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Are we writing off most of FAANG then? Maybe just reduce it down to "AN", assuming we aren't yet too annoyed with Apple and Netflix? Amazon and Google as well

Are we writing off most of FAANG then? Maybe just reduce it down to "AN", assuming we aren't yet too annoyed with Apple and Netflix? Amazon and Google as well are both certainly full of dark patterns and badness. I'm certain that they have both tried to crush their competition as well. Can we assume that anyone who has worked at any of those companies has at best dubious morals, or are they instead small players in a big machine?

hnaccount141 5y ago
> Can we assume that anyone who has worked at any of those companies has at best dubious morals, or are they instead small players in a big machine? Why not both? They certainly are small players in a big machine, but the reality is that any engineer capable of getting a job in FAANG has plenty of other options that are less morally dubious. If they chose FAANG in spite of this they either don't believe it's immoral or are willing to look the other way for money/prestige. I certainly wouldn't advocate for writing people off entirely based on their work history (after all, it could be that they went in not realizing the extent of the harm and that's why they're leaving), but I do think it's a factor worth considering.
notreallyserio 5y ago
I would be very hesitant to hire anyone with Google on their resume for the same reason. Maybe they're good, but maybe they're one of those engineers willing to trade in ethics for bucks. (I'm thinking specifically of those engineers that write the code used to terminate accounts without sufficient recourse).
- SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
  > I'm thinking specifically of those engineers that write the code used to terminate accounts without sufficient recourse Do people typically put that specific information on their resume? Alphabet employs over a hundred thousand people, 99% of them won't have looked at that at all. I personally don't work at a FAANG but I'd take the chance if I got it - the bucks are so monstrous compared to my current compensation it would be borderline unethical to not accept a position when I know how much it could help my family.
  - notreallyserio 5y ago
    They might put that they worked on, say, Google Play, which would certainly raise concerns. I'd need to figure out what they worked on before making any sort of offer. If they didn't say what products they worked on, the resume would go right in the bin (of course).

hnaccount141 5y ago

> Can we assume that anyone who has worked at any of those companies has at best dubious morals, or are they instead small players in a big machine? Why not both? They certainly are small players in a big machine, but the reality is that any engineer capable of getting a job in FAANG has plenty of other options that are less morally dubious. If they chose FAANG in spite of this they either don't believe it's immoral or are willing to look the other way for money/prestige. I certainly wouldn't advocate for writing people off entirely based on their work history (after all, it could be that they went in not realizing the extent of the harm and that's why they're leaving), but I do think it's a factor worth considering.

notreallyserio 5y ago

I would be very hesitant to hire anyone with Google on their resume for the same reason. Maybe they're good, but maybe they're one of those engineers willing to trade in ethics for bucks. (I'm thinking specifically of those engineers that write the code used to terminate accounts without sufficient recourse).

SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
> I'm thinking specifically of those engineers that write the code used to terminate accounts without sufficient recourse Do people typically put that specific information on their resume? Alphabet employs over a hundred thousand people, 99% of them won't have looked at that at all. I personally don't work at a FAANG but I'd take the chance if I got it - the bucks are so monstrous compared to my current compensation it would be borderline unethical to not accept a position when I know how much it could help my family.
- notreallyserio 5y ago
  They might put that they worked on, say, Google Play, which would certainly raise concerns. I'd need to figure out what they worked on before making any sort of offer. If they didn't say what products they worked on, the resume would go right in the bin (of course).