Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
[edited by: jatar_k at 6:21 pm (utc) on Jan. 27, 2006]
[edit reason] fixed link [/edit]
Insofar as every other multinational company is in China, it is unreasonable to expect Google to take a stand on ethical grounds.
That said, TOS prevent me from saying what I actually think of China and current the pandemic of kowtowing.
Kaled.
Insofar as every other multinational company is in China, it is unreasonable to expect Google to take a stand on ethical grounds
I agree except for the "Do No Evil" motto of G
Look here they are changing the core wording of their mission statements from "Google does not censure any search term" " we believe strongly in the democracy of the web.."
to OK ..we will if you insist
I think it's because it IS Google they are taking more greif than any of the other Companies doing busineess in China..
It's because our expectations are higher for google..
it is unreasonable to expect Google to take a stand on ethical grounds
I think the point is that although Google are not doing anything unlawful, they hold themselves to a self-imposed higher standard so such an expectation might not have been so unreasonable, although given the nature of business highly unlikely.
Becuase they are owned by Wall Street now.
A revised version is now back online.
[google.com...]
It is Google's policy not to censor search results. However, in response to local laws, regulations, or policies, we may do so.
In other words, it is not their policy to censor results except when their policy is to censor results. Well, that clears things up! ;)
In other words, it is not their policy to censor results except when their policy is to censor results. Well, that clears things up! ;)
No, their policy is to obey the government laws, regulations and policies that apply to them in various locations.
Seems like a fairly sensible thing to do.
although Google are not doing anything unlawful, they hold themselves to a self-imposed higher standard
That is a very good point. These changes to the statement are, in effect, deciding that Google is casting such youthful idealism aside and joining 'the fray' where money is always more important than morality (bloody great).
Same with their television programs, one second it's the show, split second later a commercial, split second after that back to the show... All the while with blinkin or scrolling or even split screen blinkin and scrolling stuff. Enough to drive a westerner mad I tell ya.
They love lots of stuff happening all over the place; Google just doesn't fit the bill, in its current incarnation anyway. Same with MSN and Yahoo. Yes, even they don't have enough crap going on at the same time.
Have a look at the Chinese version of amazon.com, chalk full of blinkin and scrolling crap. They changed their format to suit the market, can Google do the same? Isn't that what made Google great, their plain, simple interface? I think they just shot themselves in the foot with their western users for what will ultimately be a bad business decision.
I saw a site with about 50 gaudy flashing and scrolling graphics plastered across the screen, and it nearly did the same for me too.
My knowledge of the orient and its peoples is limited to say the least, but one thing is certain, fashions can change very quickly. Also, whilst it's only a guess, perhaps their love of gaudy websites stems from the drab and austere past from which they are only now beginning to escape. If that is the case, it will not last forever.
Kaled.
