he resigned because of... "politics"? and not because of the path Google has chosen for Android security?
i know right. i imagine they were other reasons and this one sounded nice to share on a public doc tbh.
Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
131–140 of 290 posts
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#132Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#133Earlier quoted context omitted.
The author of this article disagrees: > “Don’t Be Evil” wasn’t just a slogan of often-referenced Googliness—it was a north star for teams making hard calls. It definitely counts for something that at least one senior leader felt the slogan was relevant for decision making.
The author is not cynical enough. Do you going around telling people how virtuous you are? No, good people just try and be good. The slogan was a red flag right from the start.
That sounds pithy, but a person doesn't need to remind themselves of their own values; a company of 200,000 people does.
Which isn't to say cynicism for these sorts of company charters isn't warranted, just not for that reason.
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
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BIT of a broad brush there but we can take the critique. While we vote for our leaders we don’t exactly get a say or have awareness of what sort of covert bullshit some over eager Yale graduate is doing as a top secret operation.
OK, but what about the open stuff? Like the current and previous president being publicly genocidal? Like the health care system being used as a weapon against the domestic population, or the US armed forces destroying the planet by just existing and spewing so much carbon oxides and pollutants into the global environment?
Either those votes are worth something, and it implicates US voters, or they're not worth something and the US political system is basically a sham deserving of revolution, which also implicates US voters who do not organise to this end. Arguably every state on friendly terms with the US is similarly morally implicated as well.
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#135This mirrors my own experience as a European that worked at FAANG in the Bay Area. It used to be a dream job. Now I've relocated back to Europe and want nothing to do with American Big Tech. It's become toxic and completely counter to my values. America has become a much darker place that has a very different place in the world. American tech companies have not just accepted, but actively embraced this transition. I…
You're not gonna like it when you find out where, exactly, America learned those values from.
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#136This mirrors my own experience as a European that worked at FAANG in the Bay Area. It used to be a dream job. Now I've relocated back to Europe and want nothing to do with American Big Tech. It's become toxic and completely counter to my values. America has become a much darker place that has a very different place in the world. American tech companies have not just accepted, but actively embraced this transition. I…
European companies aren’t much different so just be sure to check where you stand first before you’re SURE you’ve actually escaped.
I don't think there's a big risk the European startup I work for now is involved in bombing brown people in the Middle East, actively accelerating climate change or dividing society for engagement.
Seems like a much better bet for my values, at least.
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sometimes. Sometimes not. I left with more than 4 million in RSU's left. Pretty much any Googler who leaves will be leaving lots of money on the table. This is because they are usually 3/4 year grants, so it's pretty much impossible to leave without lots of unvested RSU. There are some 1 year grants, but those are much more uncommon (~1%)
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And? I value this as a forum where people can speak plainly and transparently (mostly).
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#138This mirrors my own experience as a European that worked at FAANG in the Bay Area. It used to be a dream job. Now I've relocated back to Europe and want nothing to do with American Big Tech. It's become toxic and completely counter to my values. America has become a much darker place that has a very different place in the world. American tech companies have not just accepted, but actively embraced this transition. I…
You're not gonna like it when you find out where, exactly, America learned those values from.
Luckily, we've gone through that phase around ninety years ago in Europe. We've been trying to avoid it happening again ever since, though right now is a dangerous time here as well. But hey, at least Europe hasn't fallen yet.
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
The "Don't be evil" motto was diluted in 2015 when alphabet was formed, and taken down in 2018, so yeah, things were brewing from before.
The author of this article disagrees: > “Don’t Be Evil” wasn’t just a slogan of often-referenced Googliness—it was a north star for teams making hard calls. It definitely counts for something that at least one senior leader felt the slogan was relevant for decision making.
Most people that one would describe as evil do not see themselves as evil, but rather see what they're doing as justified. Saying you're not going to be evil means literally nothing.
Don't be the bad guy, ok, but if you think your goals are noble enough then crossing lines becomes acceptable. Google sold everyone on the "we're going to change the world for good and improve everyone's lives and make all information accessible and free" line, and in doing so justified everything else they did - privacy invasion, monopolistic behavior, etc.
The fact that they said "don't be evil" should have been a massive red flag for everyone, not a green one.
Re: Why I'm Forced to Say Farewell: Google Management Has Lost Its Moral Compass
#140"Enough of my equity has vested, virtue signal engage."
Biting the hand that fed you... on your way out.