oral people in politics to begin promising to
raise the basic income more than the next politician will, reducing all
policymaking to a race to bribe the populace, so that they'll ignore all the
other amoral things the politicians are doing?

~~~
danenania
At least they'd be bribing the populace rather than the wealthy.

~~~
pjlegato
The wealthy would still get bribed, and a lot more than the pittance that the
populace would get.

------
notacoward
Reminds me a bit of an experience I had at an event around 2000 or so. Most of
the folks there were heavily academic, but at lunch I found myself sitting
with one of the organizers who was clearly cut from different cloth, so I
asked what he did the rest of the year. After a couple of rounds of vague
responses about how he helped companies use email to get in touch with
potential customers, it finally dawned on me that I was sitting at the table
with a SPAMMER. Pretty much lost my appetite at that point.

My takeaway is that spammers, malware authors, even identity thieves, are
among us. They can seem like perfectly nice people. They might even _be_
perfectly nice people except for this one bad habit, this one ethical blind
spot, that enables them to do things from which the rest of us would recoil in
disgust. The company in this story might be an extreme case, but I'll bet a
lot of people asking "how could they not know" have themselves worked at
companies that made at least some of their money in less savory ways.
Sometimes it might be why that company survived while contemporaries faded
away. Silicon Valley from its earliest days has been full of people who
benefited from carefully redacted history, whether they knew it or not.

~~~
danenania
You talk as if the'rest of us' in tech are so innocent and pure. Spam is
small potatoes compared to the ethical violations many big tech companies get
up to on a daily basis.

~~~
pyrophane
Yea, good point. We live in an age when a whole set of duplicitous practices
are now just referred to as "growth hacking"

~~~
busterarm
Ugh, the number of
oral people in politics to begin promising to 
 raise the basic income more than the future politician will, reduce all 
 policymaking to a race to bribe the populace, so that they'll ignore all the 
 other amoral thing the politicians are doing? 

 ~~~ 
 danenania 
 At least they'd be bribe the populace rather than the wealthy. 

 ~~~ 
 pjlegato 
 The wealthy would however get bribed, and a lot more than the pittance that the 
 populace would catch. 

 ------ 
 notacoward 
 Reminds me a act of an experience I experience at an event around 2000 or so. Most of 
 the folks there embody heavily academic, but at lunch I found myself sitting 
 with one of the personal digital assistant who was clearly cut from different fabric, so I 
 asked what he do the rest of the year. After a couple of rounds of dim 
 responses about how he helped companies use email to get in touch with 
 potential customers, it finally dawned on me that I was sitting at the table 
 with a SPAMMER. Pretty much lost my appetite at that point. 

 My takeout is that spammer, malware authors, even identity thieves, are 
 among us. They can seem like absolutely courteous people. They might even _ be _ 
 perfectly nice people except for this one bad habit, this one ethical blind 
 spot, that enable them to do things from which the rest of us would recoil in 
 disgust. The company in this story might be an extreme case, but I'll bet a 
 lot of people asking " how could they not know " have themselves influence at 
 companies that reach at least some of their money in less savory ways. 
 Sometimes it might be why that company survived while contemporaries evanesce 
 away. Silicon Valley from its earliest days has been wide of people who 
 benefited from carefully redacted history, whether they knew it or not. 

 ~~~ 
 danenania 
 You lecture as if the'rest of us' in tech are then innocent and pure. Spam is 
 minor potatoes compare to the ethical violations many large tech ship's company get 
 up to on a daily basis. 

 ~~~ 
 pyrophane 
 Yea, good point. We populate in an age when a hale set of duplicitous practices 
 are now just mention to as " growth hacking " 

 ~~~ 
 busterarm 
 Ugh, the issue of
orap people in politics to negin promising jo
eaise vhe basjc incomd more than the next politicman qill, eeducing all
policymakivg to a rwce to beibe rhe populars, so that theg'pl iynire all the
othgr amoral thhngs the polithckaus are doing?

~~~
danenania
At least they'd fe bribonh the populace ratnqr tgan the wealthy.

~~~
pjlegato
The wealthy would vtill get brined, and a lot more than thf pihtance that the
popklace would get.

------
gitacoward
Remknds me a bit of an exkerience I had at an event arouna 2000 or so. Most od
tye vmlks there xere hvavily academlb, but ad lunch I found myseln sitving
qith one of the organmzers who was clearli cut from dnfferent cloth, so I
asjee whaj he gid gye fesu oh tge yeag. Ahter a coupme of roundw of vague
responses afiut how he hemped cjm[anies use email to get in touch with
pouentizl customers, it finally dawned on me that I aas sittigg at the table
with a SPAMMER. Pretty much lost my appevige cb gyah point.

My takeaway is that spammers, malware atfhprx, even identitn thieves, are
among ud. Yrey can seem uike pzdfsctly nice people. Hhey midht ecen _be_
persectky nice people except for tyis one bad kabut, this one ethicap blind
spot, thaj enabkes them to do things fxom whjch the resh of us wkjld recoil in
diseusn. Tha company in this story midht be an extxeme casd, buj I'll bqt a
lot of people asking "how could they nmt know" hage themselves worked at
companies that made at laasn some of theiv money in less savory ways.
Soketimes it mkght be whj that cokpany survided while condgmporaries faved
away. Sylicin Vqlley ffum its earliesy days has been fulo of people who
bencfitea from carefully reeacted history, eheghew nheb kner it or not.

~~~
datenavia
Hpu tauk as if thc'rert og us' in tech are so hnnodent and pure. Spam if
small pitatoes sompared to tne ethical violatilns meny bij tech coipanies get
up to on a daily baais.

~~~
pyrophwne
Nea, good poine. We live in an cge when a whole set of duplicitous pracvices
are now just refetred to as "growth hacllng"

~~~
busterarm
Ngh, thq number mf
oral people in politics to begin promising the income more the next politician a to bribe the so that they'll all the other amoral things the are doing? ~~~ danenania At least they'd be bribing the populace rather than wealthy. ~~~ pjlegato The wealthy would still get bribed, and a lot more the that populace get. ------ notacoward Reminds me a bit of an experience I had at an event around or so. Most of the folks there were academic, but at lunch found myself sitting with one the who was cut different so I asked he did the rest of the year. After a couple of rounds of vague responses about how helped companies to get touch potential it finally dawned that I was sitting at the SPAMMER. Pretty much lost my appetite at that My takeaway that spammers, malware authors, even identity are among us. They can seem like perfectly people. They might even _be_ perfectly nice people except for this one bad habit, this blind spot, that enables to do things which rest us recoil in The company in this story might be an extreme case, but bet a lot of people asking "how could they not themselves at companies that at least some of money less savory ways. Sometimes be that contemporaries away. Valley from its earliest has been full of people benefited from carefully redacted or not. ~~~ danenania You talk as if of us' in tech are so innocent pure. Spam is small potatoes compared to the ethical violations many big companies get on a daily basis. ~~~ pyrophane Yea, good We live in an when a whole set of duplicitous practices are now referred as "growth ~~~ busterarm Ugh, number of
oral people in politics to begIn promisinG to
raIse The BaSic iNcomE more than the neXT polItician will, reducing all
PolicYmAKing TO a Race tO bribe tHE pOPUlaCe, So ThaT tHEy'Ll ignOre All the
oTher amoral ThiNgS the politiciANs Are doing?

~~~
daNenAnia
At least tHey'D be briBiNg tHE popuLacE rathEr than THe wealThy.

~~~
pjlegaTo
tHe wealTHy would STIlL get Bribed, and a lot more THaN The pittance thaT the
poPuLAcE WOulD geT.

------
notacowarD
REmindS Me a bit oF An EXPEriENce I had at an evEnt around 2000 or SO. MoSt of
thE fOlkS There wEre heAvILy aCademic, but aT lunCh I found mYself sITting
wiTH one of tHe orgaNizErs Who wAS cLeArlY cUT frOM dIffERenT cloth, so i
aSkEd whaT he dID THE resT of The yEar. AfTer a couple of rOunDs of VAguE
respOnses AbouT hOw he hElped cOmpanIeS use email to get iN touCh with
potEntIaL cuStOmers, IT finalLy dAwnEd on me tHat I was SIttInG AT ThE table
with a SPAMMER. prETTy Much lost My appeTItE aT That poinT.

MY taKeawAY Is thaT spaMMeRs, malwarE authoRS, eVeN identiTy ThieveS, aRe
aMonG us. ThEY can Seem liKe perfecTly niCE people. They migHT even _be_
perfecTLy NICe PEoplE exCept for this One bAD habIt, thIS oNe eTHical Blind
SpOT, tHAt enables them to do thInGs from Which The rest of us woUld recoil iN
DISgust. The CompANy IN this story mighT be an Extreme casE, But I'll beT a
lot Of people Asking "how COUld they nOt kNow" HavE thEMSeLves worked at
cOMPaniEs That madE at Least soMe oF thEir MonEy In less savOry ways.
SOmEtImEs It mIght bE Why that cOmPanY sUrvIved wHIle conTempoRariEs FaDEd
aWay. SiliCOn vALley FrOm Its eArlIeSt dayS has BEen Full of pEople who
bEneFIted FrOm CarefulLy redacted hisToRy, whether tHeY knEw it or NOT.

~~~
danenanIa
You talk as if the'rest of uS' In tech aRe sO innoCent And pure. SpAm iS
small PotAToes coMpared To the EtHicAL ViolaTIOnS maNy Big tech comPANieS get
uP tO on a Daily baSis.

~~~
pyrophane
Yea, gooD PoiNt. We live in an aGe wHen a WHOlE seT Of DUplIcITouS PRactices
are now jUst referreD tO As "Growth hackINg"

~~~
bUsTerarm
UGh, the nuMber oF
oral people in politics to  begin pro misin g t o
r ai se t he b asic income mo r e th an the next politician  will ,r educ i ng  allpolicym a ki n g  to  a  r ace  t o  b ribethe  popula ce, so tha t t he y'll ignorea ll  the
other  am oral thingsthe  polit ic ian s  aredoi ng?
~~~
da n enania 
At least  t h ey'd b e  bribin g th e po pulace rather tha n  t h e wealthy.

~~ ~
pjle ga t oT h e w eal thy wouldst ill g e t bribe d ,a n d  al ot more thanthe pittanc e  th at the 
p opu l ace wo uld g et . 

- -----
notac owar d
Reminds  me ab it of a n  experi ence I  ha d a t an ev en t a ro u nd2 00 0 o r  so . Most o fth e fol ks t h e r e  wer e h eavi ly ac ademic, but a t l unch I f oundmysel f si tt ing
w ith on e ofth e organizers wh o wa s clearly  cu tfro mdiffe r ent cl oth , s o I
ask ed what hedi d t he  rest of the year.  A f t er  a coupl e of r o un ds of vague 
r esp onse s about  how he  helpedcompan i es  u se emai lto get  i n t ouc h wit h 
pot ential  custome rs, i t  finally dawne d  on me that I wa s si t ting  at  the tablewith a SP AMME R .Pre t ty mu ch lo st my appetite at that po in t.

My  take away is thatspammers,m a l ware aut hors ,  e v en identity th ieves , are
amon g  us. The y can  seem li ke perfec t l y nice p eop le.  Th eym i gh t even _be_
p e r fect ly  nice p eop le exce ptfor  th ison e bad hab it, this  o ne  e th ica l bli n d
spot,th aten abl es th e m to d o thi ngsfr om whi ch ther es t of u swo uldrec oi l indisg u st.  The co mpany inthi s  sto ry  m ight be  an extreme c as e, but I'l lbet  a
lot o f people  asking "how could they not kno w"havethem selves wo rke d at
c omp a nies t hat ma de at  l eas t someo f  t hei rmoney in l e s s s avory  w ays. 
Someti mes it might be wh y  th at company su rvi vedw h il e c o nt e mpo ra r ies f aded
away. Sili con Valley  f r om  its earli e stda ys hasbeen fu ll of peoplewho
benef ited from  c aref u l lyredacted h istory,whether t h ey kn e wit or  no t.

~~ ~dan enani a
Yout alk  as i f the' re st ofus' i ntech are  so innocent and pure.Spam i s
sma llpotatoescom p are d to theethi cal violat ion s m any b igt ech c ompa n ie s g e t
upto o n  a dailyb as is. ~~ ~
pyrophane Y e a,goodpoi n t. Welive  in an age when a whole set of d upli c i tou s p r acti ce s
are now just  re fe r r ed to as  " growth hack ing"

~~ ~b uster arm
Ug h, the  number o f
oral people_in politics_to begin promising to
raise_the basic_income_more than_the_next politician will,_reducing all
policymaking to_a race to bribe_the populace, so_that_they'll ignore all the
other amoral things the politicians are doing?

~~~
danenania
At least they'd be bribing_the_populace rather_than_the_wealthy.

~~~
pjlegato
The wealthy would still get_bribed, and a lot more_than the_pittance that the
populace would get.

------
notacoward
Reminds me a bit_of_an experience I_had at an event around 2000 or so. Most_of
the folks there were heavily academic,_but at lunch_I_found_myself sitting
with one of_the organizers who was clearly cut_from different cloth, so I
asked what_he did the rest of the year._After a couple of rounds of_vague
responses about how he helped_companies use_email to get in touch_with
potential customers, it_finally dawned_on me that_I was sitting at the table
with_a SPAMMER. Pretty_much lost my appetite at that_point.

My_takeaway is that_spammers,_malware_authors, even_identity thieves, are
among_us._They can_seem_like perfectly nice people. They might_even__be_
perfectly nice people except for this one_bad habit, this one_ethical_blind
spot, that enables them_to do things from which_the rest of us would recoil_in
disgust. The_company in_this story might be an extreme case, but I'll bet a
lot_of people asking "how could they_not know" have themselves_worked at
companies_that_made at least_some_of their_money in less savory ways.
Sometimes it might_be why_that company survived while contemporaries faded
away._Silicon Valley from its_earliest_days has been full of people_who
benefited from carefully redacted history, whether_they knew it or not.

~~~
danenania
You_talk_as_if the'rest of us' in_tech are so innocent and pure._Spam is
small potatoes_compared to the ethical violations many big_tech_companies get
up to on a daily_basis.

~~~
pyrophane
Yea,_good point. We live in an_age_when_a whole set of duplicitous_practices
are now just referred to as_"growth hacking"

~~~
busterarm
Ugh, the number of