3 ms·

"Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel." Is this a turning point? Sure Google has clout and they're trying to buy as much government protect

"Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel." Is this a turning point? Sure Google has clout and they're trying to buy as much government protection http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-google-is-transforming-power-and-politicsgoogle-once-disdainful-of-lobbying-now-a-master-of-washington-influence/2014/04/12/51648b92-b4d3-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-google-is-transfo... as possible but the press does this for a living.

psbp 12y ago
It's funny that your archaic quote undermines your point.
- 6cxs2hd6 12y ago
  Talking about ink isn't funnier than talking about digging under a foundation ("undermine"). I think we all know what both of you mean, with your non-literal, colorful expressions. :) GP makes a good point. Google is a de facto monopoly, no less than Microsoft was. Even if you stipulate that Google got there through nicer tactics than Microsoft, the end result is a similar huge concentration of power. We can laugh at old school publishers feeling disoriented. We can feel comfortable that Google won't use their power for "evil". Maybe that's a safe assumption for the near future. I think ultimately the most reassuring thing isn't Google's intentions, but the inevitability that they too will hand the reins to someone new. Maybe Amazon. Maybe a company that most of us have never heard of yet. (And during that transition the world will become more uncertain and more interesting again, for awhile.) But meanwhile Google has a huge amount of power, and healthy skepticism is fair.
  - whoismua 12y ago
    He thinks that Google is on "our side." Sire they were, when it convenient to their bottom line. Now, on commercial queries all above fold is paid links, not what's "best for the user."

3 ms·

"Never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel." Is this a turning point? Sure Google has clout and they're trying to buy as much government protect

by whoismua 12y ago

psbp 12y ago
It's funny that your archaic quote undermines your point.
- 6cxs2hd6 12y ago
  Talking about ink isn't funnier than talking about digging under a foundation ("undermine"). I think we all know what both of you mean, with your non-literal, colorful expressions. :) GP makes a good point. Google is a de facto monopoly, no less than Microsoft was. Even if you stipulate that Google got there through nicer tactics than Microsoft, the end result is a similar huge concentration of power. We can laugh at old school publishers feeling disoriented. We can feel comfortable that Google won't use their power for "evil". Maybe that's a safe assumption for the near future. I think ultimately the most reassuring thing isn't Google's intentions, but the inevitability that they too will hand the reins to someone new. Maybe Amazon. Maybe a company that most of us have never heard of yet. (And during that transition the world will become more uncertain and more interesting again, for awhile.) But meanwhile Google has a huge amount of power, and healthy skepticism is fair.
  - whoismua 12y ago
    He thinks that Google is on "our side." Sire they were, when it convenient to their bottom line. Now, on commercial queries all above fold is paid links, not what's "best for the user."