Ask HN: Do we need a code of ethics?

This is partly inspired by the thread about WTFs becoming normal and accepted.

We are not a well-regulated bunch of people, and I think that is some of the strength of the developer population. Our lack of an oversight committee allows certain innovations to happen that might not.

But I wonder if we need something similar to a doctor's oath. Something like, "First, do no harm."

Harm is a difficult thing to define, probably. Perhaps this ethic is already in place in most people. People who do things that I would consider harmful probably don't think of what they do as such.

But maybe, just maybe, if you had to make a promise to not do harm, perhaps it would at least make you think about the nature of harm.