That's really not a useful distinction though.

If you drive or ride in any sort of vehicle that uses gasoline, then you're helping big oil get away with the deepwater horizon oil spill. ... Or even if you purchase any good or service that was transported by a vehicle that uses gasoline.

By using gas you're normalizing a system that accepts oil extraction as necessary which furthers the dubious behavior of the people responsible for deepwater.

Also by not using gas or any good or service that uses gas then you're making yourself look crazy which also furthers the dubious behaviors of big oil.

So now that everyone is evil; it really doesn't matter if anyone is evil. Might as well catch fish and drown them with oil by hand. Either way dubious behavior is furthered, so why not.

You're going to need a lot more nuance and practicality to make a meaningful statement in this realm.

It’s not binary. There are degrees.

Filling your car with petrol and choosing to stay with a dubious firm are at opposite ends.

The difference, to me, is your ability to avoid the complicity.

It’s hard, for most, not to drive in their petrol-based car.

But for many techies, it’s not hard to choose a different tech firm.

> It’s hard, for most, not to drive in their petrol-based car.

It is hard and probably not possible for some. But you still have some agency: you can use a bicycle or public transit when possible, buy a more fuel efficient car, etc. You’ll still use gas but less overall. Not as drastic as not using a drop of oil anymore but still something.

I agree there is a spectrum. I'm not sure what evidence there is, or even what metrics you would use to decide that these two are at opposite ends.

Ability to reasonably avoid the complicity.

Obviously what’s reasonable is up for debate.

I’d say leaving one firm for another firm, in a decent job market is definitely doable.

Not using your car, on the other hand, for lots of people, isn’t reasonable.

The problem is you are a cog, and most likely no better than your replacement cog, so other than your own moral high ground you aren't accomplishing anything. Personally I won't work somewhere that I find goes against my values. However I don't picture myself as the next MLK either.

You accomplish a small thing, but a socially valuable thing.

You communicate that you do not approve of the behaviour and will not help. By staying, you accomplish the opposite.

It's a small voice. But a society valuable voice. Society is a number of small voices.

The reason MLKs need to exist is because fewer people raise their voice.