From: "Baxter,Mary P" <Mary.P.Baxter@kp.org>
To: "'kiniry@cs.caltech.edu'" <kiniry@cs.caltech.edu>
Subject: FW: PETS
Date: Thu, 29 Aug 1996 08:44:43 -0700
Return-Receipt-To: "Baxter, Mary P" <Mary.P.Baxter@kp.org>
X-Mailer: Microsoft Exchange Server Internet Mail Connector =
Version 4.0.993.5
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From: Vadnais,Norman G
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 6:11 PM
To: _ Dist_CS-Core-List
Subject: FW: PETS
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From: macpony[SMTP:macpony@apc.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 6:23 AM
To: Vadnais,Norman G
Subject: PETS
NEW YORK -- People for Ethical Treatment of Software (PETS) =
announced=20
today that more software companies have been added to the group's=20=
"watch list" of companies that regularly practice software =
testing.=20
"There is no need for software to be mistreated in this way so =
that=20
companies like these can market new products," said Ken Grandola,=20=
spokesperson for PETS."Alternative methods of testing these =
products=20
are available."
According to PETS, these companies force software to undergo =
lengthy=20
and arduous tests, often without rest, for hours or days at a =
time.=20
Employees are assigned to "break" the software by any means=20
necessary, and inside sources report that they often joke about=20
"torturing" the software.
"It's no joke," said Grandola. "Innocent programs, from the day =
they=20
are compiled, are cooped up in tiny rooms and "crashed" for hours =
on=20
end. They spend their whole lives on dirty, ill-maintained =
computers,=20
and are unceremoniously deleted when they're not needed anymore."
Grandola said the software is kept in unsanitary conditions and is=20=
infested with bugs. "We know that alternatives to this horror =
exist,"=20
he said, citing industry giant Microsoft Corporation as a company =
that=20
has become successful without resorting to software testing.
Michael Mackessy
MacPony@apc.net