Firefox just quantumed me, and they didn't ask first.
@literorrery Yeah, all the mainstream browsers have taken massive turns for the worst lately.
I've been trying out other browser options... and I've got bad news for you.
@mawr computer bad
@literorrery computer v bad
@mawr @literorrery computer good, consent violating software v bad
@kelseyhusky @mawr computer good engineer bad.
@literorrery @mawr engineer good, product manager out of touch? feature manager dismissive of edge-cases?
@kelseyhusky @mawr I think this is where I have to break voice and say that "engineer" is a term I use in a heavily jargoned way, likely unfairly, to indicate that the developer/designer/programmer has only gotten as far as whether something is possible without questioning whether it's desirable, beneficial, or well-considered. Folks who don't test failure paths. Folks who reject accessibility concerns. Folks who require firstname-lastname on forms that only need an identifier.
@mawr @kelseyhusky There's a book I love immensely, called "The Nanotech Chronicles" by Michael Flynn, in which somebody notes that every technological change is a social change in disguise, and that it's the job of every technologist to consider the social impact of technology. Engineers are, jargonistically, technologists that refuse to consider the social aspects of technology.
@literorrery @mawr @kelseyhusky This kinda seems at odds with the professional engineer ethos born out the Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse. I'd more say "Software Engineers" just haven't earned the title of engineer.
@IrisKalmia @mawr @kelseyhusky I'm totally willing to accept that. I'm just steeped in "software engineering" as a metaphor -- it's even on my business cards at work -- and I know just how little resemblance that has with the truth.
It's a weird form of disempowerment and frustration for me. I hear people calling themselves this and I even do it because I know it implies a certain cachet that makes me more hireable, but I know most people don't design with these concerns in mind.
@kelseyhusky @mawr @IrisKalmia Frankly, I wish software development _did_ have to confirm to the standards of engineering as a field.
@literorrery @IrisKalmia @kelseyhusky SAME.
If software engineering had official regulated standards to adhere to, it might slow down development but at least we wouldn't have so many instances of "it compiles [and has unprotected access to private user data]? GREAT! Ship it!"
Compliance with SOX, PCI and EU privacy laws are as close as we've gotten to proper responsibility in that regard & it's nowhere near enough. Having the autonomous power to show-stop over security concerns'd be a GODSEND.
