9 ms·

Xoogler here. First, no, I don't trust you. Sorry. You seem like a nice person, but that means fuck-all when it comes to trust. Second, who cares about the em

Xoogler here. First, no, I don't trust you. Sorry. You seem like a nice person, but that means fuck-all when it comes to trust. Second, who cares about the employees? Google is not its employees. A corporation is a golem, animated by legal fiat and supposedly obedient to its owners. But the corporation's own internal power structure, as well as the larger structures above it like the state, the world, culture, etc. are what determine what it can and will do. You say that you all have compassion for humanity. And I'm sure you do! But that didn't prevent Real Names. You say that you all have respect for privacy. And I'm sure you do! But that didn't prevent personalized ads. You say that you all have morals, ethics, and the general ability to distinguish right from wrong. And I'm sure you do! But that didn't prevent Youtube from being steamrolled by anybody willing to swear out a DMCA request, to say nothing of Youtube Red. So, the question is, do you trust your employer? Not your bosses, not your peers, not HR and Legal, but Google itself, the golem?

joshuamorton 9y ago
(also a googler) >But that didn't prevent personalized ads. How is this a privacy violation? >Youtube from being steamrolled by anybody willing to swear out a DMCA request How is this Google's fault? (by this I mean its a legal issue. Google is, as far as I know, required to assume DMCA notices are made in good faith and respond to them, or itself be culpable for any violations). And I'm unaware of, for example, Google lobbying on behalf of the DMCA. >Youtube Red. What is unethical about Youtube Red?
cookiecaper 9y ago
This is an important point IMO. Consider the Bystander Effect. Most people will act decisively, even heroically, when they're confronted one-to-one with an individual in dire need. If, however, you put these people in a large group all witnessing the same pressing need, they will all stand by doing nothing. There are a few significant psychological processes at work here, but the point is that groups of people behave in non-intuitive ways that don't necessarily reflect the sentiment or intention of the individual members. We also see this in physical crowds; get enough people smashed into a small enough space and they lose individual agency and function as a fluid, with each individual carried by the wave and unable to control where they go. This results in stampedes and crowd crushes.

joshuamorton 9y ago

(also a googler) >But that didn't prevent personalized ads. How is this a privacy violation? >Youtube from being steamrolled by anybody willing to swear out a DMCA request How is this Google's fault? (by this I mean its a legal issue. Google is, as far as I know, required to assume DMCA notices are made in good faith and respond to them, or itself be culpable for any violations). And I'm unaware of, for example, Google lobbying on behalf of the DMCA. >Youtube Red. What is unethical about Youtube Red?

cookiecaper 9y ago

This is an important point IMO. Consider the Bystander Effect. Most people will act decisively, even heroically, when they're confronted one-to-one with an individual in dire need. If, however, you put these people in a large group all witnessing the same pressing need, they will all stand by doing nothing. There are a few significant psychological processes at work here, but the point is that groups of people behave in non-intuitive ways that don't necessarily reflect the sentiment or intention of the individual members. We also see this in physical crowds; get enough people smashed into a small enough space and they lose individual agency and function as a fluid, with each individual carried by the wave and unable to control where they go. This results in stampedes and crowd crushes.