Random Fired Employee Sues Google For Discriminating Against White Conservative Men (11 items)

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  (#1) He Wrote His Initial 'Memo' After Taking Part In A Diversity Program At Google

  Damore was on a flight to China after attending a Google diversity program when he started writing the memo that would generate worldwide attention and backlash. The memorandum, however, is more of a manifesto, leveling accusation after accusation against Google and their attempts to create a more equitable workplace. The piece, titled "Google's Ideological Echo Chamber," reads like the thoughts of an internet troll who uses big words and knows the difference between you're and your; so, in that regard, it is pretty remarkable. As a thoughtful call-to-action, it is far less successful.
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  (#2) He Said Google's Efforts To Have Equal Race And Gender Representation Are Discriminatory

  The whole basis of Damore's lawsuit is that Google's programs and policies aimed at equaling their racial and gender representation are discriminatory again white men. "This is the essence of discrimination," the suit reads. "Google formed opinions about and then treated Plaintiffs not based on their individual merits, but rather on their membership in groups with assumed characteristics."

  Upon first glance, a sentence like this might seem to hold water; dig a little deeper, and it smacks of the plaintiff's bigotry. For example, this "individual merit" stance is the same one that has been used for decades to stifle Affirmative Action programs and similar initiatives set out to even the playing field. It's an unoriginal argument that serves as a dog-whistle for all those trapped in the same mindset as Damore.
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  (#3) The Data Doesn't Match His Claims

  If there were some rationale - or even plain old facts - to back up the majority of Damore's assertions, his lawsuit would be more compelling. The claims Damore makes in his lawsuit don't match the hard data about the tech industry. "The science cited in the Google engineer’s memo is flawed," wrote science journalist Angela Saini. "Weak scientific evidence and empty theories are still being used to support troubling ideologies."
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  (#4) The Tech Industry Is Overwhelmingly White And Male

  The most glaring thing Damore gets wrong is his position that white men are some dying breed in Silicon Valley. The tech industry as a whole is overwhelmingly white and overwhelmingly male. Though women comprise half of the American workforce, they only make up about a quarter of technological and math-related industries. In these same industries, black and Hispanic people only hold about 15% of the jobs. So no, Damore, you are not in danger.
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  (#5) He Blamed 'Biological Differences' For The Lack Of Women In Tech

  One of the more infuriating aspects of Damore's claims is his opinion that biological differences between men and women make women less suitable for tech jobs. Women, he said, "have a stronger interest in people rather than things," and they "prefer jobs in social or artistic areas."

  The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, fired back at this accusation. While Pichai admitted "much of what was in that memo is fair to debate," he took issue with the idea that one gender or racial group is predisposed to tech industry work while other genders and races are not. "To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK." And it's not just offensive, it's not just not-OK. It's not backed up by any solid science.
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  (#6) Damore's Co-Plaintiff Described Google's Diversity Policies As 'Slavery'

  Damore is joined in his lawsuit by another plaintiff, former Google employee David Gudeman. Gudeman has long been critical of Google's diversity policies, likening them to slavery. The policies, he said, are akin to what "slave owners would have written for their slaves to help them understand how to interact with their masters." If nothing else, you have to give Gudeman and Damore credit for knowing how to whip the Fox News/Trump base into a frenzy. It's insane, inflammatory, over-the-top statements like Gudeman's that prevent any civil discussion... and Gudeman and Damore surely know that.
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  (#7) Damore Claims White Men Are Threatened And Harassed At Google For Speaking Up

  The lawsuit goes on to allege Google's work atmosphere is hostile to white, conservative men. "Damore, Gudeman, and other class members were ostracized, belittled, and punished for their heterodox political views, and for the added sin of their birth circumstances of being Caucasians and/or males," the suit reads.

  Harmeet Dhillon, Damore's lawyer who is also a Republican Party official, defended Damore's childish claim in a statement saying, "Google perpetuates gender stereotypes about men every day." 
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  (#8) His Lawsuit Demonstrates A Fundamental Misunderstanding Of Free Speech

  This lawsuit wants us to believe the entire matter rests on the issue of free speech, that Damore was just asserting his constitutional right to speak his mind when he wrote his original memo. In reality, the suit is further proof that many seemingly educated Americans just don't understand the principle of free speech.

  Free speech, under the US Constitution, grants you the permission to say whatever you want without fear of retribution from the United States government. This rule generally doesn't apply to private workplaces. So, yeah, speak your mind by all means, but know you aren't shielded from the consequences of your awful opinions, unless those consequences are being sanctioned by the government. And Google is not the government.
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  (#9) Google Isn't Backing Down

  Google isn't flinching in the face of Damore's accusations. They have stated they are ready and willing to go to trial and expose Damore's false claims and bigotry. "We look forward to defending against Mr. Damore's lawsuit in court," a Google spokesman said. Translation: Bring it.
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  (#10) Damore Lost His Challenge, But Is Still Pursuing His Lawsuit

  Damore filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board after he was fired from Google, claiming his dismissal was a violation of his right to engage in "concerted activity" to address workplace issues. However, after review, the board concluded in January 2018 that Damore's challenge was baseless, since Google fired him for "discriminatory statements."

  As the labor board lawyer explained, "In the course of protesting working conditions you can be profane and aggressive and unpleasant, you can be militant, and it’s still protected... What separates this is its derisiveness and stereotypical characterization of one gender."

  According to Damore's lawyer, he plans to focus his energy on his lawsuit against Google instead.
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  (#11) Damore Has A Master's In Systems Biology And Pursued A Ph.D. At Harvard

  It must be stated that Damore is no dumb-dumb. This is a very smart guy. He has a master's degree in systems biology from Harvard, and he pursued a Ph.D. there in the same field of study (he did not complete the program). With such a sharp mind, you'd think Damore would be more enlightened and evolved on pretty basic concepts like diversity and inclusion.

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