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> How do you write or even read that document and believe you're acting in a moral or ethical manner? Slightly off-topic; There's a TV show about the US opioid

> How do you write or even read that document and believe you're acting in a moral or ethical manner? Slightly off-topic; There's a TV show about the US opioid epidemic called Dopesick, they depict one of the responsible corporate execs, some Sackler family member, in a really interesting way. Throughout the whole show it's really difficult to tell if he honestly believes what he's doing is something good, or if he's trying to outdo his other family members legacies. I can see a very similar situation with somebody at Amazon who's just really convinced how Alexa-powered devices will somehow improve humanity on some fundamental level. In their PoV they are doing these unethical things for an ultimately greater good, in a "the ends justify the means" way. Rarely anybody perceives themselves, or their actions, as fundamentally immoral or unethical, most of the time we are the heroes in our own narratives.

abyssin 5y ago
In the situation they’re in, the question is irrelevant. Companies that engage in such behaviour retain people with the ability to get emotionally involved at the level of the company itself. They get motivated in relation to the story that plays out inside the company. These lobbyists probably feel the same as someone taking a plane with friends to go on holiday in the context of climate change. It can (and should) be seen as an ethical issue. But there’s a dynamic in the group that is such that very little thought will be given to the ethical issue, as it would be seen as anti-group behaviour. Instead the group focuses on the activity they’re there to do: enjoying holidays. Joining a company is joining a group that found a specific game to play. Most people need to feel like they belong to a group, and most groups don’t tolerate people who question the game that’s being played.

abyssin 5y ago

In the situation they’re in, the question is irrelevant. Companies that engage in such behaviour retain people with the ability to get emotionally involved at the level of the company itself. They get motivated in relation to the story that plays out inside the company. These lobbyists probably feel the same as someone taking a plane with friends to go on holiday in the context of climate change. It can (and should) be seen as an ethical issue. But there’s a dynamic in the group that is such that very little thought will be given to the ethical issue, as it would be seen as anti-group behaviour. Instead the group focuses on the activity they’re there to do: enjoying holidays. Joining a company is joining a group that found a specific game to play. Most people need to feel like they belong to a group, and most groups don’t tolerate people who question the game that’s being played.