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Your post is very puzzling. You, on one hand, sound exceptionally well educated but on the other hand describe a social circle that seems exceedingly ignorant o

Your post is very puzzling. You, on one hand, sound exceptionally well educated but on the other hand describe a social circle that seems exceedingly ignorant or uninformed. Knowing the profound disconnect why would that make you embarrassed?

jlarocco 8y ago
That's not a very charitable response. Obviously the OP's social circle will know better than that because they know him (or her) and what they actually work on. Among the general public there's a real stereotype about DOD work. When I mention to strangers that I work for a defense contractor, they more often than not assume I'm working on bombs or something like that. Not every time, but often enough that I'm used to explaining that I only work on mapping software.
- reificator 8y ago
  > they more often than not assume I'm working on bombs > I only work on mapping software In fairness, those maps are likely used to ensure the bombs go where they should.
  - AnimalMuppet 8y ago
    Better that they go where they should, than that they go where they shouldn't. The more accurate the mapping, the smaller the bomb can be, and the less collateral damage (presuming that the targeting information is correct).
    - 8note 8y ago
      that assumes the bomber isn't intending to maximize collateral damage
    - reificator 8y ago
      > Better that they go where they should, than that they go where they shouldn't True, at least when you're not the one being bombed.
      - jfoutz 8y ago
        This is a clever point. I think, even if I am being bombed, I don’t want my neighbors to die[1]. I would care very much about why. But if the hammer is coming down on me, it’s better for everyone if it’s only me. [1] except maybe that one across the alley that starts loud parties at 3:00 am. If I’m going down you can too guy.
  - jlarocco 8y ago
    To be more fair, better maps means better targeting and less collateral damage. And the software can also used for logistics, base planning, humanitarian missions, rescue missions, etc.
- austincheney 8y ago
  > Obviously the OP's social circle will know better than that because they know him (or her) and what they actually work on. If that were true then the OP would not have to explain himself/herself in any way that made him/her feel embarrassed in the first place.
throwaaaway1231 8y ago
I spent two years of my life working on a technology I really hope is never used. I think it's very hard to think about making a technology you know is to killing someone. But at the same time, you know it is necessary. You really wish the world you live in would mean there's no reason to. But that isn't the world you live in.
- austincheney 8y ago
  > I think it's very hard to think about making a technology you know is to killing someone. That does not appear to be related to this conversation. The OP does not have those worries and instead feels embarrassed when he/she must explain such.
- wereanempirenow 8y ago
  wlupld3ptjvsgwqw.onion/wlupload.en.html i would recommend that you write down your experiences and knowledge about whatever Doomsday Black Project you worked on for the Pentagon, and submit it to Wikileaks. the only way This War Machine Stops is by shining sunlight on it.
chucksmash 8y ago
This is such a non sequitur that I looked through the parent poster's comment history to see if he'd made some other post down thread that you were replying to. Do you mean "people who work in military research", "people who work at military contractors" or was there something else I didn't pick up on? Edit: Am not a military researcher, military contractor, etc.
- austincheney 8y ago
  I don't understand your comment. What people are you speaking about?
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - chucksmash 8y ago
    His social circle. Apologies if I missed something, but I don't understand where that comes into the equation.
    - austincheney 8y ago
      I cannot speak to the OPs social circle. To me it sounds pretty uninformed to think anybody working with the military is building bombs. The DOD (the US military) has about 2.8 million employees and there are about another 2 million people who work as defense contractors. I find it strange to think all those people could constantly be working on bombs. By comparison the largest US commercial employer is WalMart with 1.5 million US employees. Imagine (for the sake of numbers) every WalMart employee and two of their kids constantly making bombs.

jlarocco 8y ago

That's not a very charitable response. Obviously the OP's social circle will know better than that because they know him (or her) and what they actually work on. Among the general public there's a real stereotype about DOD work. When I mention to strangers that I work for a defense contractor, they more often than not assume I'm working on bombs or something like that. Not every time, but often enough that I'm used to explaining that I only work on mapping software.

reificator 8y ago
> they more often than not assume I'm working on bombs > I only work on mapping software In fairness, those maps are likely used to ensure the bombs go where they should.
- AnimalMuppet 8y ago
  Better that they go where they should, than that they go where they shouldn't. The more accurate the mapping, the smaller the bomb can be, and the less collateral damage (presuming that the targeting information is correct).
  - 8note 8y ago
    that assumes the bomber isn't intending to maximize collateral damage
  - reificator 8y ago
    > Better that they go where they should, than that they go where they shouldn't True, at least when you're not the one being bombed.
    - jfoutz 8y ago
      This is a clever point. I think, even if I am being bombed, I don’t want my neighbors to die[1]. I would care very much about why. But if the hammer is coming down on me, it’s better for everyone if it’s only me. [1] except maybe that one across the alley that starts loud parties at 3:00 am. If I’m going down you can too guy.
- jlarocco 8y ago
  To be more fair, better maps means better targeting and less collateral damage. And the software can also used for logistics, base planning, humanitarian missions, rescue missions, etc.
austincheney 8y ago
> Obviously the OP's social circle will know better than that because they know him (or her) and what they actually work on. If that were true then the OP would not have to explain himself/herself in any way that made him/her feel embarrassed in the first place.

throwaaaway1231 8y ago

I spent two years of my life working on a technology I really hope is never used. I think it's very hard to think about making a technology you know is to killing someone. But at the same time, you know it is necessary. You really wish the world you live in would mean there's no reason to. But that isn't the world you live in.

austincheney 8y ago
> I think it's very hard to think about making a technology you know is to killing someone. That does not appear to be related to this conversation. The OP does not have those worries and instead feels embarrassed when he/she must explain such.
wereanempirenow 8y ago
wlupld3ptjvsgwqw.onion/wlupload.en.html i would recommend that you write down your experiences and knowledge about whatever Doomsday Black Project you worked on for the Pentagon, and submit it to Wikileaks. the only way This War Machine Stops is by shining sunlight on it.

chucksmash 8y ago

This is such a non sequitur that I looked through the parent poster's comment history to see if he'd made some other post down thread that you were replying to. Do you mean "people who work in military research", "people who work at military contractors" or was there something else I didn't pick up on? Edit: Am not a military researcher, military contractor, etc.

austincheney 8y ago
I don't understand your comment. What people are you speaking about?
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- chucksmash 8y ago
  His social circle. Apologies if I missed something, but I don't understand where that comes into the equation.
  - austincheney 8y ago
    I cannot speak to the OPs social circle. To me it sounds pretty uninformed to think anybody working with the military is building bombs. The DOD (the US military) has about 2.8 million employees and there are about another 2 million people who work as defense contractors. I find it strange to think all those people could constantly be working on bombs. By comparison the largest US commercial employer is WalMart with 1.5 million US employees. Imagine (for the sake of numbers) every WalMart employee and two of their kids constantly making bombs.