[hn_neverguess]

I could respond with something equally snarky, but that would detract from the point I am trying to make. I would recommend you reread my message and try not to take it personally but instead ask yourself if there's a chance that the tech industry is not as big as you make it out to be. I'll give you two things to think about:

1. Most people never gain any amount of visibility in their lives, and that's fine. But why prevent that from at least being a possibility? What if it turns out that you have something interesting to say and there's a ton of people who want to hear it (eg: you become a VC or an expert in something). Not being able to benefit from having a personal brand should the opportunity present itself would be a hell of a bummer. You'll notice that I am being very careful with my own identity when giving unpopular feedback.

2. Sure, in 2022 it would be hard for a startup in Iowa to learn that you screwed someone over in Florida. But do you really want to bet that the same will be true in 2042? In the last 20 years, we went from no social graph at all to a social graph in every slice of our lives. What are the odds that in the next 20 years we won't see continued progress towards transparency and accountability?

Reputations have never mattered more, and will only do more so in the future.

[InitialBP]

Your argument hinges upon the fact that one company or person's opinion would hold enough sway to actually ruin your entire reputation.

Even if this individual or this company was exceptionally vocal about your betrayal, do you really think it would "prevent having visibility into your life as a possibility?"

The arguments for this are all over the spectrum, but I think _Most_ people fall into a moderate stance of, if you accept and offer and something substantial and unexpected changes your situation (an incredible competing offer, an unexpected opportunity, health or spousal related issues) then you should do what's best for you and not let loyalty to a business and a people that you don't even have an established relationship with yet have a negative impact on you.

As evidence by the Post here - Companies will make the same decisions when exceptional circumstances arrive.

I would also argue that anti-corporation/anti-business sentiment in the USA has never been more prevalent with r/antiwork in the spotlight, ridiculous inflation, a new outburst of unionization (e.g. starbucks) and CEO's under fire (Elon/Bezos) that a reputation for making tough decisions for yourself and not exhibiting loyalty where its not deserved might gain you more fame. Especially if some "SV Startup CEO" corroborated your story for you.

[hn_neverguess]

Not sure why it was necessary to put SV startup CEO into quotation marks. Also funny that you think that somehow Bezos and Elon are struggling. And lastly, screwing people over will not get you fame but infamy (regardless of how high the inflation is or what you read on r/antiwork).

[seattle_spring]

> Reputations have never mattered more, and will only do more so in the future

I guarantee there's at least one person per FAANG who never wants to work with me again. Probably a dozen others in different companies.

... And yet, here I am making seven figures and receiving a request or two per day to interview with various tech companies. If one won't hire me, 3 dozen others will. I have a pool of 100+ colleagues who would be happy to provide a glowing reference.

I do not think it matters nearly as much as you think, unless you live in a smaller city and limit yourself to only working locally.

[Apocryphon]

Orthogonal to this entire debate on employee conduct, what you call "transparency and accountability" is synonymous with social surveillance and the erosion of privacy. Instead of a state-mandated social credit system, you're describing societal norms giving way to an ad hoc total information awareness as pushed by social media websites and search engines, public record indexing companies and grassroots doxxers. Let us pray in twenty years more countries will enshrine the right to be forgotten.

[hn_neverguess]

Let's pray. But let's not count on it.