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How Do Developers Handle Moral Dilemmas?

Posted by Cliff on from the tough-choices dept.

DwightFagen asks: "I'm curious to know how developers in the Slashdot community handle situations in which they are given a project that rubs against their moral borders. I was recently hired as a Flash developer for a design and development company and am just beginning my second project. This particular assignment is to build the video portion of an online magazine. This magazine deals with various topics and is by no means a pornographic site (although some content may border on that), but it seems one of its key tenets is to be untethered by social moral values. Though I do not believe such things should in any way be censored or banned from the internet, I do not wish to actively support something I believe to be an exploitation of human beings. What would you in the Slashdot community do in such a situation? Have any of you dealt with something like this before?" "For the sake of clarity, I'd like to mention that I'm all for the freedom of expression on the internet and that I do not in any way judge people based on the media they choose to consume.

If this were a clear cut case of pornography, my choice would be simple; but that is not the case. I do still hold myself to certain standards and believe in the value of integrity and I would also like to do work that my family and friends can be proud of (or at least work that I could show them). However, I would also like to keep my job and would not want to put my small company of very nice people in a difficult position (as the deadline is not so far off)."

8 of 268 comments (clear)

  1. Morals versus Flash development? by KNicolson · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think by choosing the career of a Flash designer you have already proven yourself morally bankrupt. I bet you also produce "Best Viewed with Internet Explorer" sites.

    PS: Links to the boobies plz!

  2. It's easy, first take the money by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Then design the site such that it makes a mockery of what it purports to represent.

    Behold: http://newbirth.org/

  3. How to handle moral delimmas? by GFree · · Score: 5, Funny

    Simple: have no morals.

    1. Re:How to handle moral delimmas? by Patrik_AKA_RedX · · Score: 5, Funny

      I have morals: Very strict ones actually. For starters I find it very unethical that women between 16 and 30 cover up their breasts. Not to mention I have huge moral issues with the lack of nudity and explicit sex on TV. If the world doesn't change, We'll go to hell, I tell you! God created the human body, now admire His work. How do you think an artist would feel if you came in his workspace and put up blankets over his work to claim it's better that way?

  4. Nowhere is this so clearly illustrated... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    How Do Developers Handle Moral Dilemmas? 12 of 8 comments

    In related news, 18 out of 12 slashcode developers believe the fundamental axioms of mathematics are oppressive and immoral.

  5. Re:Go read some Nietzche and Sartre by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wars are evil things

    With the following exceptions of the American Revolution, World War II, and the Star Wars Trilogy.

  6. Re:Question yourself by mattwarden · · Score: 2, Funny

    One thing however is absolutely essential: that you question those moral principles. They might be wrong. Some of them are wrong. Find them, weed them out.

    -1, Redundant! We already have plenty of comments telling him to stop developing Flash.

  7. Re:Simple by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your sig indicates that you're a consultant. That would explain why you're asking for money up front and giving useless advice. :P