karma coding chameleon

[TheExcession]

so, if you get offered an extremely lucrative contract to develop software for a USA defense company, but you know at the end of the day, your code is going to kill people....

what to do?

[rich-uk]

Are you making the bit the does the killing or the bit that get's the killing bit there??

At least you can program in a fouth directive: 'Don't kill British soldiers', even when aimed at them...

If it's making bullet cases, then yes, if it's making nerve agent, then probably not...

[atom290]

I went for an interview with Marconi Defence systems. Right in the middle of the interview I was asked if I minded working on systems that killed people, what do you say? Yes kind of rules you out of the job.

It didnt bother me too much I have to say

[dern]

TheExcession said:

so, if you get offered an extremely lucrative contract to develop software for a USA defense company, but you know at the end of the day, your code is going to kill people.... what to do?

Personally I wouldn't write software that killed people just to get paid but it's your call based on your moral stance and your financial situation.

Mark

[sybaseian]

atom290 said:

I went for an interview with Marconi Defence systems. Right in the middle of the interview I was asked if I minded working on systems that killed people, what do you say?

Is this a new post or am I replacing a dead person?
What is my life expectancy?

[TheExcession]

sybaseian said:

atom290 said: I went for an interview with Marconi Defence systems. Right in the middle of the interview I was asked if I minded working on systems that killed people, what do you say? Is this a new post or am I replacing a dead person? What is my life expectancy?

lol

[TheExcession]

hmm, I knew it would be this way - it is unfortunately a yes no decision and morality is the issue. Very tricky.

ok - supposed that one were able to work on projects that were'nt necessarily on the killing edge but were still in support of a company that makes its money in this game - does that make a difference?

I get the feeling that in 5 years time the Company I work for at the moment is probably not going to be around and now here's an opportunity to make some contacts in other fields.

For a complete pacifist like myself, this moral question is the hardest of them all.

Looks like there's alot of soul searching to do, not easy at the best of times.

[Plotloss]

Was offered a contract with a chemical firm some time ago.

Had a look at what chemicals they made.

Agent Orange, DDT, Napalm amongst others.

Swerved that.

But because the money was too low

[Podie]

Plotloss said:

Was offered a contract with a chemical firm some time ago. Had a look at what chemicals they made. Agent Orange, DDT, Napalm amongst others. Swerved that. But because the money was too low