I don't understand the question. — Michael
Someone has an opinion I don't like. Why or how should that affect me? — Tzeentch
You're telling me that you wish for people to lose their jobs and their right to free speech because they hold opinions you don't like — Tzeentch
That directly contradicts your desire to see people with private opinions you dislike unemployed and censored. — Tzeentch
You believe opinions matter enough for people to be fired and censored over them. — Tzeentch
I believe that public expressions of a person's opinions does matter to people. — Michael
I'm sure they matter to people, but why? — Tzeentch
Note that I've already offered you a way out, in suggesting that certain opinions may lead to problematic behavior which could be a grounds for firing someone. (In which case it would be the behavior and not the opinion that is the critical factor) — Tzeentch
But instead you insist that the act of having an opinion is sufficient grounds for censorship and robbing someone of their livelihood. — Tzeentch
No, the act of expressing that opinion is sufficient grounds for being fired or having one's social media account suspended. — Michael
I don't need a "way out". — Michael
Lets say you overhear your employee during a private phone conversation and you find out they have an opinion you strongly dislike.
Should you now fire them? — Tzeentch
Should I now fire you because I dislike your opinions? — Tzeentch
I'm not saying that they should fire them. I'm saying that (depending on the opinion) they have the right to fire them. — Michael
I'm not saying that they should fire them. — Michael
If they express the opinion that black people are inferior to white people and ought not have the same legal rights, then you, possibly a black man, ought be allowed to terminate their employment. — Michael
Although, as above, that depends on the opinion. — Michael
Whether they have the right or not is a legal matter and depends entirely on where one lives and what the terms of contract are. — Tzeentch
Then what are you saying people should do? — Tzeentch
Why should someone else's ignorance bother me so, assuming all they do is hold an ignorant opinion? — Tzeentch
And who should be the arbiter of this?
People don't exactly have a shining track record when it comes to determining what is "extreme" and what is "reasonable". — Tzeentch
My claim is that we have a "natural" right to fire people for expressing certain kinds of opinions. — Michael
Us. We're the arbiter of everything. [...] That we sometimes make mistakes isn't that we shouldn't make any kind of judgement at all. — Michael
And these certain kinds of opinions just so happen to be views you disagree with also? — Tzeentch
No, the general principle is:
Premise 1: An employer has the right to fire an employee for expressing morally reprehensible opinions
I then apply this principle to the more specific case:
Premise 2: Racism, sexism, homophobia, and anti-semitism are morally reprehensible
Conclusion: An employer has the right to fire an employee for expressing racist, sexist, homophobic, and anti-semitic opinions
Which of premise(s) do you disagree with? — Michael
Such interactions between individuals are usually written down in a contract, and includes what is expected of both parties.
Why would your right not to be offended take precedence over contractual obligations? — Tzeentch
Premise 1, obviously. — Tzeentch
Do I not have the right to choose who works for me? — Michael
Do I not have the right to choose who works for me? — Michael
Of course you do. You exercise that right by being able to sign contracts with whoever you like, and come to a mutual agreement about the terms of that contract.
If you happen to contract somebody who turns out to be a bit of a nutcase; tough luck! That's down to you being a poor judge of character or being careless with the terms of contract, and unless they do something illegal or breach the contract, I'd say you're morally (and in a lot of cases legally) obliged to uphold your end of the deal. — Tzeentch
But social media like Twitter hold a special, near monopolistic place in public discourse and should in my opinion be regarded as a public forum in the legal sense, — Tzeentch
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