6 ms·

Perhaps a few people don't understand why OP takes this so seriously. This is the 'long game', the game for the betterment of human existence. (Cliche? yes, tru

Perhaps a few people don't understand why OP takes this so seriously. This is the 'long game', the game for the betterment of human existence. (Cliche? yes, true enough? - probably) If you still feel these huge corporations have our best interests at heart, you are being a touch naive. They are not 'evil' ofc, but they're probably not the best idea for the future.

l33tbro 12y ago
What is your best idea for the future? Do you think I or anyone else would find it palatable? Here's the thing: the profit motive is the impulse of corporations, not the sum total of all behavior. There are great people in corporations that do amazing shit within corporate structures. Coca-Cola have done incredible social art installations recently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_4vOUDImE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_4vOUDImE Google is a huge corporation based on the profit principle, but making coin has been the means for Page to fulfil his dreams of being remembered as our modern Tesla.
- hrktb 12y ago
  About Coca Cola, there is this very good talk by Melinda Gates about what they do in the developping world: http://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_french_gates_what_nonprofits_can_learn_from_coca_cola http://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_french_gates_what_nonprofit... I think enabling enterprising people to do business may be the most positive thing Coca Cola does to the world. For Google, it seems making money is not the end game. What they do have many positive fallouts, but I'm not sure they move the 'real' world forward as much as Microsoft (while openly evil, they brought a unified computing environment to the world) or Apple or even Amazon.
  - hitchhiker999 12y ago
    With all due respect, and thank you for the reply - I feel compelled to say this: I used to think like that, however after many years of observing the complicit abuse corporations like these preside over - I can no longer hold that opinion.
    - hrktb 12y ago
      If it is about Coca Cola, I have an idea of what kind of abuse or corporate behavior it has, and I don't think 'sugared water' is much needed in our world (I don't deny the value, I just think it's not a need). But even for such a company, there are some positive fallouts. In the ranking of evil companies, I'm not sure they even come close to the French water groups or big medical corporations, but I might just lack information. Edit: for Amazon and Microsoft, of course I get how bad they can behave. Amazon more so when it comes to distribution level workers and general social behavior. Microsoft I don't kniw if there are people ignorant of what they did the last decades.
- hitchhiker999 12y ago
  My best idea for the future? First one that comes to mind: Decentralisation of key services. Perhaps you don't find that palatable - others may. While I truly like 'Page', he seems like an interesting chap; It's a stretch to portray him as today's 'Tesla'.
VikingCoder 12y ago
We live in a capitalist world. Corporations are the natural extension. So, your choices are: go Amish, go Entrepreneur, or pick the least bad Corporations.
- Nemcue 12y ago
  In typical american fashion you paint the world black or white, when it is not so.
  - honksillet 12y ago
    There is nothing intrinsically american about this statement. If you think it is black and white, then fine, argue that point. By adding the phrase "In typical american fashion" you transform your post from a potentially valid point into a pointless petulant insult.
  - VikingCoder 12y ago
    I personally know people who have gone Amish, who have gone Entrepreneur, or have gone Corporate. I guess I also know people who have gone Government, or even Military. If you personally know people who have made other choices, please inform us, rather than just insult. You must be French.
    - eevilspock 12y ago
      What about going Rebel?
      - VikingCoder 12y ago
        How will you eat? Beg? I didn't list that as an option, I guess. Farm? I listed going Amish. F it, we'll do it live! I listed Entrepreneur.
javert 12y ago
> This is the 'long game', the game for the betterment of human existence. There is no rational moral justification for this ethic. It's arbitrary. Don't devote your life to something morally arbitrary.
- hitchhiker999 12y ago
  No, it's fine - as a person who's been surrounded by coding and logic since I was 6 years old (32 years ago). I'll choose the 'arbitrary' (from your perspective) choice. In my somewhat silly opinion -> All choices are arbitrary beyond 'i exist'.
presootto 12y ago
There's plenty of people who still believe that, even inside of Google. Then there's the group of employees, known as the 'memegen consenus', who have come to realize that Google is not different from any other large corporation. Color me cynical, but after witnessing things like the 'no poaching' settlement and the internal memo that calimed they didn't believe to have done anything wrong, I can't see why Google should be anybody's dream company. Google's reputation is worse then Microsoft these days, so it seems the public is finally waking up. Disclaimer: I work for Google.

l33tbro 12y ago

What is your best idea for the future? Do you think I or anyone else would find it palatable? Here's the thing: the profit motive is the impulse of corporations, not the sum total of all behavior. There are great people in corporations that do amazing shit within corporate structures. Coca-Cola have done incredible social art installations recently - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_4vOUDImE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_4vOUDImE Google is a huge corporation based on the profit principle, but making coin has been the means for Page to fulfil his dreams of being remembered as our modern Tesla.

hrktb 12y ago
About Coca Cola, there is this very good talk by Melinda Gates about what they do in the developping world: http://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_french_gates_what_nonprofits_can_learn_from_coca_cola http://www.ted.com/talks/melinda_french_gates_what_nonprofit... I think enabling enterprising people to do business may be the most positive thing Coca Cola does to the world. For Google, it seems making money is not the end game. What they do have many positive fallouts, but I'm not sure they move the 'real' world forward as much as Microsoft (while openly evil, they brought a unified computing environment to the world) or Apple or even Amazon.
- hitchhiker999 12y ago
  With all due respect, and thank you for the reply - I feel compelled to say this: I used to think like that, however after many years of observing the complicit abuse corporations like these preside over - I can no longer hold that opinion.
  - hrktb 12y ago
    If it is about Coca Cola, I have an idea of what kind of abuse or corporate behavior it has, and I don't think 'sugared water' is much needed in our world (I don't deny the value, I just think it's not a need). But even for such a company, there are some positive fallouts. In the ranking of evil companies, I'm not sure they even come close to the French water groups or big medical corporations, but I might just lack information. Edit: for Amazon and Microsoft, of course I get how bad they can behave. Amazon more so when it comes to distribution level workers and general social behavior. Microsoft I don't kniw if there are people ignorant of what they did the last decades.
hitchhiker999 12y ago
My best idea for the future? First one that comes to mind: Decentralisation of key services. Perhaps you don't find that palatable - others may. While I truly like 'Page', he seems like an interesting chap; It's a stretch to portray him as today's 'Tesla'.

VikingCoder 12y ago

We live in a capitalist world. Corporations are the natural extension. So, your choices are: go Amish, go Entrepreneur, or pick the least bad Corporations.

Nemcue 12y ago
In typical american fashion you paint the world black or white, when it is not so.
- honksillet 12y ago
  There is nothing intrinsically american about this statement. If you think it is black and white, then fine, argue that point. By adding the phrase "In typical american fashion" you transform your post from a potentially valid point into a pointless petulant insult.
- VikingCoder 12y ago
  I personally know people who have gone Amish, who have gone Entrepreneur, or have gone Corporate. I guess I also know people who have gone Government, or even Military. If you personally know people who have made other choices, please inform us, rather than just insult. You must be French.
  - eevilspock 12y ago
    What about going Rebel?
    - VikingCoder 12y ago
      How will you eat? Beg? I didn't list that as an option, I guess. Farm? I listed going Amish. F it, we'll do it live! I listed Entrepreneur.

javert 12y ago

> This is the 'long game', the game for the betterment of human existence. There is no rational moral justification for this ethic. It's arbitrary. Don't devote your life to something morally arbitrary.

hitchhiker999 12y ago
No, it's fine - as a person who's been surrounded by coding and logic since I was 6 years old (32 years ago). I'll choose the 'arbitrary' (from your perspective) choice. In my somewhat silly opinion -> All choices are arbitrary beyond 'i exist'.

presootto 12y ago

There's plenty of people who still believe that, even inside of Google. Then there's the group of employees, known as the 'memegen consenus', who have come to realize that Google is not different from any other large corporation. Color me cynical, but after witnessing things like the 'no poaching' settlement and the internal memo that calimed they didn't believe to have done anything wrong, I can't see why Google should be anybody's dream company. Google's reputation is worse then Microsoft these days, so it seems the public is finally waking up. Disclaimer: I work for Google.