In a layoff situation where you are at a company that is not doing well, the usual rules no longer apply.
In normal society, we don't think about having to eat one another to survive, we can all get along as long as there is a way for everyone to get the things they need to survive.
Oracle is more like being stranded in a life boat.
Suppose you are stranded in a lifeboat with 10 other people.
You see Tom, D--k and Harry huddled at the other end of the lifeboat, talking among themselves.
The supplies have run out and they are now sizing up the other people in the lifeboat to figure out the order they will attack them in, as they intend to survive.
Most of the people look pretty ordinary, not terribly strong, probably won't put up much of a fight against the three of them. But, there's one big guy, that they think they might have some problems with. He also looks like the kind of guy that might defend someone else on the boat, if they were attacked.
So, he's going to have to go first.
They enlist the help of a couple of people for the time being, by making them feel included in their group and their secrets. They make up some lies about the big guy they need to target first, so their new buddies really hate this guy.
Then, they attack. Everyone else does nothing but watch. Tom, D--k and Harry have sized up the group correctly. Some of the people are trying to hide behind other people. Some of the people look like they would like to help the big guy, but they are afraid.
Tom, D--k and Harry are watching the reactions of the other people to see who they need to target next. Some of the people they might be able to use in the next attack, some of the people are too sympathetic and need to be targeted first. The people hiding will be the last to go, but they are ashamed of not having done anything.
And so it goes at Oracle. The smartest people go first, they are the real competition for Tom, D--k and Harry. They are particularly dangerous, if they are nice people who would help others out.
While the attacks are going on, they size up the reactions of the others to determine who goes next.
Anyone can be targeted, lies can be spread. Your manager can give you fake projects to work on, tell lies to the others in the group to keep them from working with you.
When it comes right down to it, there are people who will survive no matter what they have to do. It works both in a lifeboat and at a company on the way down.
The employees of Oracle need to think about that. Don't be surprised when your turn comes. Be prepared and find a way out.