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About three decades ago, when I needed to purchase some office equipment, chiefly steel filing cabinets, I was amused by a firm whose computer, having been informed that R.P. Oliver was the purchasing agent for R.P. Oliver, offered the former a secret 'kick back' of 20% if he would buy their products at the expense of the latter. Another firm offered the purchasing agent a 'complimentary' woman's mink jacket, which would be sent with his compliments to 'any address,' thus tactfully permitting him to choose between his wife and his doxy. That would have been good business, had the computers been operated by someone with intelligence enough to notice the odd coincidence between the name of the purchasing agent and the name of the owner to be exploited.

Revilo P. Oliver#1

EthicsAutomationBusinessCorruptionTechnology

About this quote

What does it mean?
The author recounts a humorous story about computers suggesting kickbacks or gifts to a purchasing agent.
In plain terms
A computer program offered the purchasing agent a bribe in an earlier story.
What can you take from it?
Be careful when automated systems make suggestions about business ethics.

Where it applies

  • corporate procurement
  • tech ethics
  • business management

Putting it to work

  • review procurement policies
  • audit automated systems
  • train staff on ethics

Questions to consider

  • Can machines be trusted with ethical decisions?
  • How do you prevent corruption in hiring?

Another view

The story relies on a fictional scenario that might not reflect real tech capabilities.

More from Revilo P. Oliver

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  3. This man, a veteran journalist, held a position of importance in one of the lie-factories operated by the Roosevelt regime to keep the boobs pepped up with ent…

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