Microsoft Update

Scoble has kind things to say about Scoble, Microsoft, and Politics:

Brian shows that in today's society we can find a way to communicate, even when we're on different belief systems. In society today we get so polarized and we don't look for ways to work together.

I'm glad that Brian noticed that I can work together with those who I disagree with on some issues. We forget to do that sometimes in our arguing over ideas.

[Read the full post]

I would love to see debate and conversation instead of endless attempts to demonize those who you disagree with. Listen to the different ideas, respect another perspective, and do your best to make your case.

If you don't respect those you disagree with, you will never have the chance to change their mind.

As I wrote a few months ago:

What do we gain from almost exclusively reading the words of people who are exactly like us? Who is going to challenge us, change us, and make us uncomfortable?

Update: Bill Gates indicates the company may reconsider when the bill comes to a vote again.  "We certainly have a lot of employees who sent us mail," Mr. Gates told The Seattle Times. "Next time it comes around that'll be a major factor for us to take into consideration."

Comments

[Captain]

Brian --

Well said. It's a difficult balance to believe in something so deeply and still respect those that have a totally opposite viewpoint -- but something we all must strive for.

Captain

[Shiv]

The whole issue is kind of bothers me. It doesnt matter what religion the CEO or the whole management is. As a company they have a responsibility that there is no discrimination. If the employees personally have problems with that then they can ask for a transfer inside, but personally I dont agree with that either.
Scoble did a good job and I agree with Dave Winer too. On the whole this whole thing about MSFT getting into religion and politics sucks. I have a gay friend who have been hired by MSFT couple of months back. I need to talk to him to find out how he feels about it.

I hope MSFT retracts what ever they did.

[Dave]

Shiv, that's just it: they didn't DO anything. The problem is that some people (like Scoble) think they should have done something - continue to publicly support a Gay Rights bill.

As for Dave Winer, his stance is completely opposite of Scoble in regards to Microsoft taking a public stance - so it's kinnd of hard to agree with both of them here.

As for me, I think Microsoft has no place in this bill. They are a business entity, not a political one. If they choose to think it might hurt their business in some way - and I think it would - then they have every right to not support a bill that has nothing to do with business.

I thought the discussion on various blogs were very interesting, and for the most part polite and civil. Brian, I agree with what you wrote here.

One last thing... thanks for not saying that Scoble was "couragious". Somehow that term in this instance bothered me. there's really nothing that couragious about asking permission to make a statement on your blog and then properly stating your disagreements with what it said - and all of this well after the events happened.

It's an upstanding thing Robert did. It will raise his reputation. Honorable even. But "couragious"? Not really.