4 ms·

It would be more correct to say "a small but vocal subset of software engineers" are controlling the conversation. That is, if they do manage to "control" it in

It would be more correct to say "a small but vocal subset of software engineers" are controlling the conversation. That is, if they do manage to "control" it in Amazon's case, which I highly doubt. This is completely politically motivated knee jerk. If you do not like surveillance and would like to have less of it, the proper way to deal with the problem is to get your lawmaker to ban it at the federal level, not to shift the implementation to some other company just because you don't like Trump. But that's not the issue here, is it? "Resistance" is. Time and time again it is uncovered that the Obama administration did the same exact things the Trump administration is being panned for, and everyone just nodded in agreement. If someone's moral compass turns opposite depending on whether their candidate wins or loses, that's not a "moral compass" at all, that's just a political dog whistle.

blub 8y ago
As long as protesting is still legal in the US, it's part of the proper way to deal with the problem.
Nasrudith 8y ago
A small but active group has been the way large scale social changes have always worked. The people who wanted independence in the US revolution was a minority. Have you ever heard "be the change in the world you want to see?" They cannot guarantee that politicians will listen to even majority supported. policies but they can choose who they work for and make demanda accordingly. It is no different than requesting a raise with the implied threat "or I will leave to work someplace else that will". The user of a technology is also a large component. Nobody objects to Soviet engineers making rockets when von Braun was also slammed for doing so. Putting aside the "Obama did it" false equivalency I do not see why following ones conscience and using their right to choose to take a stand in a nondamaging way is so offensive to some people. I would guess from it highlighting their own moral abdications but I am not the best at understanding people.

blub 8y ago

As long as protesting is still legal in the US, it's part of the proper way to deal with the problem.

Nasrudith 8y ago

A small but active group has been the way large scale social changes have always worked. The people who wanted independence in the US revolution was a minority. Have you ever heard "be the change in the world you want to see?" They cannot guarantee that politicians will listen to even majority supported. policies but they can choose who they work for and make demanda accordingly. It is no different than requesting a raise with the implied threat "or I will leave to work someplace else that will". The user of a technology is also a large component. Nobody objects to Soviet engineers making rockets when von Braun was also slammed for doing so. Putting aside the "Obama did it" false equivalency I do not see why following ones conscience and using their right to choose to take a stand in a nondamaging way is so offensive to some people. I would guess from it highlighting their own moral abdications but I am not the best at understanding people.