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It's hard to understand why people choose to put others in these conditions. For example, who makes the decision not to pay overtime and why? It will save one d

It's hard to understand why people choose to put others in these conditions. For example, who makes the decision not to pay overtime and why? It will save one dollar and thirteen cents an hour. What could this possibly amount to, in the cost of a Kindle? Perhaps this is due entirely to the race to bottom inspired by competitive pressure -- the various bidders all trying to find a way to offer Amazon the lowest bid -- or perhaps it is due to internal pressures, where managers can be rewarded for finding savings that are significant relative to the cost of a certain phase in the process, even if it is of little consequence for the cost of the final device.

willidiots 8y ago
Ultimately if consumers will support these business models, there will always be a Bezos willing to sell to them, at whatever the human cost. Slap some pretty marketing around your product and most consumers are blissfully ignorant. Certainly helped by global-scale supply chains that add a fog of war. Even those who are aware of it, in many cases, fall prey to "that's a pity" thinking without actually changing their own habits. Like a crowd of folks walking by litter - many shake their heads, but few actually pick it up. Have you omitted all such products from your own life? Good for you if so, but few of us can make such a claim.
endominus 8y ago
Relevant; https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ Tl;dr: Runaway optimization processes erode "sacred" or non-economic values in all environments without a central coordinating authority cognizant of and opposed to the problem. But do read the article; I can't do it justice in a summary.
adamsea 8y ago
Imho part of it is that responsibility for the choice is distributed. This makes it easy for everyone (including us Kindle buyers) to say to themselves “it’s not my fault and I’m just going along with what is.”
- solidsnack9000 8y ago
  Maybe then the solution relates to that, as well. Just choosing not to buy Kindle won't, as an uncoordinated action, make any difference. Even if it were coordinated, not doing something doesn't generally paint a picture of what exactly to do. We want Kindles to be made, and we want people to be treated well in doing so, and we have no idea how to organize for such a thing to happen.

willidiots 8y ago

Ultimately if consumers will support these business models, there will always be a Bezos willing to sell to them, at whatever the human cost. Slap some pretty marketing around your product and most consumers are blissfully ignorant. Certainly helped by global-scale supply chains that add a fog of war. Even those who are aware of it, in many cases, fall prey to "that's a pity" thinking without actually changing their own habits. Like a crowd of folks walking by litter - many shake their heads, but few actually pick it up. Have you omitted all such products from your own life? Good for you if so, but few of us can make such a claim.

endominus 8y ago

Relevant; https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/30/meditations-on-moloch/ Tl;dr: Runaway optimization processes erode "sacred" or non-economic values in all environments without a central coordinating authority cognizant of and opposed to the problem. But do read the article; I can't do it justice in a summary.

adamsea 8y ago

Imho part of it is that responsibility for the choice is distributed. This makes it easy for everyone (including us Kindle buyers) to say to themselves “it’s not my fault and I’m just going along with what is.”

solidsnack9000 8y ago
Maybe then the solution relates to that, as well. Just choosing not to buy Kindle won't, as an uncoordinated action, make any difference. Even if it were coordinated, not doing something doesn't generally paint a picture of what exactly to do. We want Kindles to be made, and we want people to be treated well in doing so, and we have no idea how to organize for such a thing to happen.