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Adam Orth no longer with Microsoft

Recall

Member
It's part of the company policy at the place I work. Do not discuss work matters on social media or you will be disciplined.
 
I dont know how your morals work people, but being assaulted for stating a stupid opinion is some sort of bullying, let alone spreading so others join the mockery. Congratulations to everyone that digged further into the wound to make sure he snapped, you proved worthy of the unnatural selection legion.

he should have known better? No doubt. Is there any depth of justice on this case? no. This wasn't ocean marketing fiasco, it was a guy being mildly dumb with some bad analogies. You know what that would translate if applied on GAF right? (lol).

Someone post the giant list of media sites that ran this story please.
 

yami4ct

Member
It's not the internet's fault. It's his own. You work for a mega corporation who has a product releasing this year that is unannounced. Hype for the product is through the roof at the moment and the moron chose to comment about an extremely hot topic, and when doing so, people assume he's representing MS and also indirectly confirming something that could ruin interest in their product... especially if it's untrue. The latest rumor, leaked with such great timing, says that always on is NOT required and that there is an offline mode for durango.... so... dude just started a shit storm for no reason and any sane company would have canned the guy too.

You don't f around with product launches. Any bit a misinformation can have catastrophic consequences.

I don't even think it's a mega-corportation thing or a product launch thing. It's a simple employee/employer relationship idea that some people aren't getting in the social media era. If a chef at a local pizza place starts insulting consumers for not liking their new product, I'm sure there's a high likelihood he might be fired. You just don't do crap like this.
 

Fantastical

Death Prophet
Other victims of the internet under Arthur Gies definition:

Judge Richard Cebull, a disgraced judge that was forced to resign after sending e-mails joking that Barack Obama's father was a dog.

e2AC11J.png


The Steubenville Rapists, who recorded their crime on video which leaked on to the internet (at least Gies isn't alone on thinking this is someone else's fault?)

e2AC11J.png


Anthon Weiner, former Representative who tweeted his penis to a young lady, which he absolutely would not have done if not for twitter existing and women on twitter being hot. Shame on you, internet.

e2AC11J.png

But all of those things are wayyy worse comparatively. I'm not saying Gies is right (I don't think he is), but I'm also saying this isn't right...
 
I think people forget, this guy was quoted as being "an executive" or "a creative director" from Microsoft. That title gives him clout as being a representative for the company. His words were hosted on at least a DOZEN major gaming sites of MULTIPLE languages. One way or the other, he cost Microsoft a LOT of money.

Microsoft lost customers without a doubt due to his actions, and the fact that Microsoft will be in PR overload for the next few weeks at the least trying to undo the damage is becoming evident (as others have mentioned, these new "leaks" seem to be very strategically timed).
 
Other victims of the internet under Arthur Gies definition:

Judge Richard Cebull, a disgraced judge that was forced to resign after sending e-mails joking that Barack Obama's father was a dog.

e2AC11J.png


The Steubenville Rapists, who recorded their crime on video which leaked on to the internet (at least Gies isn't alone on thinking this is someone else's fault?)

e2AC11J.png


Anthon Weiner, former Representative who tweeted his penis to a young lady, which he absolutely would not have done if not for twitter existing and women on twitter being hot. Shame on you, internet.

e2AC11J.png

I think we are witnessing the birth of a new meme here, folks.
 

Quote

Member
It's part of the company policy at the place I work. Do not discuss work matters on social media or you will be disciplined.
I know that feeling. It's super hard and I have to question all the time "wait, can I get in trouble for this?" Usually if I have to ask that then I just don't post.
 

thetrin

Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
Jesus Christ. This guy needs to go next.

This is really fucking harsh. Asking to rob people of their livelihoods is bad juju, man. Orth keeping or losing his job is up to the discretion of his employers, but saying "this guy needs to go next" is incredibly cruel.
 

Darkmakaimura

Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
At least one person on Twitter is saying MS is causing more of a PR storm by firing Orth.
 
But all of those things are wayyy worse comparatively. I'm not saying Gies is right (I don't think he is), but I'm also saying this isn't right...

They are worse, that is sort of the point.

If you're going to pretend any reaction the internet has by merely being public is inherently the public's fault for viewing and discussing the content you put on it, you sort of have to take that sort of thing with it.
 
No one's fault but his own. There have been countless stories of burger flippers being let go for badmouthing their employer/acting stupid on Facebook and Twitter. Did he not think a person with such a high position would be held to the same standards?
 

cripterion

Member
Yesss, yessss this is gooood. Maybe this will mean that people actually watch what they say when they're posting from an account that directly ties them to their employer especially given current context regarding always online.

I am all for free speech but everything you say should always carry consequence.

This. If you can't shut your yap and say moronic things tied to your job/employer, why even post on social networks? This goes hand in hand with people reportedly taking a leave of work because they're "sick" and posting pictures of them partying at the same time for all co-workers and employer to see on Facebook.
 
Someone post the giant list of media sites that ran this story please.

Did I ever said that media sites don't rejoice on drama for clicks? I'm not attributing this to "the internet", but rather the individuals that kept the fire alive (on twitter) till the meat carbonized.
 

Fantastical

Death Prophet
They are worse, that is sort of the point.

If you're going to pretend any reaction the internet has by merely being public is inherently the public's fault for viewing and discussing the content you put on it, you sort of have to take that sort of thing with it.

No, not really. You're taking his tweet out of context. Gies said he got fired "over something so stupid". I very much doubt he would trivialize those other instances.

I feel weird defending Gies, but you are off the mark.
 

FLAguy954

Junior Member
Getting fired sucks. He made a mistake. I can't kick a man when he's down.

I wouldn't classify it as a mistake. He made the brazen decision to continuously post pertaining to the matter on twitter. I would of been a mistake if he had one tweet but alas there were several.
 
Orth: "But what about my severance package? Retirement! I worked for you for years and this is what I get!?"

Ballmer: *puts on sunglasses*

"Deal with it."
 

Steroyd

Member
I dont know how your morals work people, but being assaulted for stating a stupid opinion is some sort of bullying, let alone spreading so others join the mockery. Congratulations to everyone that digged further into the wound to make sure he snapped, you proved worthy of the unnatural selection legion.

he should have known better? No doubt. Is there any depth of justice on this case? no. This wasn't ocean marketing fiasco, it was a guy being mildly dumb with some bad analogies. You know what that would translate if applied on GAF right? (lol).

You do know how twitter works right?

RIGHT!?
 

Deadly Cyclone

Pride of Iowa State
Getting fired sucks. He made a mistake. I can't kick a man when he's down.

Pretty much. Yeah he should have known better, and the timing was awful being that MS hasn't said a peep and the internet was at a fever pitch about always online, but he made a mistake.

What's really going to suck is if the Xbox isn't always online and he lost his job for something that never mattered.
 
I don't even think it's a mega-corportation thing or a product launch thing. It's a simple employee/employer relationship idea that some people aren't getting in the social media era. If a chef at a local pizza place starts insulting consumers for not liking their new product, I'm sure there's a high likelihood he might be fired. You just don't do crap like this.

yeah. you gotta use common sense and apparently he didn't.
 

ido

Member
If he was right, I will be more upset at Microsoft for making such a consumer unfriendly product than any of his comments.

Still feel bad for the guy, from all of the evidence I have to go by. I still think he fucked up, but we would probably all be fired if some of our mistakes were in the public eye(yes, I realize this part too was his fault).
 

Loofy

Member
Did he get fired for 'having an opinion?'

Seemed to me that he sort of confirmed that the next xbox would be always online, before MS wanted to confirm it themselves.
 

Fixed1979

Member
Gies needs to be called on his shit like this more often. Good on Green and Drake.

Gies is called out all the time here on GAF, he just continuously spews vomit with no end in site. He's like the vomit Yosemite of "journalism."

This is the truth. Right here. It doesn't matter what people think, or feel is right or just. Twitter is a public social media platform and thousands can read your thoughts and opinions. Once you tie yourself to an employer in social media circles, you represent that employer. 24/7/365.

Fake immunity like "my tweets don't represent my employer" is worthless. Until we learn that, more people will lose their jobs and "blame the Internet".

And this is why I don't understand how Gies is still employed.


Shitty situation all around here. Stupidity on twitter gone really bad.
 

TriGen

Member
He deserved to go. Microsoft is super strict with NDAs and has a company-wide policy that you never comment on rumor and speculation. Not only did he comment on rumor and speculation but he did it in a disrespectful way. Many employees at MS keep their mouths shut even when they don't want to for the sake of the company, for this guy just to go wild on twitter is like spitting in the face of his co-workers.
 

Dali

Member
This is really fucking harsh. Asking to rob people of their livelihoods is bad juju, man.

No, its not. When you're in a high up position and act like an ass clown alienating your potential customers expressing your PoV you deserve to get fired. He was an idiot for doing what he did and I'm glad MS took the proper steps to separate themselves from his views. You can't say "that's not what we believe" while still keeping someone in a key position publicly expressing those beliefs and have your denial hold any weight.
 

Speevy

Banned
I do not feel sorry for this man. He was probably called by EA or someone about 5 minutes after this decision was handed down.

The root of this whole situation is the false idea that success in technology means you make something more exclusive.

Microsoft spent the latter part of this generation making a drive toward the non-gamer, the motion gamer, and the whole family, while reaping the rewards of its hardcore action driven legacy.

Universal always on gaming screws almost every demographic they had been working to grab.

I would not only fire Adam Orth, but also the nimrod who greenlit this crap. Just because something (Xbox Live) in this case is successful doesn't mean you need to ram it up your customers' asses.

There are certain ideas that may always be considered, but it takes clearer heads not to actually implement them.

I'm sure Nintendo would like to sell you Super Mario Brothers on a DVD for $59.99.

I'm sure Sony would like to sell all the cars from Gran Turismo separately from the game.

Just because someone said it doesn't mean you have to do it.
 

Majanew

Banned
Did I ever said that media sites don't rejoice on drama for clicks? I'm not attributing this to "the internet", but rather the individuals that kept the fire alive (on twitter) till the meat carbonized.

There wouldn't have been anything to "keep alive" if Orth didn't spout nonsense on Twitter. He was representing MS. That was MS saying that. Why is that hard to understand for some?
 
Pretty much. Yeah he should have known better, and the timing was awful being that MS hasn't said a peep and the internet was at a fever pitch about always online, but he made a mistake.

What's really going to suck is if the Xbox isn't always online and he lost his job for something that never mattered.

the new rumors point to the durango having an offline mode and the ability to play used games. the timing of the leak makes it look like it was leaked on purpose for damage control due to the shit storm this guy started
 

sflufan

Banned
Did he get fired for 'having an opinion?'

Seemed to me that he sort of confirmed that the next xbox would be always online, before MS wanted to confirm it themselves.

No, he was fired (or forced to resign) because he insulted current and future customers of Microsoft.
 
You do know how twitter works right?

RIGHT!?

Yes I do know. That's why I said he should've known better. At the end of the day a man is a man, and can make mistakes. This was honestly very provocative and saying it was good that they applied "corporate" measures to get rid of him and later blame corporations for being "corporate" on their relationship with developers (fired upon project end, not meeting expectations) and users alike (enforcing all sorts of EULA and all that stuff) is nothing short of hypocrite.

There wouldn't have been anything to "keep alive" if Orth didn't spout nonsense on Twitter. He was representing MS. That was MS saying that. Why is that hard to understand for some?

Did his twitter name have anything that referenced microsoft/xbox? I honestly never heard of his name. was he a spokesperson, PR? I don't see why his personal twitter is so relevant to the case, to the exception of some innocuous statements which fueled some people to ruin his day.
 

Revven

Member
This is the truth. Right here. It doesn't matter what people think, or feel is right or just. Twitter is a public social media platform and thousands can read your thoughts and opinions. Once you tie yourself to an employer in social media circles, you represent that employer. 24/7/365.

Fake immunity like "my tweets don't represent my employer" is worthless. Until we learn that, more people will lose their jobs and "blame the Internet".

Yes, precisely. This is what most people, in this thread, saying "this isn't right" are missing. Orth had it clearly labeled on his Twitter profile that he was a Creative Director at Microsoft Studios. Guy was asking for what he got by throwing out those comments about always online on Twitter. People were angry with him not just because of his opinion, but because his opinion lends credence to the idea that Microsoft was supporting always online in Durango and that the opinion he posted was likely shared by other Microsoft employees.

He was creating negative press, potentially misrepresenting Microsoft, and losing customers in the process (you *have* to assume you're losing customers). Businesses also fire employees to "right" the people that were "wronged" and this is also an example of that. He insulted customers on a public forum.

Personal Twitters should not be filled with your title of work, or anything work related. You want an example of a bad personal twitter? Look at Arthur Gies and the other guys that work at Polygon. They all stupidly have their polygonal heads as their avatar images and have the Polygon background on their Twitter. There's a reason why people hawk your Twitter and rip you apart Arthur; it's because your Twitter makes it out to be that your comments represent Polygon as a whole.
 

Steroyd

Member
Did he get fired for 'having an opinion?'

Seemed to me that he sort of confirmed that the next xbox would be always online, before MS wanted to confirm it themselves.

I believe it's more how he communicated with the public domain.

We don't even know if the always online is going to happen.
 
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