Mastodon toot:

Daniel Lakeland @dlakelan@mastodon.sdf.org

Fediverse, the social media system for 40+ year old people who built the world wide web and regret it.

Oct 01, 2026, 11:32 PM

    • tachikoma@lemmy.todayEnglish
      9·
      3 days ago

      I was contracted to work for a non-profit that helped teachers write and analyze student test scores for a few years. The non-profit ended when the CEO sold the company to another education company. The new education company has contracts with the department of defense in my country.

      When I reflect upon the outcome. It would seem that the department of defense now has direct access to many more students who test scores are low. All lined up and analyzed. And I’m the one that automated the deployment of that system. I just quietly took my checks until my contract was no longer renewed.

      From my point of view I did build a small part of the web. And I stood around and did nothing while the web/company/people around me were being consolidated. While the department of defense freely browsed some of the most vulnerable children/students in the country because they know poorer testing students are more likely to join the military for money.

      A lot of people are going to die because of that analysis system in my opinion; And to me, that means I am responsible.

      • artyom@piefed.socialEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        Well, maybe in some way. In some way we’re all responsible for the military-industrial complex that consumes unbelievable amounts of money in pursuit of global domination and “national security”.

        Maybe you can do your part to break that up by educating children about the predatory nature of the military. About the many atrocities committed. And how they target people who don’t test well in school (but obviously aren’t necessarily stupid) because they’re more likely to do what they’re told and not question anything.

      • kolmaskommentoija@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        21·
        3 days ago

        To be fair, you did not know, how what you build, would end up being used. How could you, especially since you were working for a non-profit, that helped teachers? It is not like you were building something obviously dangerous, weapons or some shit. Maybe you feel responsible, but expecting everyone to just not do anything, in fear of it being potentially misused for something nefarious, is no way to live. That way none should do anything.

        • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.netEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          Since when is not knowing you’ll do harm an valid excuse for harm done? We all fail to anticipate sometimes and shouldn’t be punished for it, but we should still strive to correct those wrongs.

          • kolmaskommentoija@sopuli.xyzEnglish
            1·
            2 days ago

            They did something good-seeming in good faith, and someone else used that, for something evil later on. You would need the power to see into the future, to prevent stuff like that. If we are all to blame for something so indirect, then what does being responsible even mean anymore? That does not mean we should not strive to correct those wrongs, yes. But I do not think it makes you responsible for them either.