[nerdsniper]

Law was good people when? During the era of the 3/5ths compromise? Dredd Scott? Plessy? Lochner v NY? Buck v Bell? Korematsu?

Finance was good people when? When Swiss banks captured all the war spoils of WW2? When they ran Penny Auctions during the Great Depression? When they financed slave ships? When the Medici financed endless war across Europe?

I’m not saying people are all awful, but I don’t think there’s any “before times” where people were better than they have been since then in any ageless profession. Perhaps there’s some degree of variance or even ebb-and-flow patterns.

[newaccountman2]

> Law was good people when? During the era of the 3/5ths compromise? Dredd Scott? Plessy? Lochner v NY? Buck v Bell? Korematsu?

All of those are only things because there were lawyers willing and eager to sue the government over the evils at issue, so your point is much weaker than you think.

[nerdsniper]

That’s actually exactly my point. That all these fields have had good and bad people the entire time and that the ratios probably don’t change all that much.

It sounds like you’d agree with me.

[newaccountman2]

Well, yeah, I suppose I don't disagree with your overall point lol, sorry if comment sounded overly combative

Law and finance were sources of and avenues to money and power from the outset. Took some time for tech to emerge as such.

[miltonlost]

Artistophanes lampooned the Sophists and lawyers in his Greek comedies. When using words as your literal way to power and change, you will have demagogues.

[hattmall]

I think you miss the point, it's not that they were morally good or only in pursuit of lofty goals. But the culture was different and the profession wasn't dominated by monetary opportunity seekers. Look back in historical newspapers and you won't find a single ad for personal injury attorneys.

[wk_end]

That's because it was illegal for lawyers to advertise their services until 1976. See Bates v. State Bar of Arizona:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bates_v._State_Bar_of_Arizona

[JumpCrisscross]

> That's because it was illegal for lawyers to advertise their services until 1976

I'd have thought limited-liability partnerships (and with it, the mega shops) did more damage.

[hattmall]

Yes ultimately it's advertising the leads heavily to the enshifification of any industry.

[JumpCrisscross]

> Law was good people when?

I'm a fan of Cicero.

[sapphicsnail]

Cicero was so obnoxiously pompous and vain. Maybe go further back to Solon?