Some time ago I offered to friend that I did not want anything to do with gmail (Google email) and that I was starting to have my doubts about Google (which, to my horror, now owns Blogspot.) Quizically, he asked why. Well, when a high tech company start cooperating with evil, murderous, communist thugs, its time to think of one's associations. He asked for links to these stories of Google's actions ... well here's something better: A admission by one of the sniveling weenies who started Google. My comments in red.
China censorship damaged us, Google founders admit
Jane Martinson in Davos
Saturday January 27, 2007
The Guardian
Google's decision to censor its search engine in China was bad for the company, its founders admitted yesterday.
Google, launched in 1998 by two Stanford University dropouts, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, was accused of selling out and reneging on its "Don't be evil" motto when it launched in China in 2005. The company modified the version of its search engine in China to exclude controversial topics such as the Tiananmen Square massacre or the Falun Gong movement, provoking a backlash in its core western markets. The new Google slogan can be Don't be Evil, Just Cooperate with It
Last year in a speech in Washington Mr Brin admitted the company had been forced to compromise its principles to operate in China. At the time, he also hinted at a potential reversal of its stance in the country, saying "perhaps now the principled approach makes more sense". Perhaps? This kind of sentence reminds me of the stuff that Stalin used to utter after the rampaging murders of the purges, when things got really bad he used to offer that there had been some excesses.
Much of the harm had come from newspaper headlines, he said, which affected perception for most people, who then did not read the actual articles. Okay, now some back tracking, now he is saying people are dumb.
Speaking about one of the hot topics of this year's meeting in Davos, Mr Brin said he had decided to offset his carbon emissions after growing concerned about his own use of private jets, despite not really being sure about the efficacy of such programmes. "I was concerned about my private jet travel and whatnot ... I wanted to offset it so I did."
Mr Brin said yesterday that he would feel a "bit better about it" by doing something "more specific" but declined to outline what that might be. Classic liberal ... mentor Al Gore, father of the 1000 foot limosine ride to the environmental movie debut would be proud.
If anybody has a suggestions for a new blogging program, I'm all ears. GOOGLE IS EVIL!
11 comments:
Thanks, I had trouble "Googling" the story.
Oh the irony .... wait what the heck are doing awake at this hour?
What are you using for searches?
I'm willing to entertain an alternative to Google/blogger, so keep us posted Tom. Thanks.
St. Alexander Nevsky cooperated with the Mongols, even to the extent of being a policing arm against rebellion. People complained and criticized about his actions, saying he was supporting evil.
St Thomas More did all he could to cooperate with and respect Henry VIII. He always remained the king's good servant, always, despite Henry's actions. People could have accused him of cooperating with evil, and therefore being evil.
Both of these Saints show us this immediate response is incorrect -- despite cooperation, they lived in purity and holiness, and was a witness to the truth in their cooperation. St Alexander Nevsky realized if he rebelled, he would only harm the nation, not help it.
Then there is the ultimate example:
Jesus found himself in Israel in the midst of a brutal regime. Many zealots thought their messiah would come and take the kingdom back by force. They wanted Jesus to do so, but believed his comments often indicated support and cooperation with the regime. They thought he was evil for that cooperation, and this led to his execution.
What do we learn from this? It is not "cooperation" which makes one evil, but how and what one does in that cooperation; guilt by association is a logical fallacy, and yet it is one often employed. Indeed, in a world which is fallen, in a society where evil exists around every corner, it is impossible for us not to be stained by our own personal cooperation with evil. We can't live in the world without some sort of cooperation.
Jay -
Here's a list of specialized search engines:
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/seek-and-ye-shall-find/seek-and-ye-shall-find-top-ten-alternative-search-engines-143293.php
I have a link at work with a whole menu. I'll post that Monday.
We should all (I know there are other readers out there) check these out I just found at http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2156221:
http://www.alltheweb.com
http://www.hotbot.com
http://www.teoma.com
http://www.gigablast.com
http://www.looksmart.com
http://www.lycos.com (a real classic)
Henry -
"It is not "cooperation" which makes one evil, but how and what one does in that cooperation" True. And google has altered its searched engine to omit things like Tianenmen (sp?) Square. It's Roman Catholic searches probably go to the People's Revolution Catholic Church (and the Archdiocese of L.A.). Google did the wrong thing. We see this don't we when we see false ecumenism.
St Thomas More did all he could to cooperate with and respect Henry VIII. True, he was an employee of the king. But in the end he did not sign and he instead chose to go to his death rather than compromise on principle.
Henry, you seem a erudite guy and you write well, but don't you think comparing the actions of St Thomas More (my patron saint) that dork from Google a little over the top.
Google may work well .... But I feel the need to take my business elsewhere. In the same way, I use Foxfire rather than Internet Explorer.
Wow, I was right. I instinctively called Henry "erudite." And dictionary.com explains erudite by using the term "an erudite professor" and sure enough Henry is a real professor! http://www.blogger.com/profile/29541099
What school are you associated with, good sir?
Thomas,
I am currently only an adjunct at Georgetown, while working on my dissertation at CUA (Catholic University of America).
I tell people -- I consider myself well read -- more than anything else. I have had the time and opportunity to study a great wealth of information which others could have they had similar opportunities.
Now, I a not really suggesting St Thomas More and Google are on the same level, but I am just trying to point out that one could easily read any "consent" as supporting evil. Google is a tool, and an imperfect one, but I do not think using it is in cooperation with evil. At least for the time being.
Google is a tool, and an imperfect one, but I do not think using it is in cooperation with evil.
This is true. Google is cooperating with evil, i.e. China.
I'm not sure you understood the point. Even if one could argue that Google is cooperating with evil, that does not mean our use of it means we are cooperating with evil.
Please be sure I understand the point. I still would like to get away from people who cooperate from evil even if it may not reflect badly on me (or you.)
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