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Is it though? I definitely disagree with the author, but I don't know if they're asking really to sear conscience as much as offer the perspective of their own
by vokep 8y ago
Is it though? I definitely disagree with the author, but I don't know if they're asking really to sear conscience as much as offer the perspective of their own conscience. They are not asking googlers to be ok with everything China does but are arguing that Google removing itself from China causes more harm than good. They're wrong (I think) but, its perfectly reasonable to make such an argument if one believes it.
- andrewflnr 8y agoThese Googlers' conscience is telling them that collaborating with a repressive regime's repression is wrong. OP is asking them to collaborate anyway. QED, honestly. I know the intent is what you've outlined, but I'm saying that's not as important, here anyway, as the conscience angle.
- pas 8y agoThis is probably a mismatch of ethics. Some are deontologists (say no to collaboration on principles) some are consequentialist/utilitarian. However it's hard to assess the long term effect of this on Google and other Google users. That's the real question. Okay Google builds DragonSpy. Okay, please make it work for Vietnam too says Vietnam, then me too says Putin, Venezuela, Iran, Turkey and so on. As long as dictators are forced to block it wholesale, people have a signal. (Even if it is propagandized and spin as a good thing, let's say for economic protectionism.) When dictators can fish for their enemies, people have a problem.
- andrewflnr 8y agoIt's more than that. Deliberately creating the environment where people ignore their conscience is always a huge mistake, beyond the particular issue. As a species, we need to be paying more attention to our consciences, not less.