Tech Workers Now Want to Know: What Are We Building This For?

Post by quantummkv » Mon, Oct 08, 2018, 9:54 AM UTC

swiley wrote: post #5

pleasecalllater wrote: post #3

For money, my dear, for money. Is there any other reason for a company to exist? The stuff like "do no evil" or "we are green" is just a smoke screen. At the end they will do everything for money.

I was under the impression that pre 20th century companies just existed as a legal and organizational convenience in order to help collect a number of people with similar goals rather than to solely make a profit.

Post by panic » Mon, Oct 08, 2018, 9:55 AM UTC

pleasecalllater wrote: post #3

For money, my dear, for money. Is there any other reason for a company to exist? The stuff like "do no evil" or "we are green" is just a smoke screen. At the end they will do everything for money.

Post by noir_lord » Mon, Oct 08, 2018, 9:57 AM UTC

quantummkv wrote: post #21

swiley wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was under the impression that pre 20th century companies just existed as a legal and organizational convenience in order to help collect a number of people with similar goals rather than to solely make a profit.

The East India Company (amongst many others) did heinous stuff solely to make a profit. If anything, the drive for profit is a little less now.

Post by j7ake » Mon, Oct 08, 2018, 10:00 AM UTC

tiredwired wrote: post #9

artellectual wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That has been the answer for last era. I think that’s why tech workers are starting to ask what we’re building it for. Because we’re here at this point because building “for money” is no longer good enough. Because what’s the point of having money when we’re cancer ridden and polluting our planet, and despite living in a rich planet people are starving, and the very resources that feed us are being destroyed. What’s…

Sounds like an opportunity for someone to build the tech to cure cancer and filter pollution.

Post by gms » Mon, Oct 08, 2018, 10:03 AM UTC

huangc10 wrote: post #13

gms wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because you can’t get a raise - the big companies pay the most money.

Not necessarily true. There are some series A/B startups that offer extremely competitive salaries and stock options for top talent. And also, I think he/she means if you can't get behind what Facebook is doing, maybe jump to Apple who "supposedly" have security and privacy as their top priorities and in the mean time receive a raise.