WotC Greg Tito On Leaving WotC: 'It feels good to do something that doesn't just line the pockets of *****'

We reported earlier that WotC's communications director Greg Tito had left his 9-year stint managing the Dungeons & Dragons brand for a political appointment as Deputy Director of External Affairs for the Washington secretary of state's office.

Greg Tito Leaves Wizards of the Coast

Greg Tito, formerly the communications manager in charge of overseeing messaging for the Dungeons & Dragons brand, is departing Wizards of the Coast for a career in the public sector. Tito announced that he would be joining the Washington secretary of state's office starting this week, ending an...

www.enworld.org

In a surprising turn of events, Tito criticized his former employers, saying "It feels good to do something that doesn't just line the pockets of a**holes." He later went on to clarify "Sorry. I meant "shareholders".

Tito is now Deputy Director of External Affairs for the Washington Secretary of State office in Olympia, WA.

 

[billd91]

And the (major) shareholders are the ones who demand that people be fired because the bosses have made poor investment decisions, because lowering payroll stokes the embers within their black shriveled hearts and allows them to keep pulling money out of the company. Greg's characterization of them is not without merit.

Moreover, the executives who demanded the downsizing people even in the profitable quarters of Hasbro, would have used stockholders as their justification. So whether the stockholders are specifically the asshats or the C-suiters (who are also substantial stockholders), it's reasonably fitting.

 

[Morrus]

Still sounds more like bosses than customers.

Let's be clear about what he said, not what you think it 'sounds like'. Facts, please, not misinformation. He said shareholders.

 

[Vaalingrade]

We really need, as a society, examine the concept of 'professionalism'; its actual purpose and intention, and what value if any it serves at this point. Not politeness, not civility, not competence or customer service -- 'professionalism'.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

We really need, as a society, examine the concept of 'professionalism'; its actual purpose and intention, and what value if any it serves at this point. Not politeness, not civility, not competence or customer service -- 'professionalism'.

So always question what you're told and ask who does it serve
And if that someone isn't you, give 'em what they deserve!

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Moreover, the executives who demanded the downsizing people even in the profitable quarters of Hasbro, would have used stockholders as their justification. So whether the stockholders are specifically the asshats or the C-suiters (who are also substantial stockholders), it's reasonably fitting.

I mean this is the thing - the c-suite are generally substantial stockholders. They thus obviously want the stock to go up for very simple reasons. The most proven and reliable way to make your stock go up for virtually every company is to fire a small-but-significant number of people. So long as you don't fire anyone obviously vital, the market as a whole is only going to see "cost savings" and that you're bold and brave for doing something normal people rather disapprove of. Even firing people who are vital often has no negative effect, in the short term.

We really need, as a society, examine the concept of 'professionalism'; its actual purpose and intention, and what value if any it serves at this point. Not politeness, not civility, not competence or customer service -- 'professionalism'.

I agree that there should be a re-examination here, but I don't think we'll find that it serves zero purpose, because a lot of elements of genuine professionalism aren't merely civility, competence, customer service or politeness, but rather adhering to a stricter code of behaviour, and there being consequences to failing to adhere to that. Part of the problem is that "professionalism" is increasing to used to excuse callous or obviously amoral behaviour, especially among jobs that aren't actually professions - i.e. there is no swearing of the oath, no code of conduct.

Further, unprofessional behaviour of certain kinds is genuinely bad. If you want an easy example see Mike Mearls and the Zak S situation. To recount briefly, Zak S was credibly accused by several women of sexually and otherwise abusing them. Zak S was listed as a playtester in the 5E core books, but otherwise had no apparent relationship to WotC. The "professional" response would have to have been to allow Legal, PR/marketing, and possibly HR (if he did have some kind of unknown relationship to WotC) to handle this. Mike Mearls did not take this option. He decided to get in there, and demand that the victims talk to him, so he in his magisterial capacity as lead D&D designer (!!!), could adjudge the merits of their claims. And it seems he "accidentally" sent all the details they provided him to Zak S. The "professional" or "rules-following" approach would have been better for literally everyone involved here.

 

[Riley]

Could just be that he had an opportunity to take a job with the government, one that doesn't include being the focus of ire for a lot of overzealous gamers who were shooting the messenger.

Tito's now working for the office that oversees elections for the State of Washington.

The 'focus of ire' he'll face there will be greater.

 

[Oofta]

Moreover, the executives who demanded the downsizing people even in the profitable quarters of Hasbro, would have used stockholders as their justification. So whether the stockholders are specifically the asshats or the C-suiters (who are also substantial stockholders), it's reasonably fitting.

Businesses make all sorts of decisions that I disagree with all the time. Did layoffs and the reason for them bothered Tito? Who did he blame if it did? We just don't know.

I don't speak for other people, people should speak for themselves. Which is what Tito did and was fairly clear with his clarification. I'm definitely not going to speak for someone I barely knew existed.

 

[Mr.X]

Don't begrudge him the emotions, but yeah I wouldn't post that about a former employer in public, personally. And I've worked for worse than Hasbro!

Yeah it’s really wild the way corporations have created a social consensus where they can let everyone go at the drop of a hat so those people can’t feed their families yet it is morally wrong to say mean things about them. Professionalism is a scam so you can be used without consequence.

 

[billd91]

Yeah it’s really wild the way corporations have created a social consensus where they can let everyone go at the drop of a hat so those people can’t feed their families yet it is morally wrong to say mean things about them. Professionalism is a scam so you can be used without consequence.

It’s like rules of honor and fair fights. They’re all rigged in favor of the powerful to play to their strengths and keep the powerless from leveling the field.

 

[Clint_L]

Yeah it’s really wild the way corporations have created a social consensus where they can let everyone go at the drop of a hat so those people can’t feed their families yet it is morally wrong to say mean things about them. Professionalism is a scam so you can be used without consequence.

First, this tweet did not actually say anything mean about a specific corporation. It said something mean about "shareholders" in general. Perhaps the underlying assumptions of capitalism. He's intentionally vague. I interpreted him as basically saying "It feels good to stop working for evil (corporate America) and start working for good (public service)." My spouse is a public servant, so I'm sympathetic, though they would be the first to tell you that not everyone who works in government is a shining paragon of humanity.

Basically, he's virtue signalling.

I'm pretty sure that not talking trash about your former employers and employees is not some recent creation of corporate America. For me, it falls into the category of "being a mature adult." It's one thing if you are reacting to a specific injustice. But if I apply for a new job I would expect my bosses to not publicly trash me, even if we weren't best buds at the water cooler, and I extend the same courtesy.

If he had posted something specific, like, "it feels good to be leaving a job where a bunch of co-workers were laid off as a result of a poor earnings report," I don't think anyone would worry about it. But that wouldn't get much discussion going, and he's a spin doctor, so we get a juicier tweet to stir things up.

I would caution him, though, that mass layoffs happen in government, too. A lot. We've had to live through our share of disruption.