OT: Hands Off Google!

[Daniel P. Stasinski]

On Thu, 2006-02-02 at 10:53 -0700, Randy Melder wrote:
> What's really sad is that if it were Microsoft agreeing to censorship,
> you'd be all over them... for some reason, Google gets a pass? Why?

I find myself in the same boat, and not sure of the reasons.  Perhaps
it's the perception that Microsoft's goal is to dominate the world -vs-
Google, who only wants to be the greatest thing since sliced cheese,
block cheese and cheese in a can.

Then again, perhaps it's the perceived difference between the barbarian
busting down the door and the barbarian who knocks on the door, smiles,
and then gets invited in.  In the end they're still barbarians.

I like Google's stance on "Do No Evil" but then I always look back to a
great quote by C.S. Lewis:

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may
be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons
than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may
sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those
who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do
so with the approval of their own conscience... To be 'cured' against
one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to
be put on a level with those who have not yet reached the age of
reason... You start being 'kind' to people before you have considered
their rights, and then force upon them supposed kindnesses which they in
fact had a right to refuse, and finally kindnesses which no one but you
will recognize as kindnesses and which the recipient will feel as
abominable cruelties."

It applies in a highly vague sence.

I love what Google offers, but I am wary.

Daniel

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