jcalebmoore wrote:mibi wrote:
Why not speculate on the salaries of companies employees. After all, it is just speculation. Or is the act of speculating somehow morally weighted? I often speculate on how wealthy my neighbors are, how wealthy my competition is, whether Brad really loves Angela or if its all a sham. I even speculate out loud to anyone who will listen. "Do you think that Coffee shop will be in business in a few months? I don't, they have hardly any customers." Am I on a slippery slope and in danger of faxing their daily receipts to competing businesses? I don't think so.
Speculation is morally inert, only when we bring our own value judgments to the table to we feel uncomfortable that others have crossed a line that only exists in our heads.
I don't have any problem with you speculating. I have a problem with you doing it here. Just as I'm sure you'd have a problem with me starting a thread speculating about whether or not you have issues with your sexual identity. I assure you I'm not trying to be offensive, and really don't care about said topic, but am trying to show how offensive I find this.
The problem with that example though is that though both cases involve speculation, In only one are you trying to make a judgement (or at least a negative one). Suppose I read your posts, which I have, and speculate that due to the wealth of the arguments you have presented, that you are a well meaning and educated individual, would you find that so unreasonable that I'm speculating? As far as I can tell, this subject has been brought up and the general trend behind responces is that we as a CC community believe that Lack and CC staff in general put alot of time into this website and deserve every cent they get. I'm sure that being appreciated surely would not offend Lack or co.
On the other hand if the thread started like "OMG lack makes that much? he doesnt deserve that much" this would be a different conversation, one that requires shutting down, as it is though, I don't see that this is so unethical