Remember human dignity

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 by Dave Winer.

Mike Arrington: "Defending individuals against huge multi-corporation entities is one thing. Destroying human dignity is something else." Amen. 

Once, a long time ago, a Silicon Valley company wanted to break a deal with me, which happens of course, it's just business. But one guy in the company decided to have some personal fun as they were breaking the deal, he was a really nasty mofo. I remembered it, of course, as people always remember unnecessary cruelty. I had a chance, a few years later, when my career had taken off, and his had fallen apart, to pay it back. One time, at a conference, he took me aside and said okay you won, you don't need to rub it in. At that point I stopped. That was all I wanted.  

I was younger then, today I would do it differently. I have learned that these things take care of themselves. People who deliberately choose the low road have to live on that path. Their reward comes from karma, or god, fate or luck -- whatever you call it. There's a force in the universe, much greater than any individual, that balances the books.  

At a human level it pays to remember that no one stays on top forever. And the guy who needed help or just a little human kindness, will be asked to help a few years later. No one can blame him if he refuses kindness to someone who went out of his way to cause pain.  

Something to remember, when someone asks for your help. It's better to give than to receive. Ask not what the Internet can do for you, ask what you can do for the Internet. Namaste. 

Back to Mike's story -- there is some nasty energy in the EFF, I've felt it myself. I didn't like what they did to Michael Crook either. Kudos to Mike for having the guts to point it out.