Dealing with Nazism in the Workplace

It all started innocently enough. I am a software engineer, and my development team had just finished the work for a major release. We wanted to change the main color in our GUI from LightBlue to SteelBlue, and our 6.0 release incorporated this modification. This was a lot of work; we ended up having to replace about 613 hardcoded references to "LightBlue." We also fixed a bug where right-clicking on the status bar would cause the GUI to core dump. Incidentally, you hear a lot of talk about how Linux (which is the OS we're using) is better than Windows, but when was the last time you heard of a Windows machine "core dumping?" Hopefully, our 7.0 release will consist of a port to Windows so that we can put an end to this nonsense.

Anyway, to celebrate this milestone, I decided to take my software team out for dinner. We went to a steakhouse which, despite the fact that it serves alcohol, is a pretty decent place to eat. The food was delicious, and after we had finished the meal, we remained at the table and discussed various topics. The talk inevitably turned to politics, and one of the subjects that came up was the Palestinian war against Israeli women and children. We talked about counter-terrorism measures, security procedures, and the ridiculousness of the Koran. It was at this point that things went south.

One of my developers started talking about Israel in a manner that, quite frankly, stunned me. He mentioned that Israel was erecting settlements in Palestinian terrortories (I'm sorry, I meant "territories") and ventured the opinion that these settlements were illegal. He repeated Islamic rumors about Israeli Defense Force (IDF) troops blocking pregnant women from getting access to hospitals, which resulted in stillborn children. He spewed out ridiculous racial innuendo about Israeli troops spray-painting threats on Palestinian billboards. He spoke negatively about the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. In short, he levied so many accusations and aimed so much anti-Semetic hatred against the people of Israel that it became clear that he was allying himself with Israel's worst enemy.

It was at this point that I realized the truth: a Nazi walked among us.

There was a man named Adolf Hitler who held similar convictions, and it took a bloody world war to get rid of him. And here I was having lunch with his (apparent) genetic clone. It amazes me that speaking against Israel in such a derogatory and spiteful tone remains legal in the United States, particularly in light of recent events. Oh, you can be sure that I behaved diplomatically; through all of this hate speech, I nodded politely and even managed to keep a smile on my face despite the fact that I wanted to take this guy outside and blacken a couple of his eyes.

When we got back to the office, I decided that I needed to keep a close eye on this man. I have an SGI O2 workstation with a webcam. I waited until everybody left and then repositioned the webcam so that it looked in on his cubicle; this was tricky and required me to run wiring through the ceiling tiles, but the result is that I can constantly surveil this man and make sure that he is not participating in such activities as reading Mein Kampf or meeting with officials of the German government. I installed an Ethernet sniffer so that I can track his Internet traffic; if he reads any Nazi Web sites at work, I will have irrefutable proof that I can present to my employer as grounds for dismissal. I've found that he spends lots of time perusing CNN.com, which is evidence of his left-wing, National Socialist (Nazi) leanings.

My wife and I have decided to take turns watching his house. She takes the day shift, while I'm at work; she tirelessly watches their property in our minivan with our two children. She has claimed to have seen a Nazi flag hanging on his living room wall during the brief moments that his front door is open, though she admits that this might be a Rusty Wallace poster. I watch his house at night. Several times I have seen unknown persons go into his residence; how am I to know if these people are not officials from the German or Soviet governments?

One thing is clear: I have a Nazi, a thick-eyebrowed cunting Hun, working with me. How should I deal with this? I believe that I have enough evidence to get him fired if I were to go to my management. However, I'm not sure; in today's lawyer-friendly environment, is anecdotal evidence enough? I'm considering taking a tape recorder to his office, hiding it in my suit coat, and trying to get him to make some of his anti-Jewish comments so that they can be recorded. With this, I should have no problem getting him fired.

Beyond that, I am this man's direct supervisor; though he has always been very efficient and thorough, I could invent false claims of bungling and shoddy work. This introduces obvious moral and ethical questions, but the greater principle ought to be the guiding principle; is a man who is so blatantly anti-Jewish deserving of gainful employment at a moral code shop? I believe the answer to that question is an unequivocal "no." With this in mind, I am willing to take whatever steps are necessary to get him out. I will not tolerate anti-Semetism on my team, and as far as I'm concerned, the end justifies the means. A terror supporter is not somebody I want on my team.

	Some consequences of this. (2.00 / 2) (#2)
	by em on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 12:47:07 AM PST

	It amazes me that speaking against Israel in such a derogatory and spiteful tone remains legal in the United States, particularly in light of recent events. A comment on this. In Europe, several countries, for example Germany and France, have "anti-Nazi" laws, that supposedly forbid Nazism within the country. But, if you take a look at the prevailing attitudes in these countries, you'll find widespread hatred of Israel among the population. This proves a point I had long suspected: Germans are, by and large, criminals, even by their own standards. This should of course come as no surprise to people, like me, who have come to discover the principle of linguistic determinism, and thus know that some peoples, like the Germans, the Japanese or the Belhare, because of the structure of their language, are more prone to authoritarianism than others. But it is good to have even more striking confirmation of this. --em Associate Editor, Adequacy.org

	You have no idea (none / 0) (#9)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 09:15:28 AM PST

	what Nazism is. But you will know soon. Its easy to gather from your article, that you are straight on your way to it. and cogratulations you managed to offend about a hundred million people (half the population of the US) to be criminals. publications like yours about the german language were very popular during the Nazi regime to proof the inferiority of jewish citizens in a pseudo-scientific way (particular by social darwinism). Fortunately they are now forbidden by anti-nazi laws. Greetings, a criminal andreas huf

	leck mich am Arsch... (none / 0) (#82)
	by StAnthonysKidnapper on Wed Jul 17th, 2002 at 09:49:25 PM PST

	Germans are, by and large, criminals, even by their own standards. it's appalling, the amount of disinformation spread on this website. if Germans criticize Israel, it's because they're opposed to the practices and policies of the Israeli government. Hitler never won a legitimate majority in any election; he had no popular support in Germany until the people were subdued into supporting him. hell, I'm opposed to the practices and policies of the Israeli government. I'm a criminal then, I suppose, though I hardly subscribe to anti-Semitism. I think that Germans in the last 20-30 years have been able gradually to overcome the shame of the war, as the last of the old leaders of the regime--those actually responsible--meet prosecution and people who were actually there get too old to remember much of it. so why are they suddenly getting all this insubstantiated flack for nationalism--it's the Dutch and the French with resurgent right-wing political movements.

	Hitler, Germans, and popular support. (none / 0) (#84)
	by nx01 on Wed Jul 17th, 2002 at 11:11:42 PM PST

	Hitler never won a legitimate majority in any election; he had no popular support in Germany until the people were subdued into supporting him. I'd suggest you read Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust, a fascinating read on the true culture and beliefs of the the ordanary citizen in Nazi Germany. Seriously. It's heavy, but it's very interesting. "Every time I look at the X window system, it's so fucking stupid; and part of me feels responsible for the worst parts of it." -- James Gosling

	thanks. (none / 0) (#108)
	by StAnthonysKidnapper on Fri Jul 19th, 2002 at 04:43:40 PM PST

	I've heard of the book before. maybe I'll check it out. I'm not any avid student of Germany or its history, but it happens that I speak a bit of the language. that tends to result in some careful study of the culture. As such, extended considerations while in Germany have included, "which do I prefer, light or dark Hefeweizen (wheat beer)? or should I just go with a Pils? and what about that sausage? why in the hell do they eat these two-foot long sausages?"

	further reading (none / 0) (#135)
	by nathan on Mon Jul 22nd, 2002 at 07:19:32 AM PST

	You might also be interested in reading some Hannah Arendt. Eichmann in Jerusalem is pretty easy to find, and from there you can move on to "Total Domination." Nathan -- Li'l Sis: Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

	I had some hope...and still have some. (3.00 / 2) (#3)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 03:21:56 AM PST

	I was hoping I was going to read something interesting, well argumented, but no. The only thing you have exposed here is not that you have a developper who is a nazi. You have just told us that you think that anybody who doesn't stand blindly besides Israel is a nazi. But I still have some hope: that you and your wife will seriously, without failing, go on watching this guy, 24 hours a day, your wife while you're working, and you the rest of the time. If you do this, I am at least assured that you two won't have any more kids who could inherit your genes. One last thing: it's your application that had a core dump, not Linux. On Windows, there is no core dumps, only Illegal Operations, Exceptions at 9b008AXWHATever, and so on.

	Eugenics and Nazism (none / 0) (#5)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 05:08:58 AM PST

	But I still have some hope: that you and your wife will seriously, without failing, go on watching this guy, 24 hours a day, your wife while you're working, and you the rest of the time. If you do this, I am at least assured that you two won't have any more kids who could inherit your genes. The Nazis favoured this sort of negative eugenics too. Tell us, what are your views on Israel?

	Big difference. (none / 0) (#8)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 07:39:08 AM PST

	Nazis don't hope and don't make peculiars. They generalize and want to be sure. Israel? Don't love it, don't hate it. I think it has a right to exist, and more, a right to live in peace. I think the same thing about a palestinian state. And while I think terrorism is innaceptable, I do not think Israel is always right. And one more thing, for those willing to judge my position, I am European, and worse, French. And if I believe what I can read on most American sites, and we know American media is the best and just tells the truth, I am a citizen of the most anti-semitic nation on earth. I wonder why Bush didn't put us French as prominent members of the axis of evil.

	Generalization (none / 0) (#13)
	by flowers on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 04:36:12 PM PST

	You yourself are now making an unwarranted generalization about Nazis. Was every Nazi anti-Semitic? I doubt it. I bet most Nazis were motivated, not by hatred of Jewish people, but by love of the Volkswagen. Was there something special about the German people during Hitler's rule that made them susceptible to supporting a party that committed such heinous acts? No. They were just like we are today. The surest way to put ourselves on the road to that society is to convince ourselves that it can't happen here and now. Today's Nazis aren't called Nazis. They're called Republicans. --- I have unprotected sex with multiple anonymous partners.

	I'd suggest (3.66 / 3) (#4)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 04:21:40 AM PST

	getting on with your fucking work, citizen. Hardcoded references to colours? I'm no programmer, but what the fuck do you think you're playing at? Even my son knows how to use global variables, which are both variable and global. Stop wasting your time spying on your co-worker. America doesn't like tattle-tales. Leave the spying to the big boys. Agent Schwartz

	Double wrong. (none / 0) (#11)
	by walwyn on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 12:50:43 PM PST

	No self-respecting software engineer of Mr seventypercent's caliber would use a global variable and America does like tattle tales.

	the merits of ethnic cleansing (none / 0) (#124)
	by StAnthonysKidnapper on Sun Jul 21st, 2002 at 06:44:33 PM PST

	<p><i>America does like tattle tales. </i></p> <p>yes. this is why I'm reporting you for the dirty Islamic sympathizer you know you are. </p>

	Dear seventypercent (3.00 / 2) (#6)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 05:57:02 AM PST

	I hope you've managed it meanwhile to get rid of your communist co-worker. (http://www.adequacy.org/?op=displaystory;sid=2001/11/20/131313/36) You must have, because your paranoia has found another unguilty victim. ...Or are you just a troll, who copied his comunism story (the stories are quite similar, aren't they?) and replaced communnist by nazi? let me make a suggestion for the next time: whats about: moslems homosexuals asians anarchists catholics pot smokers and if we wait a bit, YOU will manage it to use Jews as well (because they have a long tradition of been victims of paranoid facists) See a psychologist. and bring your family to him too. andreas

	Cool. (none / 0) (#130)
	by walwyn on Mon Jul 22nd, 2002 at 03:28:37 AM PST

	With any luck they will have to upgrade the 30Gb drive already dedicated to me.

	You forgot hackers (none / 0) (#7)
	by Amitabh Bachan on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 06:59:51 AM PST

	n/t

	Hackers? No. To cop a fashionable phrase ... (none / 0) (#18)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 08:38:31 PM PST

	"There is no moral equivalence."

	Good morning (none / 0) (#25)
	by seventypercent on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 07:24:26 AM PST

	I hope you've managed it meanwhile to get rid of your communist co-worker. That I have. For about a year, I left copies of various correct-thinking publications laying in his cubicle (i.e., WorldNet, The Weekly Standard, Focus on the Family, etc.) I don't think that he ever found out that it was me, but it did have an effect on him. His work output declined, his political outbursts waned, and he constantly appeared to be tired. Not long after that, he resigned and accepted a new job in Europe (surprise, surprise.) Now he's on the other side of the Atlantic with his blood brethren. I may not have been able to convert him, but at least I got him out of there, which is the least that my family and I could do. You must have, because your paranoia has found another unguilty victim. Beg pardon? "Unguilty?" If you had heard some of the things that this butcher said about Israeli "military incursions" and United Nations "resolutions" and the "plight" of the Palestinian "people", you would not so wantonly toss around words like "unguilty." This guy ought to have a swastika tattooed on his forehead. The Communist is gone, and if there is any justice in the world, this Nazi will soon be behind him. ...Or are you just a troll, who copied his comunism story (the stories are quite similar, aren't they?) Bingo. The stories are quite similar, aren't they? And that's the whole point. There are many regular Adequacy.org readers who, like myself, are members of the moral community. And the point of all this is that we see more and more of these leftivists (Communists, Nazis, etc.) infiltrating our previously-secure institutions. The stories are similar because these people are popping up with alarming regularity, and if we are to preserve the moral foundation of the United States of America, we must act in a principled and just manner, such as the strategy that I have outlined above. I do not apologize for this, and no correct-thinking person should. -- Red-blooded patriots do not use Linux.

	As a spelaeologist... (none / 0) (#26)
	by Anonymous Reader on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 08:13:20 AM PST

	I have spent the last 45 years in the States, hunting for the moral foundation of the United States of America. I came sadly to the conclusion that though having more knights than King Arthur's court, such foundation is not in the United States, the said knights not having the slightest idea where is that foundation they are willing to preserve.

	Israel? Palestine? I'm getting tired of spelling (none / 0) (#79)
	by Anonymous Reader on Wed Jul 17th, 2002 at 09:18:29 PM PST

	Just so you know, all the crap over there is complete bullshit. The Palestinians were kicked out of every place they've ever lived, as have the Israelis. The israeli military is still trigger-happy from DEFENDING themselves against the muslims, and are, as such, brutal mo-fos. Now, as for taking palestinian territory, I don't understand why WE are allied with israel. Any other time one country moves in on another, we go in and tell everyone to chill out: "We don't approve and have bigger guns, so just cut that shit out." The palestinian people deserve a country, just as the israelis did in the 50's. But the truth is, until the palestinian gov't-pro-tem can get control of is watch, there's no reason for it to be in power. Granted, the problems between muslims and the rest of the world is in their original code of law, however, the great majority of muslims are much like the great majority of catholics: "We don't apporve of the old ways, and we wish the fundamentalists would just fucking croak. They just make us look bad." Osama Bin Laden = Jerry Falwell? Not in magnitude, but certainly in annoyance. I just simply can't STAND hearing fucking preachers. They're almost as bad as advertisers (at the very least, preachers have a cloak of belief around them. It seems a bit more altruistic that way). (no actual quotes were used in this post. Quotation marks are used to simulated hypothetical comments. They are backed up by actions and/or conversations I've had with muslims and americans in general. No monkeys were harmed in the writing of this comment.)

	thanks for the tip, I never would have noticed. (none / 0) (#83)
	by StAnthonysKidnapper on Wed Jul 17th, 2002 at 10:03:39 PM PST

	more entertaining even than leftists getting inflamed is the weirdos on the right getting delusional. question is, is this guy just a humorist down on his luck and short on material (thus replacing "Communist" with "anti-Israel" and "Nazi"), or is he a uncreative nutcase hellbent on defending Israel? maybe he <I>is</I> Israeli--never been to the U.S. in his life.

	Hey Mr McCarthy (3.00 / 2) (#10)
	by furniture on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 10:38:09 AM PST

	How does the fact that you don't agree 100% with the actions of the Israeli Government make you a Nazi? That's just ignorance. I don't agree totally with the actions of the US Government -am I anti-capitalist? A dangerous communist????? And saying that the "end justifies the means" is exactly how terrorist organizations justify terrorism, suicide bombings etc. You are clearly a troll who supports terrorism.

	Explain please (4.00 / 1) (#12)
	by anti filidor on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 01:48:29 PM PST

	how it is that he is ignorant. So frequently is this word misused that I have begun to see it as little more than filler space when an argument is scrambling for content. The humbling truth that you must accept is that you actually had nothing to say. You had a gut reaction, a visceral response, and since you had no explosives on hand with which to slay innocent civilians, you hit your keyboard. The keyboard, after all, can't fight back. It is ok to be wrong. Nobody will ridicule you for that. However, it is a fool's gambit to try to pass off an accusation of "ignorance" as a rebuttal. If you're going to be wrong, at least put some effort into it.

	what a pile of horse shit (none / 0) (#14)
	by detikon on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 04:36:19 PM PST

	"If you don't agree with EVERY FUCKING THING we say you're a communist, Nazi, blah blah blah. Anyone who disagrees with you in anyway shape or form regarding some misinformation you present is anti-"whatever gets pulled out of your ass that week". I live in a country where it is my patriotic duty to hold an opinion of my and beliefs of my own. It's is my duty to speak my opinion in regards to the actions taken by the government. I seriously suggest you (talking to Americans) take time to read the Declaration of Independence and the US Consitution. Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

	Give us a break. (none / 0) (#15)
	by walwyn on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 04:51:53 PM PST

	Firstly it is NOT your patriotic duty to hold any old ridiculous opinion NOR is your duty to both your betters with it. It is exactly those two documents that have retarded the political growth of the USA.

	Crikey. (none / 0) (#16)
	by because it isnt on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 06:30:03 PM PST

	Good job they didn't retard the military growth of the USA, or we'd all be in trouble. adequacy.org -- because it isn't

	Those with... (none / 0) (#22)
	by walwyn on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 04:16:16 AM PST

	...the biggest club do not need to be the sharpest tool in the box. It can be a real problem when you have a thug with intelligence - perhaps Jefferson, Madison, et al really ought to get more credit then they currently do.

	taking it out of context (none / 0) (#17)
	by detikon on Sun Jul 14th, 2002 at 08:09:39 PM PST

	First off I at no time said that the two documents were to be upheld as the greatest in the world. However, the freedom of to hold your own opinion is own that is granted in them. They are also granted by [insert whatever deity here]. The simply fact of the matter is, is that some many people believe that if anyone's opinion differs, even slightly, from their own they are anti-[insert this weeks bullshit here]. The problem with a number of people is that they believe that everyone should believe exactly as they do no matter how idiotic or misinfromed they are. I have a right to hold my own opinion in regards to any subject. Everyone does. Anyone who believes that everyone should simply believe whatever crap flies out of their mouth are called extremists, radicals, the Christian KKKoalition, and fucking morons. Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script.

	There is a difference... (none / 0) (#21)
	by walwyn on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 04:10:52 AM PST

	...between having a right to hold any opinion and having a 'patriotic duty' to hold any opinion. Let me elaborate for you. Whilst you have a right to express the opinion that the world is round, that God does not exist, and that communism is bad, and microsoft is evil. You are not bound by patriotism to hold such opinion. In fact by being patriotic you should hold the opinion that - the world is flat, God exists, communism is bad, and lunix is the devil's spawn. To further assume that your betters in government have any wish to hear your opinions is grossly impertinent.

	Walwyn, (none / 0) (#23)
	by Anonymous Reader on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 04:51:56 AM PST

	I'd be interested to hear why you think computer operating systems are up there with religion and politics.

	Mention (none / 0) (#24)
	by walwyn on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 05:25:12 AM PST

	religious, political, or OS affiliation in any none closed forum and then you'll quickly discover just how closely related the three subjects are.

	The goverment (none / 0) (#28)
	by DG on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 03:03:56 PM PST

	Ok so you think becuse someone holds an office that they are better than the rest of us? You know thats just total bullshit.. That just shows how every year our goverment becomes less of a democracy and more of a plutocracy.. Plus yes they have to hear our opinions of things. They don't have to agree or put every old idea into the works. But they have to do something or they don't get elected by anyone ever again. © 2002, DG. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	Of course they are (none / 0) (#29)
	by walwyn on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 03:37:20 PM PST

	your betters. Because there you are in between elections supplicating yourself to the altar of taxation. Pleading for hand outs. Ohhing and ahhing at their little pecadillos. Nodding sagely as TV pundits drop tidbits of gossip from the table of the great and good. Wagging your tail and salivating when they pat you on the head and tell you how important your opinions are to good governance. And every four years, glory be, and hallelulia on high, off you go and make that difficult choice for Tweedledee or Tweedledum. Should it be Nike and Reebok, or Reebok and Nike, such a choice to make. Yes they had better do something alright, or out they go.

	A plague on all their houses (none / 0) (#30)
	by Amitabh Bachan on Mon Jul 15th, 2002 at 04:15:23 PM PST

	I don't go pleading for handouts recognising that as I am gainfully employed I won't get anything from government. Indeed it seems that my function is to have my wallet raped to fund the lower classes automobile and intoxicant habits. Perhaps you consider these people your superiors but not I. Well, maybe the last one - I fear the lizards.