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The part that gets me, someone wrote this code. Someone was asked to disable a safety device if someone didn't pay, and some software engineer agreed, and then

The part that gets me, someone wrote this code. Someone was asked to disable a safety device if someone didn't pay, and some software engineer agreed, and then actually wrote that line of code. How could someone willingly agree to that? if (user.last_pmt_date < today - 30daysago) { disable_life_saving_equipment(); }

yrgulation 5y ago
Mortgage, bonus, performance reviews and others that make us do things we wish we hadn't. A sad state of affairs.
- grayhatter 5y ago
  How does someone get to a point where they're willing to hurt someone over money? I understand desperation, life or death. Which I don't believe this is. The simple reason is, indifference. Which I can't wrap my head around. How do you have the ability and knowledge to write software that does this... and still do this?
  - toyg 5y ago
    Ah but you’re not hurting them, you’re “just” turning the other way as they get hurt. You can then justify your behavior with some “personal responsibility” mantra (they should have paid their debts! They should have paid upfront! They should have tried harder to be rich!).
rutierut 5y ago
it sounds more like: // start up device if (user.last_pmt_date < today - 30daysago) return "please pay us" but yhea
function_seven 5y ago
I would refactor that line of code to ease my conscience: if (user.subscription.is_current()) { add_value(); } Of course, add_value() then enables the technology. And I'm not "disabling" anything, merely adding value when appropriate!
- CamperBob2 5y ago
  Now that's the kind of thinking that gets you a lucrative job offer from Boeing.
- coward76 5y ago
``` else{ purchase_term_life_policy() enable_brakes_cost_saving_when_downhill_feature(); enable_short_current_stock_and_post_to_aggragater(); } ```
- fomine3 5y ago
  I prefer dangerouslySetKillSwitch
bhhaskin 5y ago
Because this is click bait designed to create outrage. There are two options for buying this product. One is outright. Another is basically lease to own. Quite a different narrative. Why on earth would you expect something that you failed to pay for to keep working?
- t-writescode 5y ago
  Why would you buy a jacket or write software for a jacket that could be disabled and NOT think that's what you're doing when you do this?
- nulbyte 5y ago
  As far as I can tell, there is one option for buying the vest: pay $399.99. There are two options for some 'algorithm' service, which seems to me a lazy way to make a product like this. Where is this algorithm service located? If it's not in the jacket, that doesn't sound reliable. If it is, then what am I paying for when you already sold me the device?
- grayhatter 5y ago
  Look we found the guy who's willing to let someone die to maybe make 400USD. Because I'd expect a company to be willing to write off <400 USD to prevent someone from dying. If I get antibiotics to you know, not die. Where I agree to pay it off after some time. And for [reason] can't/dont. I wouldn't expect the physician to reinfect me. Would you? inb4 that's different! Ok how? Edit: is it lease to own, or is it an indefinite subscription system?
  - bhhaskin 5y ago
    Alright I'll bite. It is lease to own, not an indefinite subscription. First off the device itself is completely optional to use, and infact millions of people don't use or have this device. They operate their motorcycles every day just fine. So it isn't really a life or death situation. It isn't a pacemaker or medical device where the user dies if it is turned off. So let's not be so dramatic. Yes it might improve your chances of survival if you get into an accident. But you know what will improve your odds significantly? Not riding a motorcycle in the first place. A user would also know ahead of time if the device is active or not. It might be a different story if it suddenly stopped working with the user unaware. It is up to the user whether or not to risk using a motorcycle without the device. Let's take this same scenario and change the product in question and still see if it is so horrible. If you own a SAAS business and a client stops paying. Do you continue to provide the service? Probably not. If you are a car rental company, and a customer stops paying. Do you continue to let them use the vehicle? Again no.

yrgulation 5y ago

Mortgage, bonus, performance reviews and others that make us do things we wish we hadn't. A sad state of affairs.

grayhatter 5y ago
How does someone get to a point where they're willing to hurt someone over money? I understand desperation, life or death. Which I don't believe this is. The simple reason is, indifference. Which I can't wrap my head around. How do you have the ability and knowledge to write software that does this... and still do this?
- toyg 5y ago
  Ah but you’re not hurting them, you’re “just” turning the other way as they get hurt. You can then justify your behavior with some “personal responsibility” mantra (they should have paid their debts! They should have paid upfront! They should have tried harder to be rich!).

rutierut 5y ago

it sounds more like: // start up device if (user.last_pmt_date < today - 30daysago) return "please pay us" but yhea

function_seven 5y ago

I would refactor that line of code to ease my conscience: if (user.subscription.is_current()) { add_value(); } Of course, add_value() then enables the technology. And I'm not "disabling" anything, merely adding value when appropriate!

CamperBob2 5y ago
Now that's the kind of thinking that gets you a lucrative job offer from Boeing.
coward76 5y ago
``` else{ purchase_term_life_policy() enable_brakes_cost_saving_when_downhill_feature(); enable_short_current_stock_and_post_to_aggragater(); } ```
fomine3 5y ago
I prefer dangerouslySetKillSwitch

bhhaskin 5y ago

Because this is click bait designed to create outrage. There are two options for buying this product. One is outright. Another is basically lease to own. Quite a different narrative. Why on earth would you expect something that you failed to pay for to keep working?

t-writescode 5y ago
Why would you buy a jacket or write software for a jacket that could be disabled and NOT think that's what you're doing when you do this?
nulbyte 5y ago
As far as I can tell, there is one option for buying the vest: pay $399.99. There are two options for some 'algorithm' service, which seems to me a lazy way to make a product like this. Where is this algorithm service located? If it's not in the jacket, that doesn't sound reliable. If it is, then what am I paying for when you already sold me the device?
grayhatter 5y ago
Look we found the guy who's willing to let someone die to maybe make 400USD. Because I'd expect a company to be willing to write off <400 USD to prevent someone from dying. If I get antibiotics to you know, not die. Where I agree to pay it off after some time. And for [reason] can't/dont. I wouldn't expect the physician to reinfect me. Would you? inb4 that's different! Ok how? Edit: is it lease to own, or is it an indefinite subscription system?
- bhhaskin 5y ago
  Alright I'll bite. It is lease to own, not an indefinite subscription. First off the device itself is completely optional to use, and infact millions of people don't use or have this device. They operate their motorcycles every day just fine. So it isn't really a life or death situation. It isn't a pacemaker or medical device where the user dies if it is turned off. So let's not be so dramatic. Yes it might improve your chances of survival if you get into an accident. But you know what will improve your odds significantly? Not riding a motorcycle in the first place. A user would also know ahead of time if the device is active or not. It might be a different story if it suddenly stopped working with the user unaware. It is up to the user whether or not to risk using a motorcycle without the device. Let's take this same scenario and change the product in question and still see if it is so horrible. If you own a SAAS business and a client stops paying. Do you continue to provide the service? Probably not. If you are a car rental company, and a customer stops paying. Do you continue to let them use the vehicle? Again no.