Critics of IBM's Strategy Aren't Racists, But...
This year IBM is expected to lay off many people, perhaps over 10,000 in total (just in 2025, not counting people pushed to leave/retire). Earlier today I learned that Accenture is doing the same. Many companies do this. However, in the case of IBM we've noticed a sharp increase in very racist comments after the latest large wave of layoffs (last week), probably thousands of layoffs in total in a matter of 2-3 days. We can barely link to these or quote these here (it would not meet basic standards).
Is this a sign of common decency eroding or perhaps trolling/AstroTurfing meant to discredit the forums? As in, or as if to say, is there more to it than meets the eye? Tarnishing a platform's reputation (to discourage posting or readership) by abuse?
Sometimes we wonder if companies like Google, Microsoft and IBM chose the CEOs to signal to workers a "centre of balance" alteration (or gravity shift). Or maybe they like it when critics of the CEOs (or any of their decisions/policies) can be dismissed as "merely racists" (or "sexist" when the previous IBM CEO was in charge).
Whatever it is, the situation is saddening as it serves to obscure the severity of the problem. IBM commits corporate suicide in pursuit if short-term savings. Many who bemoan this suicidal strategy resort to name-calling and obviously racist remarks, especially generalisations. █