I'd guess that sending a one-sided bombshell like that would tend to stimulate debate rather than suppressing it, at least in a company with a tradition of lively internal debate. Maybe in more top-down companies it's different?
But yes, the people in power do tend to be heard more in internal debate. (Not necessarily just managers though. Good or controversial writers can also have a lot of influence.) And this does mean more soft-spoken people sometimes don't get an equal voice.
Online discussions are often more heat than light. I don't think internal discussion can be replaced by surveys, though? They're both useful.
There are also problems that equality doesn't fix. As the number of people scales up, the power of each person gets smaller. Filling out a survey when you know it's one of hundreds or thousands tends not to feel very empowering, or even a good use of your time.
I guess I'm comparing and contrasting this with the infamous Google sexism memo.
They canned an employee for saying something unpopular they disagreed with.
The fact that this went such a different way says something. Maybe that something is "the cultures of Google and Facebook are so different it explains the discrepancy." But maybe it's "Facebook wanted to float this as an ethical trial balloon."
They canned an employee for creating an unholy PR shitstorm outside of the firm.
Basically this is the end of the tech world and all those people who used to join these firms because they believed tech would make the world a better place.
Now its going to be pretty much closed communication and minimal interaction internally. IF you have an issue, well tough balls, tech is no longer good for that - god forbid it shows up on HN. If it shows up on the media thats career suicide.
I suspect its probably time for HN to be shut down soon as well.
But yes, the people in power do tend to be heard more in internal debate. (Not necessarily just managers though. Good or controversial writers can also have a lot of influence.) And this does mean more soft-spoken people sometimes don't get an equal voice.
Online discussions are often more heat than light. I don't think internal discussion can be replaced by surveys, though? They're both useful.
There are also problems that equality doesn't fix. As the number of people scales up, the power of each person gets smaller. Filling out a survey when you know it's one of hundreds or thousands tends not to feel very empowering, or even a good use of your time.