> Normally I wouldn't do that but she struck me as young, naive, not a lot of life experience.... but also genuinely interested in what other people think and I thought it was worth a shot. I was fortunate.

Depending on the industry, her connections, and career goals, that might be a very rational decision. If your professional network or aspirations involve national-security or Federal contracting then posting some patriotic ooh-rah posts is just her virtue signalling her allegiances to those she works with.

The area around me has loads of Federal work, and you see those types of posts all the time from folks in that industry. Similarly, I have contacts in private sector at companies that are really big into social-justice causes. Those folks will post all kinds of work-unrelated content of that variety.

Having worked similar industries...just came here to say I think you're spot-on.

So does that mean I can't ever discuss politics at work? Or on LinkedIn?

It's not about can or cannot in strict sense of the word. In principle, you can do whatever you want.

But sometimes (often), people do what they want without considering or being aware of social norms or consequences.

If you're aware of social norms and consequences, make whatever decision you want as an informed, consenting adult.

If you're blissfully unaware of social norms and/or consequences, it is tricky (because of its own social norms:P), but people may try to help you be aware of them.

Personally, I would neither want to discuss politics on LinkedIn or care for others to do so. It's not what LinkedIn as a platform is for, as far as I'm concerned. I don't go to my car dealership to get a beer, I don't interrupt the CIO's presentation to discuss the soccer results, and I don't care for politics on LinkedIn - they each have their own domain. But you may do as you choose :).

At work, it's a lot more fluid - in many environments discussing politics at work is "not a good idea" - why start a heated fight with a co-worker on opposite spectrum if you otherwise respect each other and work well? Or unknowingly jeopardize your chances of promotion because your boss vehemently disagrees with your political views? Or, possibly the worst, you yourself subconsciously not promote or develop your team member because you are now biased due to their differing political views? (it's huge hubris to claim "Oh no I wouldn't be impacted like that").

Other places, small startups of like-minded people, it'll naturally be a subject of conversation.

And in between, even at large corporate settings, you may develop friendship with people who are either like-minded, or open to productive interesting discussion.

But overall message is, know your audience, know the social norms, know the consequences. And then do as you please :)

You can do whatever you like.

I would strongly suggest you make your own assessment as far as how well that works out as far as people wanting to hear it or not / listening / the results.

> I can't ever discuss politics at work?

Oh, you can - you just had better make sure you have the Right Opinions before you do. If you wonder what the Right Opinions are, browse through LinkedIn and see what's getting "upvoted".

Of course you can, as long as your comfortable with those things affecting your ability to find or keep a job. Proving that you were fired because you support political ideal of your choosing and not "poor performance" is going to be very difficult if the person firing you knows what they're doing.

Someone like a recruiter might want to avoid divisive topics unless they're specifically trying to attract someone from one of those markets.

That's usually a smart idea.

Otherwise, you need to use discretion, especially now that many people are nationally and globally connected. If you're the type who discusses politics loudly in front of the office, you've already reaped the rewards/punishment for doing so, and LinkedIn will magnify both.

LinkedIn is a site built to help people socially-network in a way that optimizes for career advancement. Assuming market capitalism rather than cronyism, political discourse is anathema to career advancement. So, to the degree you’re using LinkedIn for what it’s for, you shouldn’t be discussing politics there.

Likewise, to the degree that your goal at your workplace is career advancement (and again, assuming meritocratic promotion over cronyism), you shouldn’t be having political discourse there, either.

But do note that “political discourse” has a specific meaning here—something is only political discourse if there are multiple potential positions likely to crop up in any discussion amongst arbitrary people in the room. If everyone in the room agrees on all the issues to the point that they think they’re “obvious”, then no political discourse is happening even if a normally-political issue is being discussed, so there is no risk of career impact. For example, discussing attending pride rallies in the break-room of an SF-based company is entirely safe. Hanging a patriotic slogan on the wall of your cubicle in a government organization is entirely safe. Etc.

This effect never applies if you’re posting your thoughts on the public Internet, though. There’s always someone “in the room” who disagrees, when the room contains 7bn people.

You can, but there are consequences for most people.

Next time you see a comment thread on LinkedIn, look who is responding. In my experience it is overwhelmingly founders and not employees. People that work for others have their speech chilled. People that work with others get benefits from having opinions, and do not have the consequence of income disruption and industry blacklisting.

It's can't versus should. Sure, you can discuss politics at work, but should you?

Ideally yes.

why would you want to discuss politics at work?