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This is the first thing that crossed my mind. Ten years ago we could have had a conversation. AT&T and NSA decided we shouldn't. What exactly is it to talk abou

by weland 13y ago

This is the first thing that crossed my mind. Ten years ago we could have had a conversation. AT&T and NSA decided we shouldn't. What exactly is it to talk about now? Also, no matter how much we dislike such arguments, there's no such thing as "many of us at AT&T were disturbed by what we've been hearing about the NSA". The people who work for AT&T are AT&T. They all share the burden of what AT&T did. This isn't some insensitive, extremist whining. I know, from personal experience, how hard it is to reflect on the ethics of the bigger picture you fit in. I'm not insinuating we should now start lynching AT&T employees, since we can't get at the bigger fish. However, a lot of employees who are disgruntled at the social and ethical behaviour of their company actually have an option to leave; this would be a correct approach, not complaining about not being able to talk to bystanders. "Collective" responsibility is, by no means, absolving of personal responsibility. Even AT&T imply it on their careers page: > At AT&T, we’re connecting the world like never before. Ready to get in on the action? Together we’ll do great things.

insensible 13y ago
An AT&T staffer giving me a data center tour circa 2006 told me only one of the VPs knew who the client was for one of the areas in the room. What is a staffer going to do to influence that kind of situation?
- wpietri 13y ago
  Say that they should know who they're doing business with? Ask why they're hiding something important from their colleagues? Switch jobs to a company that actually trusts their employees?
- weland 13y ago
  Switch jobs. AT&T wouldn't be a top partner for the NSA without competent people. This isn't an option for a lot of people; the folks doing tech support or working in the shops and barely get along on minimum wage don't have that option. The decision makers and tech leads do. I'm not talking out of my ass. I have resigned from a very well-paid position because of ethical reasons, and there was far, far less at stake than general privacy matters.
e12e 13y ago
> > At AT&T, we’re connecting the world like never before. Ready to get in on the action? Together we’ll do great things. Oh, man - there's a t-shirt for you. Just add the AT&T and NSA logo...
deleted 13y ago
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by weland 13y ago

insensible 13y ago

An AT&T staffer giving me a data center tour circa 2006 told me only one of the VPs knew who the client was for one of the areas in the room. What is a staffer going to do to influence that kind of situation?

wpietri 13y ago
Say that they should know who they're doing business with? Ask why they're hiding something important from their colleagues? Switch jobs to a company that actually trusts their employees?
weland 13y ago
Switch jobs. AT&T wouldn't be a top partner for the NSA without competent people. This isn't an option for a lot of people; the folks doing tech support or working in the shops and barely get along on minimum wage don't have that option. The decision makers and tech leads do. I'm not talking out of my ass. I have resigned from a very well-paid position because of ethical reasons, and there was far, far less at stake than general privacy matters.

e12e 13y ago

> > At AT&T, we’re connecting the world like never before. Ready to get in on the action? Together we’ll do great things. Oh, man - there's a t-shirt for you. Just add the AT&T and NSA logo...

deleted 13y ago

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