Microsoft Reverses Stand on Discrimination Bill

sriram_2001 writes "Bowing to intense pressure both from outside as well as its employees, Microsoft has reversed its stand on the anti-discrimination bill. In a company wide email, Steve Ballmer says that though the Washington legislative session is over for the year, they'll support any such legislation in the future. However, he adds that they'll be supporting it in the US only as they don't want to involve the company in debates in countries with different cultures and value systems. He also says that he doesn't think Microsoft should be involved in most public policy issues." Announcement about the email's release on the Scobleizer main site.

Comments

So is microsoft not evil

[JahToasted]

And google is evil now? It's like bizaro slashdot.

Re:So is microsoft not evil

[Tibor the Hun]

John Travolta is likeable, and is the only white man who learned to dance.

How about Tom Cruise? Isn't he all evil?
Examples:
-dances in underwear
-even at 40 still looks as cute as he was at 20
-dumped Kidman
-shagged Cruse
-about to shag Holmes

I'm sorry it's offtopic, but I think the question does have some merrits for discussion. (Even Tripmaster Monkey would agree to that!)

Apolitical Stance (but only when convenient)

[ewhac]

He also says that he doesn't think Microsoft should be involved in most public policy issues.

"...Unless the public policy in question is copyright or anti-trust law. Then we're all over it."

Schwab

Microsoft PR Algorithm

[forsythe450]

if (num_windows_users(gay_activists) > num_windows_users(christian_right)) {

retract_statement = true;

}

Re:Microsoft PR Algorithm

[Imposter_of_myself]

Ummm, I might go with:

while (time_for_action != closed) {

stated_position = against;

}

stated_position = for;


If you can add this into your algorithm, I think it would be complete :-)

Re:Before it gets Slashdotted...

[PopeAlien]

Even that psycho Ballmer is, I think, starting to see the light of sanity.

I dont think that comment is very respectful to the personal values or religious beliefs of the insane.

Re:Official Email Location

[MagicM]

I think it's a bit eerie that you're dating yourself, personally.

Re:Homos of the world unite!

[Anonymous Coward]

No, let's protest against the real source of all that is wrong and evil in this world... Slashdot Anonymous Cowards!!!

Oh...wait...

Re:Before it gets Slashdotted...

[Anonymous Coward]

karma karma karma karma chamele-whore, you come and go, you come and go...

Re:Before it gets Slashdotted...

[flyingsquid]

Who will be the first slashdotter to suspect evil?

Total global domination means dominating allpeople, not just those of similar race, religion and sexual preference. They're equal opportunity evil.

Plus, if you want to rule the world you've got to be pragmatic about it. I mean, if I'm an evil genius and I've got a scientist who is integral to my plans, I'm not gonna be like "Whoa, Doctor Cyclops, as much as I respect the work you've done in perfecting the Orbital Neutron Death Ray, we here at SPECTOR just feel that your homosexuality sends the wrong message about our values as an evil conspiracy out to destroy the world. Take your mad scientist skills elsewhere." Good help is hard to find.

Re:Uh... y'know

[Anonymous Coward]

Since we are all on slashdot, I guess none of this is really surprising.

Wait, is this still Bush's America?

[ianscot]

He also says that he doesn't think Microsoft should be involved in most public policy issues.

When did our enormous corporations decide they shouldn't be the only voice at the table in our government? I must've missed the memo. (Maybe that one got sent during the formulation of our energy policy, so Cheney thought it was a protected secret of the Executive Branch? Oops, that memo can't have come from those meetings...)

Re:Official Email Location

[biglig2]

Well, it does avoid all those tedious "your place or mine" discussions...

The term "micro soft"...

[gatkinso]

...should turn off any gay man (or straight woman for that matter).

Re:Hidden glass ceiling for minorities at Microsof

[flyingsquid]

level 65

Yeah, I really hate the endless grinding for experience points in trying to get to the next level in Microsoft. But I hear that once you hit level 60, you can gain the power "Mastery of Monopoly" which makes the spells you cast against startup companies do double damage, and reduces the damage from attacks by the Department of Justice. Combined with the Orb of Marketshare, you're virtually invincible.

Re:Uh... y'know

[Lord Kano]

I'm bisexual, and I hate Microsoft.

If you're a chick, I really want to meet you.

LK

Re:Could someone please explain?

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, right; that much is fairly self-evident. I think what he's asking, though, is what the advantage is to creating an artificially diverse workplace.

For example, I live in an overwhelmingly (greater than 98%) white city. Would there be any reason my boss should go out of his way to find and hire an unrepresentatively diverse workforce?

No, that's not what anyone is trying to say. It would be nice, though, if the right person for the job does turn out to be a little off-kilter, if we as a society hadn't driven him or her completely underground.

That is why discrimination is bad. You can't discriminate against blacks without hosing Dr. Charles Drew or Maya Angelou from your ranks. Likewise, you can't discriminate against homosexuals without hosing Alan Turing or Cmdr. Taco.

Let this be a lesson:

[Thud457]

See the horrible fate that befalls someone foolish enough to break the chain letter?!

Re:Before it gets Slashdotted...

[Anonymous Coward]

But, what about a serial killer who gives his life saving kids in an orphange from a fire?

Re:Before it gets Slashdotted...

[Anonymous Coward]

You shot me! You shot me right in the arm and it really hurts!