So I heard today that Mike Lee is leaving Delicious Monster. I can certainly understand his position. He started working for Wil to learn how to code Mac OS X at the feet of a true master. Excellent story, worth reading. But I'm not talking about Mike's story... I'm looking at the fact that the title of Mike's weblog is a word that I wouldn't say in front of my mother, but he does, and has every right to do so.
Free Speech. That's one of those catchy phrases that we throw around a lot. We're all supposed to have it, and as long as you're not hurting anyone with your free speech, someone shouldn't tell you you can stop what you're saying. Take out the slander... take out the mean-spirited remarks... your personal experiences and beliefs are yours, and if you want to express yourself you should have that right.
I say should, because in many places - most notably Big Business, you don't have that right.
I was talking to my friend Tennessee the other day and he was telling me about this CNN reporter that was fired for having said "certain things" on his weblog. Fired. I read the guy's post about his firing. It's really rather amazing. I mean, I've gotten into this issue with my friend Dante several times. Dante owns a little company - nothing that'll change the world of finance, but it's his little web shop and it's something he takes a lot of pride in.
Anyway, Dante always says that he works in an At Will State - meaning that he can fire anyone for any reason - so long as it's not discrimination. So if this person is being a slug and doing nothing - Dante can (and has) fired them. He can hire and fire at will. And I can understand why - it's his company, his name on the door, and his reputation.
But where does that end?
If you look at the CNN producer, he's writing about the industry he's in. OK, I still think they went overboard, but maybe. But what if it was one of the train conductors that I see every day on the trains I ride? What if one of them wanted to write about computers and the jerks he meets on the job and at the Big Box store down the street? Should the train company be able to fire him for that?
Where does personal time and personal feelings interfere with the job? And does this effect his job at all? The CNN producer was fired for something that had nothing to do with his job. Nothing at all. Dante doesn't fire people for what they do on the weekend, he's only fired people for what they do during the workday. And that should be the litmus test.
If the writing is materially effecting the job, then it becomes a work issue. If not, then it's personal.
I'm not silly enough to think that's the way it really works, but I do think that it should work that way. Big Business has the money and the lawyers on their side. People should have the right to say what they think and feel as long as it doesn't hurt someone else. And so long as the company isn't hurt, then employees should have the right to say what they think.
After all... Free Speech isn't the same as "Free Speech that offends no one"... we do not have the right to be free of offense. I don't have to like what you say, but that doesn't give me the right to make you stop.
This is going to change someday. Wait and see.