Much of this probably needs to go to slug-politics soon, but I'll bite:
steve szmidt wrote:
>>I see people like this and I have to admit that it pisses me off that I
>>bust my tail to work waaay over 40 hours a week for just a fraction of what
>>this guy made.
>>
>>
>
>On one side I'd admire anyone who can make a goodliving for him and his
>family. If then helps the community back even better!
>
>Of course, this guy has at least a huge flaw in his ethics level to put all
>these people at risk. For what? Just lining his pocket! THAT combo is what
>would make me help others on a sinking ship before I'd help him.
>
>
Capitalism and economics. That our global society and legal systems
allow some individuals to prey on others is a big part of the problem
here. Ethics are moral guidelines that allow you to live with yourself.
Laws are legal guidelines that allow you to live with others.
If someone finds a legal way to make money preying on others in this
manner, is it not our laws that are failing?
There is much blind faith in capitalism to somehow save us. Companies
pay their money to advertise with "unethical" folks that find loopholes
in technology to spy on folks and spam them with advertising.
Do we blame software developers like Microsoft for leaving these
loopholes open? Do we blame the cretins that take advantage of these
holes ? Do we blame the advertisers? Do we blame the legal system for
not making laws to protect citizens? Do we blame law enforcement for
their inability to enforce them?
I couldn't live with myself if I were exploiting holes in software to
spy on others. It's against my personal code of ethics. But I do
understand how this guy made his money. As it doesn't affect me (I don't
run a platform susceptible to such exploits), and I'm not in law
enforcement, it really isn't my place to go all vigilante on him and
DDoS his site. Society is about "getting along" with others.
My "feelings" are that it is wrong, and I would want society to outlaw
such blatant abuse, I can only have my opinion and my ability to voice
my "feelings". Because, in the end, there are many facts and many sides
to every story. Facts and "feelings" are two entirely different things.
>>That's not to mention all of the other stories of porn website owners,
>>spammers and the like who make MILLIONS upon MILLIONS... Dammit, why? Why
>>do people who use their IT skills for evil make so much freakin' money?
>>
>>
Humans are animals. Humans eat. Humans sleep. Humans procreate. Our
brains have evolved to respond to erotic stimuli. Why deny this?
I continue to fail to see what is so "immoral" with pornography when
enjoyed by consenting adults. But that's me.
>>The only time they get busted is when they really cross the line and do
>>something idiotic. But, otherwise they're always skirting the edge of
>>legality making millions of dollars.
>>
>>I'm not saying that it's not 100% morally wrong to be a pr0n king or a
>>low-life spammer, but I just wish it didn't pay so dang much.
>>
>>
>
>Haha, yep. In Hollywood I once had a customer who had no problems in paying my
>boss $650/hr for me to go out there and fix some network issues.
>
>
That's quite a bill rate. Depends on supply and demand, right?
>As I'm sitting there waiting for the computer I'm looking around. I'm in a
>room filled with rack mounted VCR's. Very fancy offices. Looking down next to
>me was a big bundle of copies of a magazine. Looking closer revealed they had
>pictures of men making out. <shudder!>
>
>When I was done I saw the owner there and told him that we would not be able
>to continue servicing them. He smiled and said yeah he was used to it and
>understood.
>
>
Hey, my brain isn't wired that way, but I understand other people's
brains are. Understanding that, I really don't see a problem.
If I were at a customer's location, and I felt uncomfortable with the
environment, I would probably relate as much back to them. Any "level of
comfort" does have a certain cost involved that any business will have
bear depending on the society they work under. In this case, it sounds
like this adult magazine maker had to pay $650 to get someone qualified
to do a site visit based on the work and environment the worker would be
exposed to.
You have the right to say "no thanks, I don't think my ethics will allow
me to return".
It's probably safe to say that I probably wouldn't have had the same
reaction you did. Work is work. Porn isn't an evil thing to me. Then
again, I like to consider myself open-minded.
Also, I wouldn't mind that $650/hr billrate. ;)
>My boss said nothing when I told him (I ran the tech division) what happend.
>I'm sure he knew though. Which is probably why the high rate. (I'd like to
>pretend that was a normal rate for work I did, but that would be a short
>lived happiness. : )
>
>
And in the end, that's what humans generally strive for in life, happiness.
>>Oh well, back to work for me... </rant>
>>
>>
>Oh, end of rant time...
>
>
Indeed. If you have a followup to this, I suggest slug-politics.
- Ian C. Blenke <icblenke@nks.net> <ian@blenke.com> http://ian.blenke.com/
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