West Arete is saying goodbye to Twitter

On October 28, 2022, the Washington Post released an article about the rise in hate speech being posted on Twitter in light of Elon Musk’s unrestricted free speech policy. This change in leadership and policy provided an unnerving open door to an ugly side of humanity and public space to share repulsive beliefs without consequence.

To make matters worse, Musk flippantly laid off thousands of employees for the bottom dollar of his newly-acquired company, many of whom are dependent on steady financial income for their livelihoods and their families. Additionally, the lack of staff to monitor these abhorrent posts means that many of these cowardly accounts will likely have free rein to spew loathsome misinformation. Hearts are hurting and thousands of lives are in turmoil.

Our small team of experts works hard to build sustainable, enterprise software and lift up communities that make a big impact in the world. We are a certified B Corporation – not for show, but because we believe in using the power of business for good. It’s woven into the fabric of our craft, and we are passionate in setting an example of how responsible business can be done.

As much as we value our clients and community, it’s also equally important that we give each and every employee the best working years of their life. This cannot be achieved without a welcoming, inclusive, and stable environment.

Being an equal opportunity employer is not just lip service – our commitment to creating a diverse and equitable workplace is vital to how we operate. That includes being diligent about making sure the spaces we engage in set an example of how others should be treated and feel safe for employees of all backgrounds. When that commitment is threatened, even by forces out of control, we take it very seriously.

Commitment to change is more than a statement – it requires action. And so, we have decided to pause, perhaps indefinitely, any engagement through Twitter. We absolutely will not support any platform, person, or entity that allows racism, anti-semitism, sexism, or any other form of hate speech to go unchecked.

We welcome respectful discussion around our decision and would love to connect with folks who have similar sentiments. You can find us on LinkedIn and feel free to contact us any time.

Please take care of each other, and hold fast to what values move you to implement positive change for all.

Together, we climb.