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Ask HN: Should I testify?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#141

Post by lmz »

Frozenlock wrote: post #135
Frozenlock wrote: post #130

Edit: OP, if you read what I wrote, you will see why you shouldn't use the number of upvotes to make your decision: the point is precisely that a 'popular' choice can quickly turn south. At this point, all these upvotes will have disappeared and you will be alone facing the consequences. ---- If they did something so awful that it's keeping you awake at night, do it. Otherwise, don't. ... Wait... are you still readin…

I'm genuinely curious about the downvotes. Which part of what I said didn't you like? Is it because you think he should testify, and you just downvote the opposed side? Is it because you don't agree with my hypothetical employer? Is it because you don't like the distinction between morality and law? It would be much more helpful to say what you don't agree with.

I've been watching the votes from the start and the ones against testifying get downvoted quite often. If I had to guess, it is probably because those voters refuse to believe that they will someday have considerations other than their "ethics" or "integrity".

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#142

Post by josinalvo »

kichuku wrote: post #82

If you do want to testify, definitely do it. If you are worried about people able to Google you and find that you testified, there is a lot of ways to solve that problem. You don't even need to go for extensive SEO, as Search Engines may change their algorithms every now and then. What you can do is, you can create a website for your professional profile where you write blog posts. In one of the blog posts, you can c…

not sure if you should testify. If you do, remember that there are services to clean up your image on google ...

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#143

Post by wfunction »

gargarplex wrote: post #127
mattvanhorn wrote: post #22

Tell them to subpoena you - then the choice to testify is not yours any more. You'll have to. But you can tell future employers that you were forced, if you'd like to.

Don't even tell them to. Wait til they do. Otherwise, if you then tell people you were forced, you will be lying.

Why would that be lying? Being forced to do something doesn't imply it was against your will. It simply means you didn't have any other choice.

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#144

Post by josinalvo »

josinalvo wrote: post #142
kichuku wrote: post #82

If you do want to testify, definitely do it. If you are worried about people able to Google you and find that you testified, there is a lot of ways to solve that problem. You don't even need to go for extensive SEO, as Search Engines may change their algorithms every now and then. What you can do is, you can create a website for your professional profile where you write blog posts. In one of the blog posts, you can c…

not sure if you should testify. If you do, remember that there are services to clean up your image on google ...

btw, did you try carrers.stackexchange ?

we here seem to be using a lot of opinion and not much fact ...

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#146

Post by andreyf »

It would not be a deal killer if I saw this when I Googled your name while researching your background. Depending on the nature of the case, I might even bring it up in an in-person interview as interesting smalltalk, as it definitely sounds like it could be a good story.

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#147

Post by sixdimensional »

This is definitely not legal advice, just some personal experience/thoughts.

You're thinking only about your career? How about the mental and emotional toll that being involved in a court case can take? Don't doubt that there is one. These are all costs to you.

This may be too simplistic and quite conservative, but if you are not personally involved in the legal case, nor the actions that were taken which were illegal, then it is the company's problem and not your own. I like to hope the legal system was designed to get to the bottom of the issue, which has already been identified.

From a career or personal perspective, it might be a better idea to stay out of it unless you must be involved, either because it is needed to serve justice or because it is required because you are subpoenaed. Why not let the court decide if that is needed? One thing I know for sure is, if one side or the other needs/wants you bad enough, you will get dragged into it.

On the other side, if you don't need to be involved, it is probably safer to stay on the sideline. Especially if there is any chance that you aren't sure about the legality of the issues involved. Why take the unnecessary risk and burden to yourself? The company probably wouldn't do that for you.

As for your career question - I think most reasonable employers may ask, but would realize that the actions of a corporation do not equal those of an individual working at that corporation. I do think your career can survive being associated with such an entity, even if you have to be involved.

Worst case, change the entry on your resume to make the company name anonymous when applying for jobs... instead of XYZ, Corp, just say "A Major Consumer Technology Firm", etc. I have seen folks do that and it is not totally unacceptable.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#148

Post by Frozenlock »

lmz wrote: post #141
Frozenlock wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm genuinely curious about the downvotes. Which part of what I said didn't you like? Is it because you think he should testify, and you just downvote the opposed side? Is it because you don't agree with my hypothetical employer? Is it because you don't like the distinction between morality and law? It would be much more helpful to say what you don't agree with.

I've been watching the votes from the start and the ones against testifying get downvoted quite often. If I had to guess, it is probably because those voters refuse to believe that they will someday have considerations other than their "ethics" or "integrity".

Yeah.

The sad thing about this is that OP specifically asked for career advice, not an open "should I / would you do it".

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#149

Post by erikb »

I suggest that you don't testify for the reasons you've mentioned. Even a good company with good people will have a harder time hiring you. When you hire someone and you have to choose between different people, then a normal HR manager will choose the one that is less noisy. They are not looking for someone who does the right thing, but someone who will provide more value to the company than trouble.

The only thing you haven't mentioned that might be relevant is if your silence might hurt someone. Then you have to weight own disadvantage against their disadvantage. Although I'd probably do the moral choice, I don't think it's the smarter one. In real life moral decisions often don't pay off, not even for the people you try to protect.

Also if you have spouse or other people who depend on you (e.g., brothers/sisters) discuss with these people and make a decision together. Your decision will also influence their life.

Re: Ask HN: Should I testify?

#150

Post by gargarplex »

wfunction wrote: post #143
gargarplex wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't even tell them to. Wait til they do. Otherwise, if you then tell people you were forced, you will be lying.

Why would that be lying? Being forced to do something doesn't imply it was against your will. It simply means you didn't have any other choice.

It belies the fact that OP prompted the lawyers to subpoena him.
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