Timeline for Is it appropriate to voice concerns over the Qatar world cup when colleague asks people to join betting pool?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
18 events
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| Nov 11, 2023 at 6:29 | history | edited | OldPadawan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Nov 24, 2022 at 10:01 | comment | added | thosphor | @Nelson You highlight an example of being a horrible person at work - that's a different issue from an existing hegemony trying to enforce "politeness" rules about what's appropriate at work to suppress any dissent. Work and workplaces are a fundamental part of society and I don't see why they should be treated otherwise, except in the service of those who benefit from the status quo which is going unchallenged. | |
| Nov 24, 2022 at 2:46 | comment | added | Nelson | @thosphor You're mistaking the workplace as the appropriate environment to have deep discussions about these subjects. It isn't. If someone at work is observing a protected minority tradition, and you go on and on about your issues with their choice, HR is going to fire you because they don't want to be sued into the ground. Stay out of it. If you are serious about making the world better, build PERSONAL relationships with those people and discuss it outside of work! | |
| Nov 23, 2022 at 11:35 | comment | added | Gregory Currie | @Stef This is The Workplace SE, not Social Justice SE. The most professional thing you can do is politely decline without giving reason. | |
| Nov 22, 2022 at 15:53 | comment | added | Stef | @OldPadawan "There are many other places and opportunities to express and defend your beliefs and opinions." Sure there are. There are also many other places and opportunities to lie and deflect. | |
| Nov 22, 2022 at 15:37 | comment | added | OldPadawan | @Stef: I'll stand my ground, because "this year I'm boycotting the world cup because of concerns with human rights in Qatar" might end up in the wrong ear, because you're giving personal information and thoughts to someone who just think the other way around, or will be wondering why you just told him that, as it's not related to sports and pool but rather to opinions and politics. Just like pouring oil on a fire... It's easier to deflect with any simple and neutral reason. There are many other places and opportunities to express and defend your beliefs and opinions. | |
| Nov 22, 2022 at 15:10 | comment | added | Stef | This is terrible advice. Why is it so hard to be honest? In this case, it's actually much easier to maintain good working relations with your colleague if you're honest with them. "I really like your betting pool idea, but this year I'm boycotting the world cup because of concerns with human rights in Qatar" sounds much better than "No, I don't want to participate in this betting event that you've taken the time and energy to set-up, and I won't tell you why." | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 18:57 | comment | added | OldPadawan | You should not do that at work. When asked to play a game, do or don't but don't annoy people by politicizing it. Not the right place or time. | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 18:36 | comment | added | Andrei | this is terribly bad advice. It may avoid a short term discussion, but not discussing human rights violation, especially when literally prompted to engage in low-key supporting of human rights violations, is how societies get to dictatorships. The increase in authoritarianism over the world, including in EU/USA, is exactly because people are not willing to debate important topics, not even when prompted to do so, as if debating it later in a full dictatorship will make it easier. | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 18:15 | comment | added | OldPadawan | @coblr : so right you are, but so many others too! sex, (wo)men, human rights, animals, planet... Bullet-list would (almost) be longest than GOAT Jon Skeet list of achievements :D | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 17:57 | comment | added | coblr | Don't forget, 3. Religion | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 15:53 | comment | added | bandybabboon | That depends how good the friends at work are... If they are freinds that smile and are very affable with a great working environment, your advice doesn't apply. The OP can give factual reasons why betting on Qatar is wrong in his view. | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 15:39 | comment | added | keshlam | Deciding when and where is not self-censorship. Personally, if asked why not, I would consider that an opportunity to politely and briefly state what my concerns were, if I thought the person asking actually cared about my reasons rather than just being enthusiastic about the pool. It that leads to a discussion, great; if it doesn't, that's fine; I have still taken and held the position that I consider appropriate. If it's someone I socialize with outside work, I might discuss it more then, but would probably hold it for a discussion in the personal context. | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 15:31 | comment | added | thosphor | Isn't this how a terrible status quo is allowed to carry on in society? Workplaces aren't somehow outside of society, and OP self-censoring their true feelings is exactly what Qatar/FIFA would want; they're relying on people glossing over their toxicity to maintain their social capital. | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 11:04 | history | edited | OldPadawan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Nov 21, 2022 at 10:02 | history | edited | OldPadawan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Nov 21, 2022 at 9:23 | comment | added | Borgh | agree, and if they ask you why you politely declined, I'd recommend staying vague, "I'm not feeling it this year, you know with the whole (wave hands indicating general turmoil)" is, or should be plenty of explanation. | |
| Nov 21, 2022 at 7:05 | history | answered | OldPadawan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |