"WHEN FASCISM COMES TO AMERICA IT WILL BE WRAPPED IN THE FLAG
AND CARRYING A CROSS." -SINCLAIR LEWIS

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Something Someone Else Said

"Google differs from Microsoft in at least one very important way. The ends that Microsoft has pursued are commercial ends. It's been in it for the money. Google, by contrast, has a strong messianic bent. The Omnigoogle is not just out to make oodles of money; it's on a crusade - to liberate information for the masses - and is convinced of its righteousness in pursuing its cause. Depending on your point of view as you look forward to the next ten years, you'll find that either comforting or discomforting." -Nicholas Carr, Rough Type

I for one find it comforting and yes, the hot chick is completely gratuitous.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

(Disclaimer - I work for MSFT)

Please. There's no way Google isn't in it for the money. Maybe the founders originally thought, "let's give the world information." Today they own a Boeing 767 and are multi-billionaires.

Perhaps the best proof against this altruistic view of Google is the fact that employee morale has taken a hit because the stock has flat lined for a year or so. During this time I'm sure they spread more info across the globe, but since their stock options are underwater they're less happy.

Anonymous said...

Two quick additions:

#1. Ironically, I read this article right after my first post.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/technology/13nocera.html?pagewanted=1

#2. Can you post a pic of her after the shirt comes off? Please?

JBW said...

My intent in posting the quote wasn't to endorse their altruism (I am first and foremost a cynic) but to acknowledge how they have and will continue to change our world. I don't have stock options for either entity so I have no horse in this race. Regardless of what they've morphed into the Google founders' origional intentions still affect us today, and I believe in a mostly beneficial way.

Shout out to you and your drunken spouse for the garbled message I receieved the other night. I'm still looking into coming up for a few days in the near future.

JBW said...

This is just one reason why I strongly endorse net neutrality legislation.