2 ms·

I've used Slack across three jobs/companies. Two paid, one did not (and switched to teams). So slack is mostly great for chatting. For audio/video calls it's s

by znpy 2y ago

I've used Slack across three jobs/companies. Two paid, one did not (and switched to teams). So slack is mostly great for chatting. For audio/video calls it's sub-par (and somehow it messes up with microphone input levels on my work macbook). But the most important thing: somehow both the two slack-paying jobs had automatic, age-based message deletion. Not sure why

delichon 2y ago
Deleted messages are harder to subpoena.
michaelt 2y ago
> somehow both the two slack-paying jobs had automatic, age-based message deletion. Not sure why Excessive record-keeping makes it hard to perform cover-ups, and can lead to regulators having evidence of your crimes - that's the last thing a big corporation wants. Consider, for example, the case of Boeing where there are a bunch of instant messages from test pilots revealing they knew about the lethal problems with the 737 MAX's MCAS system. Test pilots telling engineers "it’s running rampant in the sim on me" and in other messages saying "so I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)" - very embarrassing stuff. From Boeing's perspective, it would be very nice if those messages had been automatically deleted a few weeks after they were sent. Or let's say people removed some bolts from a door, forgot to refit them, and didn't track it through the official system because they wanted to get defect numbers down, then the door fell out mid-flight. Except someone took timestamped photos showing the door with the bolts missing, so the regulators could figure out what was going on. If Boeing had a process in place to erase those unsanctioned extra records, they could have just shrugged and said there was no evidence the bolts were missing. Many corporations like time-based message deletion, because although it reduces employee productivity, that's an acceptable trade-off to facilitate cover-ups.
- znpy 2y ago
  > Excessive record-keeping makes it hard to perform cover-ups, and can lead to regulators having evidence of your crimes - that's the last thing a big corporation wants. You are right, I wanted to subtly imply that. I forgot to mention that both jobs were in fields with stringent or very stringent legislation. So... I guess I'm going to assume/hope that was preventive ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

by znpy 2y ago

delichon 2y ago

Deleted messages are harder to subpoena.

michaelt 2y ago

> somehow both the two slack-paying jobs had automatic, age-based message deletion. Not sure why Excessive record-keeping makes it hard to perform cover-ups, and can lead to regulators having evidence of your crimes - that's the last thing a big corporation wants. Consider, for example, the case of Boeing where there are a bunch of instant messages from test pilots revealing they knew about the lethal problems with the 737 MAX's MCAS system. Test pilots telling engineers "it’s running rampant in the sim on me" and in other messages saying "so I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)" - very embarrassing stuff. From Boeing's perspective, it would be very nice if those messages had been automatically deleted a few weeks after they were sent. Or let's say people removed some bolts from a door, forgot to refit them, and didn't track it through the official system because they wanted to get defect numbers down, then the door fell out mid-flight. Except someone took timestamped photos showing the door with the bolts missing, so the regulators could figure out what was going on. If Boeing had a process in place to erase those unsanctioned extra records, they could have just shrugged and said there was no evidence the bolts were missing. Many corporations like time-based message deletion, because although it reduces employee productivity, that's an acceptable trade-off to facilitate cover-ups.

znpy 2y ago
> Excessive record-keeping makes it hard to perform cover-ups, and can lead to regulators having evidence of your crimes - that's the last thing a big corporation wants. You are right, I wanted to subtly imply that. I forgot to mention that both jobs were in fields with stringent or very stringent legislation. So... I guess I'm going to assume/hope that was preventive ¯\_(ツ)_/¯