Ask HN: Should I do industrial espionage?

4 points by jahitr 10 years ago | 12 comments

Hi all..

I'm an engineer for a large software company.

Lately I was promoted to "not a developer neither a team lead".

They hired someone else to lead the team I'm in. Someone that is clearly lagging behind me in technical aspects.

Now, what is really bothering me is that my lead and the people on top of her are keeping me at the shadows. They don't invite me on meetings. The fuckers don't even eat with me.

So, What about trying to win this game with the help of technology?

What about setting up a spy mic on all of the conferences room sending all the sound via gsm, wifi or something else?

I'm probably not going to be one step ahead but the game is going to be more balanced.

What do you guys think about it? Anyone did this?

Thanks.

kafkaesq 10 years ago |

Take a step back, man. This is a very dark, negative path you're contemplating. It doesn't make you a bad person to have these kinds of thoughts (it's part of our neurobiology, basically). But please don't act on them.

Rather, accept the fact that you're basically being blackballed (look up the term if you're not familiar with it), and that these are the preliminary signs that you're about to be fired.

Whether you deserve it (or even partially deserve it) or not doesn't matter (very much) at this stage. These things happen. What does matter is that you accept the rejection gracefully rather than look for ways to fight against it. Which (if they're of the form you're contemplating) might very well backfire.

rtl49 10 years ago |

While this is indeed the most rational and emotionally intelligent course of action in the wake of your recent professional disappointment, have you accounted for the possibility that you're too stupid to pull it off?

jahitr 10 years ago | |

Yes. I always compare the size of the challenge with my own capabilities. This is one of the methods that lead me to take action or not.

AnimalMuppet 10 years ago | | |

Um, I'm pretty sure that rtl49 was being sarcastic when saying, "While this is indeed the most rational and emotionally intelligent course of action in the wake of your recent professional disappointment..."

That is: It is most emphatically not either a rational nor an emotionally intelligent course of action.

AnimalMuppet 10 years ago |

You're going to bug your workplace? Are you trying to get fired? Why not just quit?

jahitr 10 years ago | |

Yes.

No, I'm trying to get intel on my bosses, and in the company future course of action.

I don't like to quit things.

AnimalMuppet 10 years ago | | |

If you get caught, you're fired. You also are unemployable, and for good reason.

And that good reason should tell you, don't do it. Instead, knock off the Machiavellian spy games, and try to change whatever inside you makes you think this is even a remotely acceptable course of action.

Even if you wind up losing this job, don't do it. There are other jobs. But what you're proposing is a career-destroying move.

davelnewton 10 years ago |

Sure, why not; it's not like it's illegal and unethical or anything. Go nuts.

jahitr 10 years ago | |

Haha. I like your style.

DrScump 10 years ago |

Have they taken your stapler yet?

jahitr 10 years ago | |

Yes. But isn't a stapler.