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My reaction is because no one here seems to have any sense of ownership for the products they design, which are a key part of the security issues and abuses we

by dewster 10y ago

My reaction is because no one here seems to have any sense of ownership for the products they design, which are a key part of the security issues and abuses we are currently experiencing. If you participate in the design of a phone that broadcasts its position in dangerous situations without the user knowing this, and subsequently gets them killed, maybe you're so far down the line and organizationally have so many people between you and them that you don't notice the small amount of blood on your hands. Just by existing we all cause trouble, but I'd like to see a bit more ethical sense among those who are directly enabling the current oppressive state.

solipsism 10y ago
That's not my point (although the fact that you consider "HW/SW engineers" some kind of cohesive group who can make decisions together is kind of laughable). My point is that people are telling you what software cannot possibly do. And rather than look for alternative, you start railing against their lack of ownership of the problem. Share with us what you're doing to fight the problem, aside from posting on HN. If it can solve all the problems, I'm sure we'll all join up.
- dewster 10y ago
  If someone came to me and told me one of my inventions/products could get someone killed, I'd move heaven and earth to fix whatever was wrong. That same message, when presented to a large enough group where the responsibility is sufficiently diffused, is simply shrugged off. This is human nature and as such can be relied upon to supply endless weaponry and surveillance tools to our betters. It's Snowden's fault that he has, in this environment where having minimal conscience is an asset, an over developed sense of ethics. Which unfortunately can't make up for the rest of our lack of it.
  - solipsism 10y ago
    So just complaints, no solutions? Let your actions speak for themselves.

by dewster 10y ago

solipsism 10y ago

That's not my point (although the fact that you consider "HW/SW engineers" some kind of cohesive group who can make decisions together is kind of laughable). My point is that people are telling you what software cannot possibly do. And rather than look for alternative, you start railing against their lack of ownership of the problem. Share with us what you're doing to fight the problem, aside from posting on HN. If it can solve all the problems, I'm sure we'll all join up.

dewster 10y ago
If someone came to me and told me one of my inventions/products could get someone killed, I'd move heaven and earth to fix whatever was wrong. That same message, when presented to a large enough group where the responsibility is sufficiently diffused, is simply shrugged off. This is human nature and as such can be relied upon to supply endless weaponry and surveillance tools to our betters. It's Snowden's fault that he has, in this environment where having minimal conscience is an asset, an over developed sense of ethics. Which unfortunately can't make up for the rest of our lack of it.
- solipsism 10y ago
  So just complaints, no solutions? Let your actions speak for themselves.