4 ms·

Well, Google removed "Don't be evil" as their slogan quite some time ago. Don't think that was by an error.

Grazester 6y ago
Am I the only one that gets tied of the "Don't be evil" post each time a Google related post is made? It's like beating a dead horse.
- csharptwdec19 6y ago
  Maybe because the horse is still sitting there dead? :)
aikinai 6y ago
This is a rumor that won’t die because it’s too enticing to believe and tack onto any anti-Google sentiment. The phrase was only moved from the introduction to the conclusion of the code of conduct, never removed.
- fractionalhare 6y ago
  Checks out, as of September 2020: https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct/ https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct/
  - tanilama 6y ago
    > No Retaliation > Google prohibits retaliation against any worker here at Google who reports or participates in an investigation of a possible violation of our Code, policies, or the law. If you believe you are being retaliated against, please contact Ethics & Compliance. Well, it is safe to say this is hot garbage then. I would love Google to remove all the self entitled BS from this statement, so they can act as an everyday faceless big company which is anyway what it is doing, not some moral beacon for the mass to look up to. The statement exists only to generate traffic for the news outlet for spinning.
- daniel957 6y ago
  But they don’t emphasize it or mention it officially during orientation. It was only mentioned during one of the smaller tech trainings facilitated by a longtime Googler. To paraphrase their words, “I’m not sure why we don’t say this anymore.” So the statement that it’s really not a slogan anymore is quite true from my experience.
- jorlow 6y ago
  I was at Google (off and on) from 2007-2019. The company has definitely backed away from it both officially and unofficially.
  - daniel957 6y ago
    Correct.
- mtgx 6y ago
  It had multiple mentions (like a dozen or so). They left only one at the end. We can argue about semantics and it not being "technically removed" but the point is they broke the "Don't be evil" spirit of the company, and that was their intention. It's clear from many events following that one that the company is no longer interested in developing a culture of "ethical employees". They just want cheerleaders now to keep increasing those quarterly results, no matter the cost. I say all of this with the sadness of a former "Google evangelist." The old Google is gone, and Sundar Pichai being named CEO put the last nail in its coffin.
Udik 6y ago
Though they did replace it with the motto "do the right thing". Which to me is even more scary, as it means that Google decided to stop being a neutral entity within the boundaries of not causing harm, and decided to become a political actor that is committed on advancing its own idea of "right". What if (as it happens) my idea of what is right doesn't match that of a 1.7 trillion company that controls much of the information flow worldwide and provides most of the services I use in my daily life?
- tomcam 6y ago
  Obviously your comment will be downvoted to oblivion without our friends here in the HN audience explaining why, but I have precisely the same experience.
andybak 6y ago
Please can we stop repeating this at every opportunity? I'm sure everyone has heard it a million times. Whatever truth and insight it once conveyed has rather faded away.
- supergirl 6y ago
  yeah. and it’s not like “don’t be evil” is something to be proud of. it’s the bare minimum to be expected
eternalban 6y ago
Pretty sure the Devil's lawyers asked for that. "The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly [power]."

Am I the only one that gets tied of the "Don't be evil" post each time a Google related post is made? It's like beating a dead horse.

csharptwdec19 6y ago
Maybe because the horse is still sitting there dead? :)

aikinai 6y ago

This is a rumor that won’t die because it’s too enticing to believe and tack onto any anti-Google sentiment. The phrase was only moved from the introduction to the conclusion of the code of conduct, never removed.

fractionalhare 6y ago
Checks out, as of September 2020: https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct/ https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct/
- tanilama 6y ago
  > No Retaliation > Google prohibits retaliation against any worker here at Google who reports or participates in an investigation of a possible violation of our Code, policies, or the law. If you believe you are being retaliated against, please contact Ethics & Compliance. Well, it is safe to say this is hot garbage then. I would love Google to remove all the self entitled BS from this statement, so they can act as an everyday faceless big company which is anyway what it is doing, not some moral beacon for the mass to look up to. The statement exists only to generate traffic for the news outlet for spinning.
daniel957 6y ago
But they don’t emphasize it or mention it officially during orientation. It was only mentioned during one of the smaller tech trainings facilitated by a longtime Googler. To paraphrase their words, “I’m not sure why we don’t say this anymore.” So the statement that it’s really not a slogan anymore is quite true from my experience.
jorlow 6y ago
I was at Google (off and on) from 2007-2019. The company has definitely backed away from it both officially and unofficially.
- daniel957 6y ago
  Correct.
mtgx 6y ago
It had multiple mentions (like a dozen or so). They left only one at the end. We can argue about semantics and it not being "technically removed" but the point is they broke the "Don't be evil" spirit of the company, and that was their intention. It's clear from many events following that one that the company is no longer interested in developing a culture of "ethical employees". They just want cheerleaders now to keep increasing those quarterly results, no matter the cost. I say all of this with the sadness of a former "Google evangelist." The old Google is gone, and Sundar Pichai being named CEO put the last nail in its coffin.

Udik 6y ago

Though they did replace it with the motto "do the right thing". Which to me is even more scary, as it means that Google decided to stop being a neutral entity within the boundaries of not causing harm, and decided to become a political actor that is committed on advancing its own idea of "right". What if (as it happens) my idea of what is right doesn't match that of a 1.7 trillion company that controls much of the information flow worldwide and provides most of the services I use in my daily life?

tomcam 6y ago
Obviously your comment will be downvoted to oblivion without our friends here in the HN audience explaining why, but I have precisely the same experience.

andybak 6y ago

Please can we stop repeating this at every opportunity? I'm sure everyone has heard it a million times. Whatever truth and insight it once conveyed has rather faded away.

supergirl 6y ago
yeah. and it’s not like “don’t be evil” is something to be proud of. it’s the bare minimum to be expected

eternalban 6y ago

Pretty sure the Devil's lawyers asked for that. "The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly [power]."