Malcolm Gladwell's views on immigrants are AWFUL | Reflections

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[@mandylee3862]

Lol my dad was telling me how he gets up at 4:00 am to go to the gym and I had to resist the urge to go, "Okay, Rachel Hollis." 😂

[@UdoADHD]

I was also “well traveled” when I was young. I get the “freedom” of not feeling tied to the social expectations of the place you immigrated to, but there is also a sadness of not “getting it” when you see your peers enjoying it and also fitting in better than you because they get it. And you’re totally right that when they compare immigrants to others, they are ignoring all the factors that make us a selective group. It is RIDICULOUS that he would say immigrants have no roots or family???!!! We immigrate BECAUSE we have roots and family!

[@the_gstaad_girl]

I got so mad at that point, can't believe it. As if it's not hard enough to leave families, roots and friends to go be alone somewhere else, now we're also having to deal with false information that we are orphans.

[@larryjohnny]

he’s right your family is someplace else! I’m in cali but roots in Tehran. I feel like an orphan and it’s cool, original & unique! Fit in with what? Just be yourself!

[@UdoADHD]

@@larryjohnny every person requires other people. Friends or some where they feel accepted. It’s annoying when people downplay this, ignoring that it’s literally a Maslow need on the hierarchy of needs.

[@larryjohnny]

@@UdoADHD that might be true but since i’ve been hurt or adhd made me feel so hurt that I simply don’t expect any one to accept me. I need to be so good in my field that they will have no choice since I’m the best. However this doesn’t translate well to personal life since I’ll still be lonely if I don’t make changes. I just took an ADHD survey to see if that’s why I’m behind or feel behind in life in some things..

[@Tonica1231]

Btw, in another Interview, Malcolm Gladwell described himself as an introvert and doesn’t. So I don’t understand how he doesn’t understand the concept that working from home might be better for some people. I love that you covered Malcolm Gladwell. I don’t see too much public challenge of his work. Thank you.

[@costepps2788]

I always thought he had such a smug tone. That story about not knowing how to play hockey when he arrived in Canada just sounds like he wasn't good at something so he decided he was intellectually superior to all the other kids anyway. And then he goes on to show us he never seems to have matured from that experience. His whole line about working in the office is exactly what someone could have said to him as an introverted child - "If you're not here, you're not trying, so it's your fault you're not connected." DUDE! ETA - COVID is still definitely a thing. So are children and pregnancies and disabilities. 🙄 He seems like someone who'd have a productivity conversation with a 9 months pregnant person.

[@marissaolivarez854]

I’ve worked in corporate America for years. My observation is that the kind of people who prefer to be at the office, when remote work is also an option, are the social loafers and ass kissers. Being present at the office does not equate greater productivity. That’s an outdated concept. I will say though, a lot of it depends on the type of work. Sometimes it is better to be onsite.

[@UdoADHD]

I feel like HIS idea of feeling “socially connected” is manipulative. It means instead of providing competitive, tangible advantages to your employees, you want their feelings to be the reason they stay. Allowing you to continue paying less than what you could. To expect people to decline a better job because of “connection” is sleazy. Also - 100% working from home in my pajamas is EXACTLY how I want to work. Literally a dream come true that I didn’t think would be possible growing up.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

Yeah, it's almost like saying " no money here but we'll deffo have fun" - very reminiscent of all the exploitative jobs in television where I was asked to do free work for "exposure"

[@louhortonsculpture]

Glad you’re calling this out! I’m shocked he’s so out of touch! I thought immigrants were successful because they share resources in a way (can’t say native American??) people born here don’t because of ingrained classism and racism. Basically, I heard some immigrant groups have a real savings and loan program so they can make loans to each other and each in turn builds up their independent business. The US had local savings and loan banks that invested in the local community. They got wiped out in the 80’s.

[@mecfc]

He'll need more than 10,000 hours of practice to become a decent human being.

[@rachelortiz147]

Hahahahaha perfect comment !!!

[@KeyasWorld]

I’ve been waiting for a Malcom Gladwell takedown… I really loved his book but have heard things like this here and there…disappointing for sure!! Great vid 😀

[@Carissa99Xo]

OMG! He actually thinks that people like nurses do their work "thanklessly". Are they working for free?! should they work for free in his mind!? it's not freaking charity, it's not like character building for them - it's a profession!

[@UdoADHD]

Wait until he finds out about nurses basically revolting right now 😂😂

[@Carissa99Xo]

@@UdoADHD Well duh, no one's even thanking them for their sacrifice.

[@okoala62]

Great video and commentary! I agree with you @30:40 and I am a perfect example of that: at my last job, I did excellent work (not just because I am proud of the work I do but I was also often thanked and praised by my peers about the quality of my work) and I was physically present and interacted with my boss and peers face to face for the 4 years I was there- HOWEVER , my boss was a very toxic manager. She liked to pin her subordinates against each other (in an awful attempt at creating competition between us) and constantly put us down (in a poor, ‘reverse psychology’ type of way- she’d put us down so we would “be inspired” to build ourselves up 🙄😑). Anywho, she was vehemently against letting any one work remotely, even though the work we did could absolutely be done successfully remotely. Her micromanaging ways would not allow it! So even though I was physically present for all 4 years, I had checked out 2 years before I finally left because of what an awful manager she was. The quality and quantity of my work wasn’t at all affected but that was simply because of my work ethic and the high standards I hold myself to- NOT thanks to anything my terrible manager did. I now work from home, 100% remote, and I am happier at this job than I ever was at my other job. Most of my team mates live in different states- we have no idea what we look like (apart from the picture we’ve posted of ourselves for our email/Teams image) and our manager doesn’t even require us to have our cameras on during meetings. And guess what?! Our department is very successful! We meet our weekly metrics and timelines and we do our work well! 😁 I’m like you: I don’t have to physically present with my coworkers in order to feel connected and we all do our jobs well

[@meytish]

This was very good video! I love your insight, explanations and candidness. It's very interesting hearing your immigrant perspective in another country as opposed to the United States. As a child of immigrants in the America, Gladwell's words were frustrating. The immigrant experience is wildly vast....depending on where you come from, why you leave, and where you go. Thanks for another great video!

[@the_gstaad_girl]

Thank you, Rahel, I noticed you joined my Patreon too, much appreciated! x

[@rachelortiz147]

Malcolm gladwell’s words against remote work disproportionately negatively affect women who want to be mothers and have a career. If they have the option of remote work, they can have a career and stay home with a sick child. Imo Malcolm is speaking from a male privilege POV. Loved this video of yours ❤️

[@the_gstaad_girl]

Whoooa this is the best point. It didn't occur to me, probably because I have no kids but your comment is so tru Rachel x

[@SAVYWRITESBOOKS]

now my new goal is to have as many people with scottish accents ask me for drinks as possible

[@golis6291]

Couldn’t agree with you more Cam😁These guys are sooooooo disconnected lost in their egos.. Malcom as the wisest guy he thinks he is, and he is NOT and the other seems very millionaire wannabe… they always have a personal agenda behind their cherry picked examples.. Malcom is so off with the remote working thing, sounds like a grandpa talking about in his times things were better or did things better. I looooooove remote working and I have the joy of spending time with what most matters …my family! Seems these guys don’t like being at home 🤔 I would be miserable if they were my co-workers and I was forced to see them everyday 🤣

[@counterfeit_red]

With remote work I've been able to get promoted based solely on my work - not sucking up to people and laughing at everything managers say. This never happened before! My company is 100% remote and we've had fun virtual events like paint-alongs with paint kits mailed to all of us, then an instructor over Zoom. That cult-ish startup bro culture is so annoying and put me at a great disadvantage as an introvert and as someone with ADHD. I could wear headphones, but people walking by all day in open concept offices kept me so distracted.

[@UdoADHD]

Also let’s not forget… several times in past articles Malcolm has talked about how he hates working in an office and that he has people come meet him at his home or coffee shop to deliver papers to the office so he doesn’t have to be there 🙄 So working remote is “reducing your life to a paycheck” for everyone else except him. And he ignores the fact that almost all of us are working the jobs we do literally because capitalism has reduced all of our lives to a paycheck.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

He totally strikes me as an introvert who works mostly alone

[@robertparsons313]

Mobility is important. Almost all of the successful people I know moved away from the small impoverished town where I grew up. Many of the poorest places in the US are populated by people who have been there for generations and never even considered moving for better opportunities. One of the reasons the non-movers say is "my family is here, so I can't move." In contrast, many immigrants say, because my family is in need, I'm moving to wherever I can improve my lot & one day succeed, not just survive. And of course this helps the family, too.

[@kasiasupecka1220]

Hey Cam! Thanks for covering this topic! I was thinking about this interview for some time also and I agree with what you said about remote work. I just want to add something on the immigrant topic, that I think is important. So when Malcom says 'just move where the opportunity is, like if you want to work in tech just move to California.' I will quickly explain the issue with that statement. First of all it's such a US centric point of view. US citizen with their passport can move to whatever country they want (or at least to coutnries where all those work possibilities are) But me for example, a Polish citizen would require a visa. And I tried to get a visa to enter US and was denied, and i know a lot other polish ppl who tired and were denied. Just cause we were 'too young and mobile'. Immigration to US is a pain. I wanted to go to vacation there, not even work... But I also wanted to get visa via university. I wanted to study in US, I started collecting papers and stopped at the moment when I was informed about the cost of education. Cost of education in US is high... and it's even higher if you're an immigrant. If you don't have rich parent, then bad luck. Because otherwise how can you finance your education. You are not able to work legally there when you went there to study. And when you get rejected once for a visa to US, it's even harder to get it next time. So that's such a BS advice, i hear from US citizens to 'move where opportunity is" or "network with ppl in the industry" when the ppl in the industry are in US. And I can't get to US in the first place lol. So I am only left with remote work. But it's not I didn't try to move. I tried.... system didn't let me. Malcom don't see that because he's (in Rachel voice) super privileged. This interview shows that he's speaking from this privileged position and can't get over his own bias.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

Great point about VISAS and work permits!

[@janah.8471]

So, I on some level agree that immigrants' willingness to move can contribute to their success. I live in the US (as an immigrant) and many people really hate to move further than a day's drive from their hometown. There's this fear of the unknown or maybe stepping out of the comfort zone thing, but once you get over it once, it doesn't bother you too much - hence immigrants have an easier time following the opportunity. Also, there is the added layer of worrying about company sponsoring for a work visa - you can't be too picky even if you are very skilled. But it is definitely not the only reason why immigrants tend to be successful - I think you're right about the reporting bias. We'll hear the success stories but not stories about thousands/millions of immigrants living in poverty without access to many government welfare programs. The second thing about working from home - I think the COVID pandemic exposed so many toxic workplace environments. Now whenever I see "family" or "community" in a job posting, I think they'll try to short me on salary and/or it will be toxic there.

[@marcomartinez8608]

Love this analysis. Good work. I hope your channel continues to grow.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

Thanks Marco x

[@pricelessprebolus]

Glad you made this. I used to listen to Revisionist history years ago, and I had no idea he was so problematic.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

Thanks for watching, Theresa x

[@muchemoaboutnothing]

Thank you for this video. I watched most of his MasterClass and felt that something was off. His views on the whole slow motion stone throw thing are off too. I think he’s just out of touch with the times and the fact that things are changing too fast for his precious theories to keep up.

[@amandamandamands]

The only reasons that businesses want workers back in the office is because they are paying for empty space and need to feel validated that it was a necessary business expense to have that office building, the other reason is the managers who don't actually know how to manage and only feel like they are being productive if they are micromanaging their underlings and feel like they can only do that in person. People that I have seen that have been happy to go back are extroverts and that is because they need the interaction to thrive. It is unfathomable to them that the way that they feel in the office is the way that others feel at home. In most work places there is so much time taken up with social chit chat and they feel like they have worked hard because they have been 'busy' all day. Where I live government is also encouraging people to go back into the office, that is so that the businesses in the CBD are getting foot traffic again so that they won't go under, not because they care about the employees at all. Listening to Malcolm talk it sounds like a mixture of wanting to have a cult like environment and you do need to have people on site for that because if they feel like they are being looked after (or enjoy being around the people that they work with) then you can get away with paying less etc, whereas if people are remote then you don't have that hold on them, couldn't believe it when the podcast host was saying that yes if they are working remote then they are leaving because they are getting higher paid jobs. These people also don't care that by working at home you effectively have more time for yourself as you don't have the commute time or expense as a part of your day and by the sounds of it they aren't willing to pay extra to make up for that inconvenience either.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

The micro-managing is 100% why they want people there ! I wouldn't mind if they gave me an option of working in the office for an extra amount, and then it would be up to me to choose what I prefer to do

[@amykh7647]

This guy has such an incredibly limited world-view, and he believes he sees everything. What a privileged point of view.

[@robertparsons313]

Philosophers and writers don't have to clear their opinions & observations with current "correct" views. Malcolm is obviously offering his thoughts on the spot. It's refreshing to hear someone move the conversation along, even if his thoughts are not all-encompassing conclusions that apply to every person in the world at the same time. When I listen to him, I hear an individual who isn't repeating the party line.

[@yu12si7]

Now I feel like I can move on to the next book in my pile since I've been having such a hard time finishing some of his more recent work. He used to be a favorite. No need now to hear what he has to say about things. His ego has clearly wrapped itself around his former clear, thoughtful, empathic self, or .....maybe that was just a fun act for him to fool us all.

[@KumoriCoffee]

"if it's just a paycheck, what have you reduced your life to?" actually, malcolm, capitalism reduced my life to a paycheck! my life could be a lot more vibrant and meaningful if i didn't have to worry about jobs all the time!

[@shwetasingh1557]

Nice eye opening video. Thanks. Please keep it up. Cheers from 🇮🇳 🤗💙 NOT defending, but I think I feel bad for those who can't keep up or worse, refuse to keep up with generational differences. Also, keep in mind that this sort of generalization and oversimplification is what has made him so popular and successful. And now that I've seen this video, I can't unsee his ignorance 😕 I couldn't stop laughing around 33:20

[@williamho2940]

So what he's saying is that to him, a busy office with a packed car park *is* a thriving business, as opposed to _ought_. Secondly, I agree that it _ought_ to be easier to build relationships by being in the same proximity, but it isn't necessary. He sounds like a sunset trying to remain relevant. Also, I think it is on the quality of story itself that makes the emotional connection with the audience, as opposed to seeing the storyteller(?). So I find it strange that he connects "emotional connection" to "being in the same place" as opposed to the quality of the story itself. I suppose(?) his definition "emotional connection" is the type that a live performer has to their audience at a concert, but wouldn't that be predicated on the audience already being fans of said performer? The emotional connection between performer and audience may be _enhanced_ by being live, but not because of it.

[@gl8895]

Thank you so much for this video. I'm getting angry with you hearing some of the things he says about immigrants in these clips!

[@lauraslibrary3668]

Thanks for this video, I've been frustrated with Malcolm Gladwell for a long time. I found some of his books interesting when I was in high school/college. However, more recently it just seems like he makes his conclusions by extrapolating from anecdotes. His ideas can be unraveled with some simple research or an opposing story that undermines his premise. Sometimes those conclusions can be innocuous, but every once in a while they can be harmful!

[@lauraslibrary3668]

Also, truly it's worse for bosses when people work remotely because it's harder to exploit them when they work from home. I work remotely and I feel so much happier. I'm more grateful for my job because they value what I want and they don't work me to the bone. Not everyone is going to love their job and feel like it needs to be a "family". Not everyone is going to work a job they love, but everyone needs money. Employers are suddenly struggling with the fact that employees are doing what they are paid for and refusing to go "above and beyond" anymore because they simply don't want to if they aren't compensated for it. My work is not my life, my work allows me to live the life I want. His ethos just reeks of capitalism.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

So glad to hear about your experience working happily from home, my guess is that a lot of people feel similarly and it's why they don't want to go back to the office. Malcolm's rant about this seemed out of left field, I'm disappointed but also super mad at him for his immigrant depictions

[@KumoriCoffee]

also these people truly sound like terrible leaders and business owners if they can't understand that their employees are different, have different needs, and maybe they don't all want to come in and be in the office all the time.

[@rachelortiz147]

Oh my god this is eye opening to what an asshole Malcolm Gladwell is. Hoping for a recession to control his employees. Thank you for breaking this horrendous interview down.

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

What is with this whole pipeline of people like Mel Robbins and Malcolm Gladwell having successful careers and yet write crappy self help books and podcasts? Then I realize: It’s all rooted in white privilege.

[@carriepinkduck]

Alternatively, if all you have is work, what has your life become?

[@the_gstaad_girl]

YES! Exactly!

[@rubes8065]

His folks were immigrants. You might be right on a lot of your points for sure, but it seems you’ve cherry picked quite a bit and unfairly edited his interviews, taken too much out of context to make your argument. And his views are constantly changing, I’ve noticed. When he’s wrong, he usually comes around. Contact him or his team before you go on the attack and make claims that probably aren’t true. He’s not the monster you make him out to be. I don’t want to defend him, so much as point out your arguments are just as flawed as his are. More flawed. You’re both wrong, but you’re more wrong. Another thing, you’re hurting your own argument with a video that badly needs editing and is circular. It could be 15 minutes and you could make all the same points.

[@the_gstaad_girl]

I didn’t make him out to be anything, frankly, you use the word monster, I didn’t. The man is out of touch but I would never call him a monster like you did. I’m pretty sure I’m not wrong since I shared my opinion and my life experience, this ain’t a global study, it’s the way I experienced being an immigrant myself.

[@robertparsons313]

These little clips are misleading. Yes, of course his views are changing because he's a thinker, not a propagandist.

[@4legs4paws55]

this makes me so angry - first not all immigrants are equal - this is so classists and racist - second a lot of women profit from remote work cause they bear the child caring ... I am pretty sure these two men don't have to stay home for their kids - they do not have to make career decisions based on their kids - 3rd remote work is better for the environment, the overcrowded cities and open up opportunities for people who cant pay rent in NYC or California - basically all studies show that remote opportunities don't lead to less productivity its a myth told by bosses who thinks they can control you better if you sit in a cubical - no one size fits all - some people flourish in an office environment some don't that's why you give people choice - and yes some meetings and some stuff is better discussed in person - but that does not require me in an office every day last if you cant trust your workes to be productive at home - they wont be productive sitting in a cubical - that just how it is

[@robertparsons313]

Where did Malcolm say that all immigrants in the world are the same?

[@4legs4paws55]

@@robertparsons313 he does so indirectly by bluntly taking an expat point of view - and you know what they say some people are expats and some are immigrants…

[@TerryOCarroll]

Gladwell knows fuck-all but thinks he's an expert. He's monetized his Dunning-Kruger syndrome.

[@emerson8884]

𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔪𝔬𝔰𝔪 🎊

[@Metonymy1979]

He's such a disappointment

[@robertparsons313]

"The Bomber Mafia" was a disappointment? That was one of the best podcasts/audios I have ever heard.

[@uncannedspaghetti]

It’s so ridiculous to me that he really said “if it’s just a paycheck, what have you reduced your life to?” Like, it’s not an individual choice that if we don’t work we’ll die. It’s the system we’re all born into and held in by these corporate goof balls that have turned all life into the pursuit of profit 🫠