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Just to be clear, I didn't mean anyone on the Tech-Wrl list "refuses
to recognize the fact that your political opinions should be kept to
yourself"--Just blathering about society in general.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of Chris Vickery
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:08 AM
To: richard -dot- melanson -at- us -dot- tel -dot- com; admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com;
techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Employment question
"What are you TechWriters against the world. If you cannot accept
someone with a different political view who you openly acknowledge has
ALL it takes to do the job, how do you accept edits, constructive
criticisms, suggestions, or any other concept that you may disagree
with."
That view seems narrow to me. I think the key to the problem is not that
the candidate had conflicting views, but that he expressed them so
vociferously. I think that the cultural fit of a candidate is a big
consideration, and it seems that this candidate does not fit, not
because he holds contrary viewpoints to the group, but because of his
manner.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it. If it's a yes/no question of "is it
ethical to exclude a candidate for their political views?" the answer is
definitely no. If the question is "Is it ethical to exclude a candidate
because their manner may disrupt the working environment?" then the
answer is yes.
Also, just to go off on a tangent here, there does seem to be a refusal
to recognize the fact that your political opinions should be kept to
yourself, especially when you are unaware of the opinions of your
listener. Maybe it's a result of the popularity of talk radio, and the
polarizing political climate in which we in America live. Many people
don't have the politeness filters they used to--talking loudly on their
cellphones about private issues in public places, blathering during a
movie...but I digress.
Chris
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of richard -dot- melanson -at- us -dot- tel -dot- com
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:27 AM
To: admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Employment question
I find this question distasteful and I feel posting it insults the
people of TechWR-L. I do not post very often but I feel the need to
comment on this.
What are you TechWriters against the world. If you cannot accept someone
with a different political view who you openly acknowledge has ALL it
takes to do the job, how do you accept edits, constructive criticisms,
suggestions, or any other concept that you may disagree with.
Diversity is what makes the planet spin, it is what makes the US great.
Diversity makes the living experience wonderful. I want to meet new
people with different ideas, who are of different colors, who are of
different ethnic backgrounds, who have different ideals, who have
different morals, who have different sexual concepts, who have different
religious concepts, and who can introduce me to a new concept or idea
and make me better for meeting them. Just reading that someone or a
group of someones is considering not hiring a person because of worries
about political views I find disgusting.
Hire this person and what did the commercial say, "Make this world a
better place" and make yourself better people.
Rick
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+richard -dot- melanson=us -dot- tel -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+richard -dot- melanson=us -dot- tel -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of TECHWR-L Administrator
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:42 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: FWD: Employment question
Forwarded anonymously on request. Please respond on list--
no responses will be privately forwarded. TECHWR-L Admin
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We are a five person documentation group at a mid-sized company. I
started here as a lone writer eight years back. The team grew to its
current size, over the years as the need arose. Though I have the final
say in the selection of a new writer, the team members are involved in
the screening and interviewing process, and the final decision is a
consensus.
We are a pretty close-knit team, and fit in together well. Though each
writer works on individual books and products, the rest of the team
pitches in whenever necessary, like in a crunch at release time or when
some one needs time-off with a scheduled release coming up. Our regular
table in the cafeteria is called the Doc Table where people stop by to
chat us up. Of course, we do enjoy our private jokes about the rest of
the company... :-)
Now we are in need of another writer and have been going through a round
of interviewing. Been a bit frustrating till we found the ideal
candidate. Articulate, good language skills, in-depth knowledge in our
technologies, friendly nature... The interviewing team were exchanging
gratified smiles till we took the candidate for lunch.
The contrast in views couldn't have been any greater. And the person was
not the least bit reluctant to express them either. Like it was a given
that no one could ever disagree with those opinions. (Did I tell you our
team all fall into the same side of the political spectrum?) The visible
strain the team was under to keep the situation from sliding to an Al
Franken date with Ann Coulter would have made me smile if I was not
under the same strain.
The question is, would it be ethical to deny employment to a person
(otherwise eminently qualified) based on his/her political views, though
the real reason is never mentioned? On the other hand, is a new person
(however well qualified) worth the possible disruption (97% possibility)
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True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
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