[hackerspaces] will the fruits of our labors be used for good or for evil?

[Matt Joyce]

http://boingboing.net/2011/12/06/scientists-how-do-ethics-and.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=36761


Relevant to our interests.

On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 8:47 PM, Far McKon <farmckon at gmail.com> wrote:

> > With regard to hackerspaces, isn't part of the point that we're proving
> you DON'T need to accept money from bigwigs in order to make
> > your vision a reality? Here we are liberating ourselves from the
> pursestrings, let's not jump straight back into them.
>
> One of the Design Patterns for Hacker Spaces* is the 'Sponsoring
> Anti-pattern'. They suggest (I agree strongly) that spaces should pay
> rent and basic util's on something like membership fees.  Once that is
> covered, if you get extra money by a grant, cool. But *don't* get your
> organization beholden to the grant-givers.  Because they will and yank
> your $$$ when you don't toe their line*.
>
> Also, I dig the mention of Werner von Braun.  I once had a teacher
> describe him as 'Amorality in pursuit of of Engineering' in an Ethics
> of Engineering. I thought that was well put.  Work for the Nazi's
> building bombs? Sure!  Work for the USA building rockers? Sure!
> Amorality + Engineering in action.
>
> > if you don't like DARPA or DoD then you should be protesting them
> directly. that's your right as an American. but don't
> > extrapolate to say that, on the backside, any money going from those
> organizations directly back to the population from
> > whence it came is somehow tainted blood money and the people receiving
> it must be sadistic soulless bastards.
>
> I don't think I saw 'blood money' or 'sadistic soulless bastards' in
> anywhere outside that single post. Rather I did see some 'You don't
> have to agree, but please consider'  and 'In my mind, I would rather.'
>  Which seem to me a rather polite and intelligent way to discuss a
> topic of ethics/morality, all things given.
>
> Also, I'm glad someone around here can use 'whence' properly. :)
>
> Hack on,
> - Far McKon
>
> http://www.FarMcKon.net "Creatively Maladjusted"
>
> * Do a refresher if you've not read this year:
> http://hackerspaces.org/wiki/The_Sponsoring_Anti-Pattern
>
> ** http://jezebel.com/comcast/  ->
> "Given the fact that Comcast has been a major supporter of Reel Grrls
> for several years now, I am frankly shocked that your organization is
> slamming us on Twitter. I cannot in good conscience continue to
> provide you with funding - especially when there are so many other
> deserving nonprofits in town."
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>
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