Fair or unfair?
Stifling free speech or a response to office bullying?
The SpaceX controversy spilled into social media as commenters posted their ideas about SpaceX, the rocket firm based by Tesla (TSLA) – Get Tesla Inc. Report CEO Elon Musk, which fired a number of staff for writing a letter blasting the world’s richest man as “a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment.”
The staff have been complaining about Musk’s public habits and his exercise on Twitter (TWTR) – Get Twitter Inc. Reportwhich he agreed to accumulate for $44 billion, whereas additionally threatening to stroll from deal to buy the microblogging website.
‘Uncomfortable, Intimidated and Bullied’
SpaceX didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, however Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief working officer, informed The New York Times in an e mail that “the letter, solicitations and general process made employees feel uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views.
“We have too much critical work to accomplish and no need for this kind of overreaching activism,” she said.
Musk met with Twitter employees on June 16, where he said he hoped the service could help humankind “better understand the nature of the universe, as much as it is possible to understand,” the Times reported.
Video of Musk speaking at the meeting was posted on Twitter.
‘Cancel Cancel Culture!’
“How many news articles do you read that are positive & how many are negative?” he requested. “It’s overwhelmingly negative. How many times has media gotten a news right? Almost never. Twitter provides a way to communicate with people & not through a negative lens. Really important.”
“Exactly,” Musk responded in a tweet.
Musk, who tweeted “Cancel Cancel Culture!” in 2020, has a historical past of constructing outrageous statements on Twitter, which he has dubbed the “de facto town square” of the web.
He has stated that his model of Twitter will tolerate feedback that fall throughout the authorized scope and respect present laws in every nation the place the social community operates.”
Many individuals took to the positioning to specific their emotions in regards to the letter controversy.
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“Free speech for me not for thee,” one individual tweeted.
‘You Get What You Deserve Sometimes’
“No they have been free to say what they need,” another poster responded. “The consequence for stated “free” speech isn’t so free. You get what you deserve typically.”
“They have been allowed to say no matter they needed about their BOSS, however that does not imply they’re free from penalties…this is not tough,” one tweet read.
“Understanding of free speech for me, however apparently not for thee,” got here another comment.
“Free speech or disrupting the work place,” one other commenter tweeted. “Twitter is a platform to say issues. The office is a spot the place you’re paid to assist the enterprise achieve success. Circulating a letter at work to get rid of the founder could sound good in school, however not an amazing work concept.”
“Oh so there will be limits on what individuals say?” one person responded.
Another poster cited Musk’s choice for Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis within the 2024 presidential election.
‘Rights for Me, and Not for Thee’
“Free Speech! I believed Musk was anti-cancel tradition and pro-Free Speech,” the tweet said. “It’s why he tried to purchase Twitter? Right? Oh, forgot, he is a Republican now, embracing full Apartheid Trumpist Rights for Some: ‘Rights for Me, and Not for Thee.'”
“The former staff have been and proceed to be free to say something they like,” one individual responded. “Not certain your argument holds.”
Over on Reddit, one poster stated that “Leaders are continuously receiving criticism and should decide what stage of response is merited and acceptable.”
“While i additionally dislike Musk’s twitter persona, utilizing firm communications to place collectively an open letter written particularly within the voice of staff of certainly one of his privately held corporations looks as if a transfer that would fairly be anticipated to get this response,” the put up continued.
“Whether it is justified or not apart, this sends a transparent message,” one person responded. “we do not like dissenters. We do not like traitors. Obey or get fired. I’m not assured this kind of transfer will assist with retaining and recruiting top-notch staff.”