I was categorically against any of my work going towards solving problems for Defence/Military applications. This has changed after the war in Ukraine, and I am wondering what HN's thoughts are on this. I am based in the EU if that matters for context.
Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
1–10 of 22 posts
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#2I think one should be consequentialist about all things.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#3I think one should be consequentialist about all things.
That seems like a very absolutist statement ;)
But yes, that's how I mostly feel as well. There's another part of me that questions, if I ever really had principles, if I can change them when things get scary.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#4Interesting q. I thought about this a lot after watching a relative quit work for a defense contractor. His job was to make sure bombs landed in the right spot, from what I understand. Eventually he burnt out and left because he needed to switch to what I guess you could call creative-offense. Green energy projects, that kind of thing.
IMO it's important to keep in mind a proportional balance within the individual's life & energy expenditure. Within that total energy expenditure there's necessarily a system of personal values or even passions, and within that is Ukraine for example, and within that there's "working to directly support outright warfare" among other things like humanitarian donations etc.
For this reason I think 1) it's important to process and decide, 2) it's important to take change over time into account, and 3) it's important to embrace the change and make even experimental changes to one's standpoint when those changes come.
Flexibility is key, but also there's this holistic look at one's focus and interests that is really important.
If you're referring to something like code, and how your code is used, it may be more a matter of a specific license change or a license-time proclamation for example. In this direction I'd offer that it's a good idea to be flexible in making changes to a license over time, as needed. The first big changes in any given direction will always tend to be swingy and generally need adjustment.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#5No. I don't want to assist in the death or injury of any other person, regardless of nationality.
It's a big red ethical line for anything I work on.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#6No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#7Interesting q. I thought about this a lot after watching a relative quit work for a defense contractor. His job was to make sure bombs landed in the right spot, from what I understand. Eventually he burnt out and left because he needed to switch to what I guess you could call creative-offense. Green energy projects, that kind of thing. IMO it's important to keep in mind a proportional balance within the individual's…
You raise good points. I feel like I should contribute, and I have experience and domain knowledge that would be useful, but up until now I didn't feel that the goals justified the means. But there has been wars all my life, and there will likely be wars after the war in Ukraine is resolved. Am I fine with my work being used in warfare for future wars, where I don't necessarily agree with the use of force? I'm having a hard time figuring out which route would lead to most regret - doing too little, or doing too much.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#8No. I don't want to assist in the death or injury of any other person, regardless of nationality. It's a big red ethical line for anything I work on.
I respect that. I thought I had that red line as well.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#9Curious what was unique about this war that changed you?
Seems pretty run of the mill proxy/containment/control war to me.
I know a lot of people changed on/after/due to 9/11/01 too, and I understand why or how they changed -- it just never made any sense to me.
Re: Ask HN: Has the war in Ukraine changed your view on working on Defence projects?
#10Curious what was unique about this war that changed you? Seems pretty run of the mill proxy/containment/control war to me. I know a lot of people changed on/after/due to 9/11/01 too, and I understand why or how they changed -- it just never made any sense to me.
It's close to where I live, and I have friends in Ukraine. So, it's probably fear and tribalism at the bottom of the stack, although I could also rant off a nice list of philosophic reasons for wanting to contribute. But yeah, probably just fear.