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I spent my whole week writing code to circumvent browser level privacy guards, to gather more data to sell more targeted ads. Most of us make similar ethical tr

I spent my whole week writing code to circumvent browser level privacy guards, to gather more data to sell more targeted ads. Most of us make similar ethical transgressions regularly. Ultimately we're all just slaves to the machine as long as it pays for our lifestyles.

ForHackernews 6y ago
I don't mean this as a personal attack on you, but for everyone who is similarly compromising your morals in return for a cushy lifestyle: please stop. You're not a "slave". You're extremely well paid with in-demand skills, and you could do something else with them. If you keep doing this, you're no better than the tobacco merchants.
- iujjkfjdkkdkf 6y ago
  I think I agree with your sentiment, but should the GP be worse off for being honest/pessimistic/seeing things clearly? I'm sure there are lots of people doing what the GP describes that don't feel they are doing anything immoral. Are they in the clear? If you're actually participating in fraud it's one thing, but doing something legal but morally dubious like working around browser privacy comes down much more to individual perspective. This potentially is another argument for laws / regulation.
  - freewilly1040 6y ago
    What’s seen clearly? The comment asserts a lack of morals and takes comfort in an imagined crowd with him. The GP does imply he thinks what he does is immoral. It’s on him.
- d110af5ccf 6y ago
  Why should you intentionally disadvantage yourself when someone else will just step in to fill your place? This view doesn't seem any different than expecting a corporation to voluntarily forego a profitable segment of the market. Regulation is required in such cases. It's unrealistic to expect otherwise. > no better than the tobacco merchants Prior to a certain time, tobacco producers honestly had no idea how harmful their product was. Once they found out, they actively tried to hide that fact from everyone. I don't much like adtech, but unlike tobacco it doesn't cause direct physical harm to the individual. They're also pretty up front about the fact that they try to track you.
underwater 6y ago
In the city I live in there are a lot of jobs in tech for gambling companies. I swore I'd never work for one of those companies, and know others who've done the same. I often feel guilty for not being as altuistic as I'd like, but at least I know I'm not using my skills to do something that a net negative for humanity.

ForHackernews 6y ago

I don't mean this as a personal attack on you, but for everyone who is similarly compromising your morals in return for a cushy lifestyle: please stop. You're not a "slave". You're extremely well paid with in-demand skills, and you could do something else with them. If you keep doing this, you're no better than the tobacco merchants.

iujjkfjdkkdkf 6y ago
I think I agree with your sentiment, but should the GP be worse off for being honest/pessimistic/seeing things clearly? I'm sure there are lots of people doing what the GP describes that don't feel they are doing anything immoral. Are they in the clear? If you're actually participating in fraud it's one thing, but doing something legal but morally dubious like working around browser privacy comes down much more to individual perspective. This potentially is another argument for laws / regulation.
- freewilly1040 6y ago
  What’s seen clearly? The comment asserts a lack of morals and takes comfort in an imagined crowd with him. The GP does imply he thinks what he does is immoral. It’s on him.
d110af5ccf 6y ago
Why should you intentionally disadvantage yourself when someone else will just step in to fill your place? This view doesn't seem any different than expecting a corporation to voluntarily forego a profitable segment of the market. Regulation is required in such cases. It's unrealistic to expect otherwise. > no better than the tobacco merchants Prior to a certain time, tobacco producers honestly had no idea how harmful their product was. Once they found out, they actively tried to hide that fact from everyone. I don't much like adtech, but unlike tobacco it doesn't cause direct physical harm to the individual. They're also pretty up front about the fact that they try to track you.

underwater 6y ago

In the city I live in there are a lot of jobs in tech for gambling companies. I swore I'd never work for one of those companies, and know others who've done the same. I often feel guilty for not being as altuistic as I'd like, but at least I know I'm not using my skills to do something that a net negative for humanity.