Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by ohyoutravel 65 days ago
I’m open to the concept of there being some scale of culpability where the janitors at Meta contracted from some third party company are less culpable than the c suite. But as a software engineer who has chosen to work there, you’re the one building the planet destroying death laser, so not only are you in a very privileged, specialized position, you’re directly contributing to the effects.

Also Meta isn’t a nation state.
1 comments
RugnirViking 65 days ago
I do not work at meta. I have never even been to America. Chill on the personal assumptions...
link
ohyoutravel 65 days ago
Respond to the substance, don’t give a cop out response.
link
RugnirViking 65 days ago
my arguments above already respond to the substance of what you have written, you haven't adressed them, merely restated the position I objected to at the start.

I'm no debate lord, merely expressed my dislike of the baying for blood people clearly have here, pointed at everyone seemingly except the actual people responsible

link
ohyoutravel 65 days ago
I’ve been seeing this sort of response more and more lately. :(
link
salawat 65 days ago
You will. Especially as it becomes more and more uncomfortable for people as they are forced to try to rationalize away their part in all of this. Don't think of it necessarily as a cop-out, but a sign that the person at least has either A) working empathy circuits and isn't likely the sort to focus on, or B) has at least started to see the tide is changing and has had to recalibrate their stance formerly accommodating a I-can-callous-about-this-without-consequence viewpoint, and is now taking on shades of "Oh, I actually kind of have to be concerned about effects on other people or it may blow back on me." Either way, the effort isn't wasted. The social dynamic still shifts, even if it's for pointedly unideal reasons. Note it, and move on.

The aim is change for the better. If people are talking about it, even in a deescalatory manner, that still means the trajectory is moving. Don't lose heart. Keep your conviction hot, tight, and focused.

link
ohyoutravel 63 days ago
Really appreciate this perspective. Thank you.
link