Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work

Re:Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work by cryptonector on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @06:58PM (#21276947)

Anything can be spam because spam is in the eye of the beholder, but nonetheless, politics is generally not spam. You can have a politically-neutral policy against undesirable content that passes the smell test. It does require that you a) use reasonably objective terms in the definition of "spam", and b) that you resist the inevitable pressure to reinterpret those terms to cover that which others find undesirable political content.

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Re:Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work by TheOtherHobbes on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @08:14PM (#21277620)

Actually politics generally is spam - in the sense that much of it is knowingly dishonest self-promotion of individuals and social groups.

Just because politics isn't trying to sell you a penis extension doesn't mean it isn't trying to sell you something far worse.

It doesn't even matter how political content is published. What matters is that currently voters get more protection from a faulty toaster than from lies knowingly generated by politicians and corporate PR outfits.

The creation of deliberately false "talking points", fake news, smear campaigns, organised trolling and astroturfing, fake reviews, fake feedback, and other kinds of cognitive pollution should be banned from all forms of media.

Which is not to say this is easy or straightforward. But attempts should be made - because lying to voters and consumers is absolutely toxic to genuine democracy.

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Re:Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work by eanzenberg on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @11:30PM (#21278681)

There’s something fascinating when you equate penis enlargement spam with political speech.

Btw, laying in politics has happened for like forever. Is there any evidence that it’s worse than in the past?

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Re:Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work by Nasrudith on Thursday October 17, 2019 @08:52AM (#21281477)

Both are messages coming to you. Just because they have the right to metaphorically knock on your door doesn't mean both campaigners and vacuum cleaner salesmen don't get the door slammed on them and doormen won't tell both to scram if they try to visit apartments unsolicited. The difference in categort broadness seems classically strawmen as well.

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Re:Gitlab: don't discuss politics at work by shkkmo on Thursday October 17, 2019 @02:04AM (#21279330)

Not true at all.

Spam is unwanted email that you did not sign up to receive and sent from someone who you do not know.

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