- RE: Game Devs do not deserve special attention over other workers.

I don’t think there is anyone claiming that game devs deserve “special attention over other workers.” However, it is not uncommon for the specialty media in almost any industry to devote attention to quality of life issues. I have a hard time seeing how increasing discussion of an issue would constitute “special attention.”

- RE: It’ s a free society

You’re right that parties have a freedom to contract. That may weigh against government regulation of employment industries. However, Surfer Girl was not asking for government regulation, but public awareness. It is common and accepted that consumers and the general public can influence parties, particularly where one party has greater market strength than another. Consumers frequently, just for example, protest companies that employ “unfair” employment conditions. As a result, in several instances, the company has adopted more worker-friendly conditions. You can’t be suggesting that such “interference” is wrong?

- RE: Employment conflicts are a he-said/she-said thing

I don’t think there are many issues raised on blogs that don’t rely upon imperfect factual knowledge. Dare I say that most are? Moreover, I don’t think we should have to presume perfect factual knowledge to make policy determinations. Can’t the public discuss an issue and resolve that “things ought to generally be X way” without presiding over individual factual disputes?

- RE: What Can we do?

See above. I have seen first-hand that companies take consumer concerns into account when setting internal policies. It seems fatalistic to say “I don’t think it would help so let’s not bother talking about it.”

Again, I don’t think you need to cover the issue if it doesn’t interest you, but I don’t think you have given very good reasons for why you shouldn’t.

Anyway as John says, they can tag on somewhere down the queue in the list of sucky jobs, at least it pays well.