Legal, but possibly *unethical* engineering and/or computer related jobs?

[slugg]

So I'm taking an ethics class and the topic of illegal versus unethical came up. As I'm sure most of you agree, the two terms are not synonymous. However, when trying to come up with a job that is both legal and unethical, my mind went blank.

Well now the professor assigned a paper on it and I just can't come up with any examples. I feel like I'm missing some obvious ones out of stupidity.

Halp!

 

[Matthiasa]

Something about modeling potential toxic substances for potential use?
Without actually using them its not illegal. You could probably even sell the results and it still be legal.
Most however would argue something unethical about that though.

 

[DominionSeraph]

So I'm taking an ethics class and the topic of illegal versus unethical came up. As I'm sure most of you agree, the two terms are not synonymous. However, when trying to come up with a job that is both legal and unethical, my mind went blank.

IT consultant for Wall Street.

Aiding Fox News.

Enabling outsourcing.

 

[Udgnim]

lawyer

accounting

politicians

lobbyists

patent trolling?

edit: decided to read thread title, they uh all probably use computers

 

[0roo0roo]

when buffalo bill comes and asks you to dig a hole in his basement...

 

[Born2bwire]

So I'm taking an ethics class and the topic of illegal versus unethical came up. As I'm sure most of you agree, the two terms are not synonymous. However, when trying to come up with a job that is both legal and unethical, my mind went blank.

Well now the professor assigned a paper on it and I just can't come up with any examples. I feel like I'm missing some obvious ones out of stupidity.

Halp!

Easiest one that I can come up with is defense contractor. Some people consider it unethical to be designing weapons.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Easiest one that I can come up with is defense contractor. Some people consider it unethical to be designing weapons.

While ethics are subjective that's a reach.
WMD research, perhaps, but basic defense is generally seen as a necessity.

 

[slugg]

Enabling outsourcing.

Best one so far.

 

[Born2bwire]

While ethics are subjective that's a reach.
WMD research, perhaps, but basic defense is generally seen as a necessity.

It's a perfectly valid ethical quandary. There are plenty of jobs in the industry where you are working on a system that is nothing more than designed to kill other people. Regardless of the intent, that is an ethical point that needs to be addressed by everyone that faces the choice to go into that kind of work.

 

[Ancalagon44]

Legal and unethical?

How about privacy violation and customer data collection? At a project I worked on, I was asked to basically violate privacy laws and send customer's details on to be contacted by a third party marketing agency without their concerns. I let my superiors know my concerns but I did it.

EDIT: Not 100% if privacy laws were violated. If not, I still felt it was unethical.

 

[Born2bwire]

Legal and unethical?

How about privacy violation and customer data collection? At a project I worked on, I was asked to basically violate privacy laws and send customer's details on to be contacted by a third party marketing agency without their concerns. I let my superiors know my concerns but I did it.

EDIT: Not 100% if privacy laws were violated. If not, I still felt it was unethical.

That's a good one and opens up a lot of other ideas like government or corporate sactioned cyberwarfare (ala Stuxnet). Writing programs like keyloggers or other surveillance equipment/software.

 

[slugg]

Am I a bad person if I have no problem with any of these?

 

[alfa147x]

Am I a bad person if I have no problem with any of these?

No because I'm not a bad person.

 

[Mike Gayner]

lawyer

accounting

politicians

lobbyists

patent trolling?

edit: decided to read thread title, they uh all probably use computers

Erm, how on earth is accountancy unethical? I'm an accountant and I spend my working day helping local small businesses and sole traders operate and arrange their finances.

 

[DominionSeraph]

It's a perfectly valid ethical quandary.

For kindergarteners, maybe. Most adults will have come to terms with the fact that killing someone intent on killing you tends to be the best way to not end up dead. In their breach of peace they have forfeited the right to be at peace themselves, so there's no issue with making them dead.

Am I a bad person if I have no problem with any of these?

You would have no problems aiding Fox News, whose only goal is to wield absolute power -- power beholden to no ethical structure but their own capricious internal whims? You do realize that the tyrannical structure Fox News strives for threatens your personal safety, right?

 

[slugg]

You would have no problems aiding Fox News, whose only goal is to wield absolute power -- power beholden to no ethical structure but their own capricious internal whims? You do realize that the tyrannical structure Fox News strives for threatens your personal safety, right?

Sure, I'd work for Fox News. I don't even watch TV; I don't give a hoot.

 

[Born2bwire]

For kindergarteners, maybe. Most adults will have come to terms with the fact that killing someone intent on killing you tends to be the best way to not end up dead. In their breach of peace they have forfeited the right to be at peace themselves, so there's no issue with making them dead.



You would have no problems aiding Fox News, whose only goal is to wield absolute power -- power beholden to no ethical structure but their own capricious internal whims? You do realize that the tyrannical structure Fox News strives for threatens your personal safety, right?

Look, when you reach your majority in nine years or so you might realize that there is more to the world than little girl's cartoons. The designers, engineers, scientists, etc. do not have the ability to direct the morality of how their discoveries are used. For every Kalashnikov that was made to protect the Fatherland many more were exported to both sides of any number of African genocides. There are plenty of people here on these forums that would cheer the defense of the US in World War II and yet deplore the invasion of Iraq. Plus there are people who just do not believe in killing others regardless of the cause. You're going to find conscientious objectors in every war. Arms manufacturing means equipping not only your own country for its defense but also for its aggressions and the pursuits of others outside the country that can purchase or use these arms. Wars aren't clear cut good and evil despite whatever it is your little cartoons have been telling you.

 

[wiredspider]

telemarketers that pray on the old and/or stupids?

 

[DominionSeraph]

Look, when you reach your majority in nine years or so you might realize that there is more to the world than little girl's cartoons. The designers, engineers, scientists, etc. do not have the ability to direct the morality of how their discoveries are used. For every Kalashnikov that was made to protect the Fatherland many more were exported to both sides of any number of African genocides. There are plenty of people here on these forums that would cheer the defense of the US in World War II and yet deplore the invasion of Iraq. Plus there are people who just do not believe in killing others regardless of the cause. You're going to find conscientious objectors in every war. Arms manufacturing means equipping not only your own country for its defense but also for its aggressions and the pursuits of others outside the country that can purchase or use these arms. Wars aren't clear cut good and evil despite whatever it is your little cartoons have been telling you.

Henry Ford allowed for drunk driving by the masses. Does that make the assembly line unethical?

Sigh. Surrounded by idiots.

 

[Born2bwire]

Henry Ford allowed for drunk driving by the masses. Does that make the assembly line unethical?

Sigh. Surrounded by idiots.

Don't worry. Things get better after you hit puberty.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Don't worry. Things get better after you hit puberty.

Boring me. That'll work.

 

[dwell]

Spammer
Porn site webmaster

 

[brainhulk]

sheep fleshlight designer

 

[Jeff7]

- Spammer
- Anything affiliated with homeopathy - sales, production, design stages.
--- Any other manner of thing that's designed to look like it does something, but actually does nothing, like those wrist bands with hologram stickers that claim to "improve balance."

 

[brainhulk]

engineers who design gadgets knowing they will release something totally superior in 6 months