[derelicta]

I have a friend who's working at the torment nexus factory, and whilst he knows he's helping kids getting blown to literal pieces, material conditions "dictate" him that he has little other choices besides closing his eyes and hardening his heart. Or quitting and working for someone else, but that's a tough argument to make.

[throwaway404040]

It's telling how little discussion this post is generating on HN. Perhaps a little too uncomfortable for a large portion of the crowd?

[Smeevy]

I believe that, especially in software, we don't ask ethical questions up front and just start solving puzzles.

If and when people start asking themselves these questions, their only options are to rationalize away the harm their work has done entirely, engage in moral relativism, or consider "the big picture" at a zoom-level where nothing ever really matters.

[philipallstar]

I think it's just the over-simplification, not of tradeoffs of type of work vs one's own health insurance, but of just classifying some jobs as pure evil, and also the nowadays-tepid lesswrong writing style.

And no gods no masters is the sort of thing you might see someone say right before they become the leader, ban religion, and cause mass starvation.

[gopher_space]

Feels like we're getting into "contractors working on the Death Star" territory (surprisingly lucid and concise refrain on the subject from Smith et. al.). The job itself isn't "evil", but anyone capable of seeing how it fits into a bigger picture will think of your death as expected collateral.

[laughingcurve]

Usually when crazy people get on the metro and start yelling their political opinions at no one, we all know it’s best to ignore them.

[thecosas]

Perhaps those of us voicing no opinion at all are the crazy ones.

[mindslight]

This isn't the metro, but rather a discussion forum full of your peers. And the article isn't crazy disconnected ranting, but well-founded and well-reasoned arguments.

[mindslight]

Grammar nit, but it highlights how steeped in passivity we all are:

> he's helping kids getting blown to literal pieces

Helping kids [who are] getting blown to bits would be a noble endeavor. What you presumably mean is that he is helping to blow kids to literal pieces