The politics example is from a very specific worldview.

Would that be appropriate if your co-workers were being removed by ICE agents in front of you? That's a political act.

Not speaking about politics is a luxury afforded to some because of the political life enacted by so many previous generations.

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extraisland 2 days ago | parent [-]

No it isn't from a specific worldview.

The vast majority of people see their work as something that they need to do so they can pay the bills. Many have children to provide for.

As stated in the article, you have everything to lose and nothing to gain by talking about politics.

If you politics and that of the organisation is incompatible it is often better to look for new employment. I don't work in certain industries because in conflicts with my personal politics.

> Would that be appropriate if your co-workers were being removed by ICE agents in front of you? That's a political act.

I would keep my mouth shut. My commentary on this event would not help a co-worker and could land me in hot water. So what benefit is there for commentating on the matter? None.

> Not speaking about politics is a luxury afforded to some because of the political life enacted by so many previous generations.

You can talk about it. Just don't do it at work.

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4ndrewl a day ago | parent [-]

That seems like an incredibly selfish way of thinking.

You have everything to lose by _not_ talking about politics.

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extraisland a day ago | parent [-]

> That seems like an incredibly selfish way of thinking.

Not at all. Many times you will find yourself wanting to take action but it would be counter productive.

e.g. I had a superior leave a bunch of papers on my desk. I assumed they were for me and starting reading. It had a list of redundancies. Some of these people I knew and was quite friendly with. If I had told them, I could have potentially got myself in a bunch of shit. They would still have been made redundant whether I had warned them or not.

What is the benefit in that situation of warning them? That is your initial instinct right? There is none. I only hurt myself, and they do not benefit. Sometimes your involvement will be counter productive.

Sometimes it is not the right place, the right time, or you might not even be the right person to champion a cause.

BTW, If you have dependants e.g. Most parents prioritise them over their own lives. That is the opposite of being selfish.

> You have everything to lose by _not_ talking about politics.

Nonsense. I have no obligation to engage in political discussion and often engaging in it has a number of negative consequences.

Some families are estranged over divisive political issues. I was estranged from my family (I had substance abuse problems), I have since repaired that relationships. But I won't get that time back.

As previously stated you can talk about it outside of work. Politics is often talked about at length, in bars, clubs, between neighbours and online. Why does it also have to be at the place of work? There is a time and a place for things.

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4ndrewl a day ago | parent [-]

I dunno, at the place of work because that's where power is exercised - which is what politics is?

But ok, let's not talk about Miguel who "no longer works here" or Sara who had to move to a different state.

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extraisland a day ago | parent [-]

> I dunno, at the place of work because that's where power is exercised - which is what politics is?

That isn't what is commonly understood. Especially in the scope of this discussion.

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4ndrewl a day ago | parent [-]

Arguably because people no longer talk about politics.

	▲	extraisland a day ago \| parent [-]
		People talk about politics all the time in some form or the other, in fact it wormed it way into almost everything unfortunately. So I think that just isn't true. You seem to insistent that it should be talked about at the work place, despite the rationale for not discussing it is quite sound. So I don't really think there is point in continuing.