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Are we putting that much significance from a quote in 2005 by a Google executive who has since left Google? While some see it as a social utility, Google is a
by ajiang 13y ago
Are we putting that much significance from a quote in 2005 by a Google executive who has since left Google?
While some see it as a social utility, Google is a $350B public company that generates its revenues from advertisements. 8 years ago, the world of advertising (and the world in general), was a different place. Holding Google accountable for something so far in the past by someone who is no longer there is a seemingly unfair standard.
- mathattack 13y agoIndeed - 8 years is a long long time. And who is actually harmed? Would it be less evil if Google had to put banner ads up to make payroll?
- tedunangst 13y agoWould it be less evil if Google had to put banner ads up to make payroll? I think so. Google can't really pass this off as "the economic situation forces us to make a really difficult choice."
- mathattack 13y agoBut is it really any different from a shareholder getting paid versus an employee? These are pension funds and 401ks counting on the money.
- tedunangst 13y agoPerhaps people invested in Google precisely because they believed in googles vision for a better web. Google has been fairly clear in telling investors, hey there's a line we won't cross. They can't complain. If there's something to complain about, it's sitting on $50 billion in cash and not paying a dividend.
- mathattack 13y agoTrue, though Google seems to be investing the cash fairly aggressively.