rms@AI.MIT.EDU (06/10/89)
Many people have said things like, "Berry isn't responsible for corporate policy." I think people formed their ideas of this question based on policies of limited impact, such as how generously employees or customers are treated. I would agree with these people, when such actions are concerned. We have to expect any organization to do minor obnoxious things from time to time, and should not condemn the organization entirely on that account, let alone its employees who were not personally involved. For an action as hostile and destructive as Apple's lawsuit, it is different. The lawsuit was decided on at the highest level, and its harmful impact on society is comparable with everything else the company is doing. (Compare the work done by developers at Apple with the work that could be done by all the other companies in the field--work that will be prevented by Apple if Apple wins.) So no one should work for Apple until Apple drops its suit. While I don't blame them personally for starting the lawsuit, I do blame them for keeping Apple's income going while it is continuing the suit. People seem to overestimate the amount of hardship involved in quitting a job at Apple. I'm sure their competent employees could easily find new jobs that pay more than most Americans make. Perhaps the background of most Apple employees has shielded them from the economic realities that ought to shape their sense of proportion.
ned@pebbles.cad.mcc.com (CME Ned Nowotny) (06/11/89)
In article <8906092116.AA00899@sugar-bombs.ai.mit.edu> rms@AI.MIT.EDU writes: >People seem to overestimate the amount of hardship involved in >quitting a job at Apple. I'm sure their competent employees could >easily find new jobs that pay more than most Americans make. Perhaps >the background of most Apple employees has shielded them from the >economic realities that ought to shape their sense of proportion. It is always easier to see the fault in others that we can not see in ourselves. ******************************************************************************* * Ned Nowotny, MCC CAD Program * ARPA: ned@mcc.com Phone: (512) 338-3715 * * Box 200195, Austin, TX 78720 * UUCP: ...!cs.utexas.edu!milano!cadillac!ned *