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by StanislavPetrov 1526 days ago
I'm an individual in "The West" and I don't want to hurt Russia's economy, or Russian individuals. It isn't my objective, and it isn't the objective of many other intelligent, moral people who both oppose collective punishment and reject warmongering whether it comes from NATO, Russia or anywhere else.

If Github and other private organizations and companies want to act as proxies for the US government, NATO and the US military then they ought to expect to be treated as such.
3 comments
Buttons840 1525 days ago
You seem to be arguing as though I said the west's objective was to hurt Russia's economy and Russian individuals. I believe those are only means to an end, those are not the ultimate objective.

The west's objective is to limit Russia's ability to wage war.

The real question is (again): Do you believe limiting Russia's ability to wage war is a worthy goal? If so, how would you suggest doing so?

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alanwreath 1525 days ago
>> they ought to expect to be treated as such

but they already are (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/21/russia-bans-fa...). I mean Russia is not the only country to do this, but companies are typically considered to be in cahoots with the their hosting country. Which makes sense because in order to operate within a country you have to "abide by the law" (which can and does often include sharing data).

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Sohurt00 1526 days ago
That’s a poetic sentiment but by your own logic you won’t hurt those employees at Github so what do they care about your poetic sentiment?

Taking action against those companies is taking action against people with families.

The wartime speculative industrial march we’ve “civilized” has externalized a lot of real cost on others. You materially profit from it but if you just say you hate it it’s cool, you’re good?

This circular hustle for higher mindedness when all people are right at the same point in human existence, discovery, logic, is exhausting. Take real steps, stop buying crap, stop driving, stop generating mess for the future, stop hustling for nation state scrip.

Soaking up the material wealth and externalizing the problem as “those others” is old. Everyone hates “the bubble” but we refuse to pop it.

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