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It's not that the activism has spread, it's that the activism has become externally imposed on developers based on the politics of agitators, as opposed to inte
by Goladus 7y ago
It's not that the activism has spread, it's that the activism has become externally imposed on developers based on the politics of agitators, as opposed to internal industry politics and competition, and the tactics used have become much more hostile and aggressive.
Richard Stallman, for example, is extremely political. But any implied call for boycots and other sorts of direct action has always been with clear and specific reason that usually has to do with active moral violations by the company itself and not guilt by association. He clearly articulates what he considers to be moral violations on the part of companies such as Netflix and LinkedIn, and none of those violations involve merely doing business with an unpopular (among some) government agency. They almost entirely involve abuses of the provider/consumer relationship.
Meanwhile, he loudly advocates engaging in positive support of causes he cares about and rarely (if ever) advocates canceling an organization for mere association.
The change is not scope. The change is in how easy it has become to quickly organize a mob of people to lash out at a perceived enemy with the most convenient economic sanctions available.
- SolaceQuantum 7y ago” It's not that the activism has spread, it's that the activism has become externally imposed on developers based on the politics of agitators,” Are these developers external?
- Goladus 7y agoThe politics are external. The US-Mexico border situation is a controversial, hot-button political issue that has nothing to do with software except insofar as software is a generic essential element of operations at any businesses and government agency
- SolaceQuantum 7y agoAre the politics external when it’s coming from developers discussing things the industry is doing?
- Goladus 7y agoYes. If you still don't understand, I am sorry I do not think I will be able to explain further.
- username90 7y agoLets say that the developers were calling for Github to stop any associations with hospitals providing abortions, would you still say that it is fine for companies to join in on politics? This is an extremely slippery slope, if you want your democracy to function then you don't want this kind of activism to exist. It is warranted when the democracy is failing, but as far as I know USA is still holding fair elections at regular intervals.