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Re: Debian sever ties with Google?

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Hi Soren,

Thank you for the serious follow-up.

At 2025-02-06T17:57:39-0700, Soren Stoutner wrote:
> On Thursday, February 6, 2025 4:50:50 PM MST G. Branden Robinson wrote:
> > My advice--not that I expect anyone to take it--is that if you work for
> > Google, don't talk about it _and_ don't participate in any community
> > decision making process involving the company in any way.  These are the
> > ethical things to do if you're involved with Debian.  If the thought of
> > this frustrates you, try to salve your feelings by reviewing your latest
> > pay stub.  And if even that doesn't work, maybe you're not working at
> > the right place.
> 
> I respectfully disagree with the above statement.
> 
> 1.  It is contrary to the principles for with Debian stands to exclude
> someone from participating in Debian solely because of who employs
> them.

I agree.  To be clear, I neither said or implied otherwise.

> This includes participating in discussions about Debian policies that
> involve their employer.

Here I must disagree.  I think your statement is equivalent to claiming
that "there is no such thing as a conflict of interest", an ethical
stance with a poor track record of producing socially desirable
outcomes.[1]

> 2.  It is appropriate for an employee of such a company to disclose
> their connection to the company when discussing policies regarding
> that company.

Then you and I disagree.  I think Google employees/contractors are
conflicted out on decisions like the one Roberto raised.  Whether they
support or oppose Roberto's stated position is immaterial.

If you think through the scenario of a Google employee _supporting_
Roberto's proposal, but being afraid to publicly say so, then you have
deduced why the conflict of interest exists.

> Doing so is not a humblebrag.

It can be gravy ladled on a juicy conflict-of-interest sirloin steak.

> (Doing so when discussing policies that have no relation to the
> company would be a humblebrag.)

Yes, and this is the more common case.

Regards,
Branden

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/04/18/trump-says-he-cant-have-conflicts-of-interest-former-business-partner-says-otherwise/

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Thread

Debian sever ties with Google? Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2025-01-31 04:10 +0100
  Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Andrew Pollock <apollock@debian.org> - 2025-01-31 06:30 +0100
    Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Tiago Bortoletto Vaz <tiago@debian.org> - 2025-01-31 15:20 +0100
    Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2025-01-31 21:30 +0100
      Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Iustin Pop <iustin@debian.org> - 2025-01-31 23:00 +0100
      Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Jonas Smedegaard <dr@jones.dk> - 2025-01-31 23:00 +0100
      Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Sam Hartman <hartmans@debian.org> - 2025-01-31 23:00 +0100
        Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Andreas Tille <andreas@an3as.eu> - 2025-02-01 20:30 +0100
          Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> - 2025-02-01 23:00 +0100
      Re: Debian sever ties with Google? dovencio.doshorte@gmail.com - 2025-02-01 14:20 +0100
        Re: Debian sever ties with Google? "Jeffrey Anthony Serio" <hyperreal@moonshadow.dev> - 2025-02-01 17:50 +0100
      Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Emmanuel Arias <eamanu@debian.org> - 2025-02-01 23:00 +0100
  Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Jeremy Stanley <fungi@yuggoth.org> - 2025-01-31 15:40 +0100
  Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Pierre-Elliott Bécue <peb@debian.org> - 2025-02-01 20:30 +0100
  Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Pierre-Elliott Bécue <peb@debian.org> - 2025-02-01 20:30 +0100
  Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Bastian Blank <waldi@debian.org> - 2025-02-02 14:10 +0100
  Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Marco d'Itri <md@Linux.IT> - 2025-02-06 12:50 +0100
    Re: Debian sever ties with Google? thomas@goirand.fr - 2025-02-06 16:40 +0100
      Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Satvik Sinha <sinhasatvik214@gmail.com> - 2025-02-06 18:10 +0100
        Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Gunnar Wolf <gwolf@debian.org> - 2025-02-06 18:50 +0100
          Re: Debian sever ties with Google? "G. Branden Robinson" <g.branden.robinson@gmail.com> - 2025-02-07 02:00 +0100
            Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> - 2025-02-07 03:00 +0100
              Re: Debian sever ties with Google? "G. Branden Robinson" <g.branden.robinson@gmail.com> - 2025-02-07 03:30 +0100
                Re: Debian sever ties with Google? dovencio.doshorte@gmail.com - 2025-02-07 08:50 +0100
                Re: Debian sever ties with Google? "G. Branden Robinson" <g.branden.robinson@gmail.com> - 2025-02-07 12:00 +0100
                Re: Debian sever ties with Google? dovencio.doshorte@gmail.com - 2025-02-08 08:20 +0100
                Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Soren Stoutner <soren@debian.org> - 2025-02-07 08:50 +0100
    Re: Debian sever ties with Google? Roberto C. Sánchez <roberto@debian.org> - 2025-02-07 03:00 +0100

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