Comment by slowin
3 hours ago
Thank you but I'm no saint. I joined Microsoft knowing that they were incompatible with my values. I just told myself that I wouldn't work on those types of projects and try to stick to my values. I told myself that I could just be "professional" and keep my head down.
But, as I learned more I was filled with a deep sadness and shame. It was tearing me apart. Every day I got up to go to work and was getting sick to my stomach.
Now I just feel lost. I spent my life building a career in this industry and it feels like I have nowhere else to turn. Microsoft is not the only company actively complicit with horrible crimes and human rights violations. I've loved technology since as far back as I can remember, but looking back with the knowledge I have now, I just feel dirty. I honestly don't even know what to do at this point, I do have a job now but when I look at who funded us, it's every bit as bad as working at Microsoft. I feel like I need to walk away from it all and start a food truck or something.
It's more rare, and definitely less lucrative, but there are opportunities in software engineering for non-profits, open-source, and smaller non-tech companies. If you've made your blood money and don't need top n% pay, it's something worth checking out.
As you astutely point out, it's not easy, many companies are complicit, or at least the people and groups funding them.
Have you looked at the healthcare or green energy domains with smaller companies/start ups?