Got it, thank you. On why Timnit is criticized so intensely everywhere anonymity is possible, I honestly think that is more an artifact of sexism and racism than an indictment of anything she has done. Also a matter of the target audience of a lot of the anonymous forums.
FWIW, at Google in Research, many people have mentioned her to me as the only person they trusted to talk to about the things they went through when they were not treated well. After she was fired, many of those same people felt no longer able to raise issues about internal treatment and culture.
Timnit was not carrying just her own burden, but the burden of many at Google in Research who were not treated well, especially women and people of color in Research. And so she spoke not just for herself. She had witnessed for years how demoralizing it is to try to really change things within Google. I think the only person who has done that and not burned out is Kat Heller. I did a lot of it over the summer, and it really took a toll on my wellbeing, and my desire to stay (part-time) at Google to finish my own work there. I'm excited for my affiliation to end so I can remove myself more thoroughly from Google's internal politics and culture, though I hope I've made enough of a dent that some things actually continue to change for the better.
FWIW, at Google in Research, many people have mentioned her to me as the only person they trusted to talk to about the things they went through when they were not treated well. After she was fired, many of those same people felt no longer able to raise issues about internal treatment and culture.
Timnit was not carrying just her own burden, but the burden of many at Google in Research who were not treated well, especially women and people of color in Research. And so she spoke not just for herself. She had witnessed for years how demoralizing it is to try to really change things within Google. I think the only person who has done that and not burned out is Kat Heller. I did a lot of it over the summer, and it really took a toll on my wellbeing, and my desire to stay (part-time) at Google to finish my own work there. I'm excited for my affiliation to end so I can remove myself more thoroughly from Google's internal politics and culture, though I hope I've made enough of a dent that some things actually continue to change for the better.