Plan to Bring Software Engineers 3 Miles Offshore Irks Some

Boston.Com ^ | 4-25-05 | Hiawatha Bray

[The_Media_never_lie]

Don't start with the pirate gags -- eye patches, pieces of eight, Johnny Depp with a cutlass. David Cook and Roger Green have heard them all.

Still, it is hard to resist the analogy. Here we are, with thousands of American software engineers clamoring for more work, and these two guys have a plan to carry even more jobs offshore. Not to India this time, or to China. Just . . . offshore. They figure three miles out in the Pacific should be far enough.

[The_Media_never_lie]

This is truly amazing. What kind of living conditions will these unfortunate people be subjected to? Is this a ship of opportunity or a slave ship? To what end will people go to become the low cost supplier?

At first I thought this was some kind of a joke.

Sea Code website

[beeler]

It's a luxery liner, not a dank frigate.

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like a juicy terrorist target to me. Just paint a big ole bullseye on the ship.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Just how much luxury will there be after living on this ship for 2 years without going ashore? Will the air conditioners be running? Will there be adequate health care? Will every thing on this ship be lowballed? How about health care? Who will be responsible for ensuring these workers have good working conditions?

[taxesareforever]

What kind of living conditions will these unfortunate people be subjected to?

Ever look at what "Smart Growth" is supposed to look like? No different than this.

[tfecw]

oh my...that would be the coolest thing ever. I'm definitely submitting my resume!!!!

But it won't last...doesn't the UN own the oceans now? What's the income tax for living in the UN nation?

[The_Media_never_lie]

Why work for 80k when you can work for 10k and live on a "luxury liner"? Free room and board....etc.

[Pessimist]

"Do you remember the Love Boat?" asked Cook"

Does he remember that programmers are overwhelmingly male?

I suppose the could dock of the coast of San Francisco ...

Seriously though, this is just another continuation of the way things have been going in the programming world anymore. When an illegal picks lettuce, the mantra is "He's doing a job no American would want anyway."

So what's the excuse w/ programming?

The unspoken truth to the "no-one else would want the job" mantra is "for the wage we intend to pay".

[Saberwielder]

[tfecw]

Well first off it's moot..I'm still entry level :)

I'd do it for the adventure mainly. I looked at supporting networks for a cruise ships (not much coding going on those) but then realized working on a cruise ship is not an adventure and generally sucks. Still very interesting idea. But you're right, once I'm making 80k I'll by myself a boat.

[beeler]

LOL, good one.

[Nick Danger]

Three miles off shore, eh? I say we take a boat out there and deliver two bales of really good dope.

There nothing quite like code written by a guy whose short-term memory is all hosed up.

[Daus]

Just how much luxury will there be after living on this ship for 2 years without going ashore?

From the article:

"During off hours on the ship, they'll be able to take a boat to shore, just like sailors on a visiting merchant ship. ''They can't live ashore, they can't work ashore, but they can come ashore and spend money," said Cook. "

[frithguild]

Interesting - kind of like Gresham's law - the most economic activity flows to where there is the least regulation.

[Pessimist]

"Steady boys... Just a few more lines of code.."

[The_Media_never_lie]

The unspoken truth to the "no-one else would want the job" mantra is "for the wage we intend to pay".

That is the qualifier that is left out.

[cripplecreek]

''They can't live ashore, they can't work ashore, but they can come ashore and spend money,"



Actually I suspect that they will disappear once all that "luxury" wears off.

[RobRoy]

"It's a luxery liner, not a dank frigate."

And how long before a "luxury hotel room" becomes just a tiny apartment without a kitchen?

[The_Media_never_lie]

It's good that they would spend their money here in the U.S. However, I really don't think they will have too much to spend any more than I believe it will be a "luxury liner" after 2 years. I'll bet it will be a rustbucket.

[Publius6961]

Wait.
I thought territorial (and jurisdictional) boundaries were 12 miles offshore.

Did I miss a memo?