this shit does.

Did you just dismiss racism because it's "victimless?"

 

[ThatQuietGuy]

Reading his expanded argument, I can sort of understand his position even if I have no sympathy over his firing.

He broke three cardinal rules here:

1) He used Twitter to try and explain a complicated opinion on a controversial topic (PSA: NEVER DO THIS EVER)

2) He framed his argument in a (ironically) sensationalist and provocative way.

3) Did the previous two on his personal twitter, with his job being a community manager (i.e. literally tasked with representing the company).

Pretty much my thoughts only I don't think this guy deserved to be fired for his opinion on the matter, expressing it while representing the company was dumb and that's what got him fired I guess, but there should be a degree of separation between his opinion on the issue and the issue itself, Sterling is getting what was coming to him in my opinion but that mob shouldn't then go on to target decryers on twitter...