My father recently died and while things like these may trigger some slight pain, that's just life. You have to get the fuck over it.
It's never worth accommodating the easily offended, especially on the Internet.
Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
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Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#12I was just talking with my mom about this this morning. My father passed away about a year and a half ago. I still very much miss him.
I really hate to be That Guy that complains about the little things that are supposed to brighten our day. Particularly because I work for Google and have at various other times been the guy implementing these little things that then get complained about. I wouldn't want to see Google never do these things, because there will always be some minority of the user base that will be offended, and that's just life. Otherwise we get a boring faceless corporation, and that would be a shame.
But when I saw this, my reaction was very much the same as the posters on the support forum. It hurt. Because I totally would call him, if I could. But I can't. And that really, really sucks.
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#13In other news, users love to bitch about everything.
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#14I think it is a good lesson to small companies in that you shouldn't add things to what people consider "mine" or expect the normal family situation applies to everyone. The doodle is ok, but adding reminders crosses the line. Some of the forum postings are just sad and to think some managers decision added one more bit of pain is not something you want.
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#15Google surely must have anticipated that some people would react this way. Good on them for going ahead with this reminder anyway.
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#16My father recently died and while things like these may trigger some slight pain, that's just life. You have to get the fuck over it. It's never worth accommodating the easily offended, especially on the Internet.
Couldn't agree with you more, my dad passed about 7 years ago, the OP on the ticket seems to have daddy issues. If I was her father I'd be glad she didn't call.
There's a great way for the complainers to get rid of the message, stop using a service provided to you for FREE. Pay for your own server, own web interface, own backups, etc then there will be no "Call Dad" button. Until then deal with the fact that most fathers, sons, and daughters like each other and it's a good day to catch up.
The really great part is that later today my kids will be using Gmail to video conference with me. Kudos to Google.
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#17My father recently died and while things like these may trigger some slight pain, that's just life. You have to get the fuck over it. It's never worth accommodating the easily offended, especially on the Internet.
I lost my father a couple of years ago. I like being reminded of him, personally. Today is a good day for that.
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#18I think it is a good lesson to small companies in that you shouldn't add things to what people consider "mine" or expect the normal family situation applies to everyone. The doodle is ok, but adding reminders crosses the line. Some of the forum postings are just sad and to think some managers decision added one more bit of pain is not something you want.
FYI, "cutesy" features like this are very rarely "some manager's decision". They usually come from the engineers, who say "Wouldn't it be cool if...", get a bunch of friends to help them, code up a demo, and then go show a manager and say "Can you help us make this happen?" At some point, some VP has to sign off on it, but usually they just give it a cursory look and say "Approved."
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#19My father recently died and while things like these may trigger some slight pain, that's just life. You have to get the fuck over it. It's never worth accommodating the easily offended, especially on the Internet.
I lost my father a couple of years ago. I like being reminded of him, personally. Today is a good day for that.
that is a great way of looking at it. people need to stop being so sensitive. same goes to fleitz and schrototo
Re: Google reminds users to "Call Dad", makes users angry
#20I think it is a good lesson to small companies in that you shouldn't add things to what people consider "mine" or expect the normal family situation applies to everyone. The doodle is ok, but adding reminders crosses the line. Some of the forum postings are just sad and to think some managers decision added one more bit of pain is not something you want.
The flip side is the number of people that called their father because of the reminder, and what positive impact this had. Sorry, I can't help feel any sympathy for people pitching a fit over this. It reminds me of that woman who chastised the free lemonade kids.