JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
1–10 of 16 posts
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#2These guys must sleep really soundly at night, knowing that they're using their various talents trying to make a quick buck off of invading the privacy of and in some cases likely endangering the safety of their fellow human beings.
I realize that that sentence could arguably describe a number of mainstream startups. However, there's something more sinister and downright evil about this one in it's blatant disregard of common decency in the name of profits.
This type of reckless employment of modern data processing and search algorithms reminds me that as software engineers we have great power and thus great responsibility. Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should. If we don't use our power ethically, then surely some politician some day with an axe to grind will ensure that we do. And a sad day that will be.
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#3These guys must sleep really soundly at night, knowing that they're using their various talents trying to make a quick buck off of invading the privacy of and in some cases likely endangering the safety of their fellow human beings. I realize that that sentence could arguably describe a number of mainstream startups. However, there's something more sinister and downright evil about this one in it's blatant disregard…
If it is legal and you can do it to make money, someone will. Why not these guys?
You are hoping the millions of software engineer out there don't produce something like this?
That is not going to happen. What you should be thinking of is ways to counteract such things. You can't just write code without sanitizing the input and don't expect somebody not test that you did. The same reasoning apply here, you should start thinking of profitable counter measures to render these guys useless.
[Side note: Just couple days ago someone reports a meeting between Microsoft and Adobe and Adobe stocks shot up 13%. This is one benefit of knowing where celebrity are located. But if you don't like it draw up your defense strategy.]
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#4These guys must sleep really soundly at night, knowing that they're using their various talents trying to make a quick buck off of invading the privacy of and in some cases likely endangering the safety of their fellow human beings. I realize that that sentence could arguably describe a number of mainstream startups. However, there's something more sinister and downright evil about this one in it's blatant disregard…
If it is legal and you can do it to make money, someone will. Why not these guys? You are hoping the millions of software engineer out there don't produce something like this? That is not going to happen. What you should be thinking of is ways to counteract such things. You can't just write code without sanitizing the input and don't expect somebody not test that you did. The same reasoning apply here, you should sta…
You realize your argument can be extrapolated to most every field that relies upon the public trust. Those fields have gone on to create codes of ethics, licensing or accreditation processes, or even legal penalties for those who do not abide by the decided upon boundaries for ethical behavior.
Just because our field is too immature to have such things doesn't make it any less important to call a spade a spade. Not all wars can be fought nor won through competition in the marketplace, as you suggest.
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#5Earlier quoted context omitted.
If it is legal and you can do it to make money, someone will. Why not these guys? You are hoping the millions of software engineer out there don't produce something like this? That is not going to happen. What you should be thinking of is ways to counteract such things. You can't just write code without sanitizing the input and don't expect somebody not test that you did. The same reasoning apply here, you should sta…
You realize your argument can be extrapolated to most every field that relies upon the public trust. Those fields have gone on to create codes of ethics, licensing or accreditation processes, or even legal penalties for those who do not abide by the decided upon boundaries for ethical behavior. Just because our field is too immature to have such things doesn't make it any less important to call a spade a spade. Not a…
Well go and create such legal counter measures. For now these guys are making money and I'm happy for them.
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
You realize your argument can be extrapolated to most every field that relies upon the public trust. Those fields have gone on to create codes of ethics, licensing or accreditation processes, or even legal penalties for those who do not abide by the decided upon boundaries for ethical behavior. Just because our field is too immature to have such things doesn't make it any less important to call a spade a spade. Not a…
Well go and create such legal counter measures. For now these guys are making money and I'm happy for them.
Are you making an actual argument here? If so, what is it? It seems your argument is that one shouldn't be criticized on ethical grounds for legal activity, or that if something is legal and can be done to make money it should be praised regardless of the negative impact it can have on people's lives.
It's probably clear that I don't respect either of these opinions, so I hope that you're arguing some finer point here that I'm missing.
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
You realize your argument can be extrapolated to most every field that relies upon the public trust. Those fields have gone on to create codes of ethics, licensing or accreditation processes, or even legal penalties for those who do not abide by the decided upon boundaries for ethical behavior. Just because our field is too immature to have such things doesn't make it any less important to call a spade a spade. Not a…
Well go and create such legal counter measures. For now these guys are making money and I'm happy for them.
Is your argument that following the law = ethical conduct?
If so, how to do you reconcile differences between laws and cultures? Shouldn't ethical conduct be universal?
Certainly you must concede that there are unethical behaviors that are lawful?
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#8These guys must sleep really soundly at night, knowing that they're using their various talents trying to make a quick buck off of invading the privacy of and in some cases likely endangering the safety of their fellow human beings. I realize that that sentence could arguably describe a number of mainstream startups. However, there's something more sinister and downright evil about this one in it's blatant disregard…
If it is legal and you can do it to make money, someone will. Why not these guys? You are hoping the millions of software engineer out there don't produce something like this? That is not going to happen. What you should be thinking of is ways to counteract such things. You can't just write code without sanitizing the input and don't expect somebody not test that you did. The same reasoning apply here, you should sta…
Not every legal thing is moral (and, of course, vice versa).
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#9Is a new Upoc upon us?
Re: JustSpotted (YC S08): Celebrity Geo-Stalking In Real-Time
#10Sounds a lot like what we're doing on http://pappd.com plug