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Comment by igetspam | Hacker News Reader

As I've gotten older and more respected in my field, I've done the same. I've had C level staff demand I do things that I felt were unethical and I've outright refused. I had someone tell me the CEO supported an action and I told him he could get the CEO to do it but there was a 0% chance I'd have my name attached and he was welcome to let me go. There's a lot I'll do for money but I definitely ha e some things I won't do, like violate privacy.

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Thank you for that stance, if only all developers felt that way, things would be vastly different. Unfortunately, so few think twice about ethics.

> if only all developers felt that way

If only we could whistleblow ...

when you're in your early twenties and making a ridiculous amount of money, ethics takes a far back seat.

Isn't it the other way around? When I'm in my early 20s, I don't need a lot of money but when I'm in my 40s with 2.5 kids, mortgage and cars ... then I do.

I think it’s more of a matter of simultaneously being young and naive while getting used to making loads of cash.

I believe this is one of many reasons why tech companies, especially unscrupulous startups, look for the youngest talent they can afford.

Not only are these workers hungry for a job (and can be hired for less money because of their relative inexperience), but they also have not worked in the industry long enough to cultivate an ethical barometer (or are hungry enough for work that they would be willing to compromise their own ethical standards, if any).

When I read about or see a developer/engineer/etc stand up in support of the ethical or moral factor of their work it always makes me proud.

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