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Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

nytimes.com

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Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#271

Post by bllguo »

ryanx435 wrote: post #257
astrodust wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was not aware that 2000 people starved to death at Google.

Way to miss the forest for the trees in the analogy. Google is removing people that have views that differ from the progressive narrative. It's not just about Google, it's about people who hold progressive beliefs seem to think that it is ok to remove people who express differing opinions. There is a large number of politicians who hold progressive beliefs. The Google incident can be interpreted as a warning that pro…

This is ridiculous. Not everything needs to be twisted into a slippery slope. This is not about "removing citizens that express differing opinions," it's about Google not wanting to fund people that criticize them. Is that good? No. Is it evil? I don't think so. They are free to criticize Google without benefiting from Google's money.

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#273

Post by rhizome »

waisbrot wrote: post #214
21 wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That organization doesn't say on it's website "we are a Google PR firm", or "we will never criticize Google", they imply they are an "independent think-tank not influenced by money".

And this isn't a Google-created group where you'd dig into their founders/records a little and be able to see that they're a Google PR firm. It's just that Google (among other companies?) has successfully given them funding to a degree where they can no longer afford to annoy Google.

Said another way, the organization has become successful enough in their messaging for Google to become annoyed.

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#274

Post by [deleted] »

ex3xu wrote: post #175

I recently picked up a book called, "No Wall Too High", the translated man who escaped from a Chinese labor camp under Mao Zedong. In this book, during his time in a re-education camp in Lijiang, the author relates seeing the story of Yang Shukang -- a man whose crime was simply writing a letter to the central leadership in Beijing saying that two thousand people had starved to death in his town of Jiuhe during the g…

[deleted]

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#275

Post by CaptSpify »

CPLX wrote: post #15

This isn't a problem with Google, it's a problem with the establishment left in the United States. There's no genuine, credible anti-corporate voice in American politics. The reasons why are many, but of course they typically distill down to the incredible power of money to influence people, of which this is an example. The side-effects of there being no credible labor party in our political system manifests, in part…

> This isn't a problem with Google, it's a problem with the establishment left in the United States.

Why not both? The root problem is the system, yes, but Google could choose to not take a part in that system. They both deserve blame.

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#276

Post by chaostheory »

scott00 wrote: post #264
chaostheory wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The thing is that Google has absolutely gone down questionable path from their early days. This is the price for being a public C-corp. There are very few people in history who can withstand the short term mob mentality of shareholders - in my mind only Jobs, Bezos, and Musk could do it... and survive. (imo Not even Bill Gates or Edison could do it) Maybe for other companies this can be mitigated by becoming a B-co…

Larry and Sergey own super-voting shares and can outvote all other shareholders combined.

Sure, but is Google's motto still "don't be evil"?

They may be able to potentially wield a big stick, but what's its use when they'll never use it and push back? they've been strong armed by Wall St to the point where they've kowtow enough to drastically change Google in not so great ways. In their defense, very few people can do better

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#277

Post by hsod »

wfo wrote: post #102
dublinben wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In your estimation, are you placing the very active and loud anti-corporate voices in this country outside of American politics, or merely denying that they are genuine?

By active and loud anti-corporate voices do you mean the pro-corporate liberal party, the pro-corporate conservative party, the corporate-owned TV media or the pro-corporate mainstream newspapers? There are anti corporate voices like e.g. Chomsky, Sanders, and they all have a couple of characteristics in common: they are ignored by the powers that be. They are without platforms, and they are without power.

If you aren't loudly hearing anti-corporate voices in the modern American political conversation, you aren't listening.

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#278

Post by dang »

fizixer wrote: post #97
unethical_ban wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a think tank, not a newswire. It has policy positions and opinions. It's completely expected for them to write articles and titles applauding or "regretting" policy moves. Applauding and regretting and whatnot are both leagues more respectful than your outlandish example.

> Applauding and regretting and whatnot are both leagues more respectful Oh, now you're favoring "respect" over "truly independent thinking"? How odd.

Would you please stop posting inflammatory and uncivil comments to HN? Especially on divisive topics, where they act as flamebait.

We're hoping for a higher quality of discussion here and that requires maintaining a slightly artificial level of self-discipline when annoyed, regardless of what we're annoyed by.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#279

Post by dang »

unethical_ban wrote: post #111
fizixer wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Applauding and regretting and whatnot are both leagues more respectful Oh, now you're favoring "respect" over "truly independent thinking"? How odd.

I didn't say that, and you're (probably intentionally) misreading my post. Your original complaint was that they insulted Google by taking a policy stance against them, and that they might as well have made a title regarding sex acts. I was telling you that is ridiculous.

Please don't post uncivil or unsubstantive comments to HN. This one is unfortunately both, even if your underlying point is correct.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Google Critic Ousted from Think Tank Funded by the Tech Giant

#280

Post by bllguo »

ebola1717 wrote: post #206
jcoffland wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great story but I fail to see the connection. This is a case of don't shit where you eat. If you want to speak out against Google then don't belong to an organization funded by Google.

That's exactly how we got to the situation we're in with climate change. The fact that corporate money can hold so much influence over what we research, what we say, and therefore what we know and believe, is and has already proved itself to be dangerous.

Thought provoking comparison. But it illuminates a key difference in assumptions. Climate change is objectively bad, and one of the greatest problems society faces. It is wrong for corporations to silence the truth about climate change.

OTOH I don't think Google is a clear and present danger to the world, and I don't think criticism of Google is objective truth; hence I don't think this is an evil act from Google.

I do believe that corporate money should not even be in this equation. Unfortunately, the strong governmental influence necessary for that to be true is an unlikely reality in the US.

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