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I think they were politely trying to avoid a political discussion. I personally don't see anything wrong with designing weapons that are later sold and used to

I think they were politely trying to avoid a political discussion. I personally don't see anything wrong with designing weapons that are later sold and used to kill innocent people. Or with manufacturing firearms that can be used to shoot innocent people. Or with designing cars that can be used to run over innocent people. It's like wanting to ban guns because they can be used to murder innocent people

anbende 8y ago
For me it would matter what they are primarily used for, not just what they could be used for. If my company is making a lot of its money selling weapons to people or groups that I have issue with, and Saudi Arabia is likely on that list (though I’d do some reading), then that’d be a problem for me. And there’s only so much I’d excuse in others. If someone knowingly works for a company that makes “flesh-eating nano-machines” for third world dictators... I’m probably not going to want that person in my home.
- poz_load 8y ago
  Could you provide an example of weapons developed to be used primarily for selling to nations for killing civilians?
  - anbende 8y ago
    My apologies for being a little unclear. I hadn’t meant to take issue with a particular product. I’m taking issue with particular customers for particular products. If my company is selling ICBM guidance systems to sub-Saharan dictators, that’s an issue for me. As selling weapons to Saudi Arabia potentially could be. That said, there are products that I might have issue with across the board. Chemical or biological weapons might be examples, especially nasty ones. Some companies lie to or otherwise deceive their customers. The new word on Theranos is that they might have been falsifying test results. If I’m a lab tech and I know that they are doing that, that’s a problem, as there’s the potential for real harm there.
    - walshemj 8y ago
      If your "Selling ICBM guidance systems" your main risk is having the interview without tea and biscuits with the CIA, SIS or FBI.
  - nailer 8y ago
    You're correct in both cases: there's no issue in making something that can be used to hurt innocent people, nor are rockets primarily designed to kill innocent people. My issue is that Saudi Arabia has a known habit of hurting innocent people and hence it is immoral to sell them weapons.
mijoharas 8y ago
Most developed countries do ban (or at the very least limit the sale of) guns because they can be used to murder innocent people.

anbende 8y ago

For me it would matter what they are primarily used for, not just what they could be used for. If my company is making a lot of its money selling weapons to people or groups that I have issue with, and Saudi Arabia is likely on that list (though I’d do some reading), then that’d be a problem for me. And there’s only so much I’d excuse in others. If someone knowingly works for a company that makes “flesh-eating nano-machines” for third world dictators... I’m probably not going to want that person in my home.

poz_load 8y ago
Could you provide an example of weapons developed to be used primarily for selling to nations for killing civilians?
- anbende 8y ago
  My apologies for being a little unclear. I hadn’t meant to take issue with a particular product. I’m taking issue with particular customers for particular products. If my company is selling ICBM guidance systems to sub-Saharan dictators, that’s an issue for me. As selling weapons to Saudi Arabia potentially could be. That said, there are products that I might have issue with across the board. Chemical or biological weapons might be examples, especially nasty ones. Some companies lie to or otherwise deceive their customers. The new word on Theranos is that they might have been falsifying test results. If I’m a lab tech and I know that they are doing that, that’s a problem, as there’s the potential for real harm there.
  - walshemj 8y ago
    If your "Selling ICBM guidance systems" your main risk is having the interview without tea and biscuits with the CIA, SIS or FBI.
- nailer 8y ago
  You're correct in both cases: there's no issue in making something that can be used to hurt innocent people, nor are rockets primarily designed to kill innocent people. My issue is that Saudi Arabia has a known habit of hurting innocent people and hence it is immoral to sell them weapons.

mijoharas 8y ago

Most developed countries do ban (or at the very least limit the sale of) guns because they can be used to murder innocent people.