On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 11:51:16AM -0600, Theresa Kehoe wrote:
> You're inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt until they
> prove otherwise to your satisfaction.  The way I see it, they
> are a for-profit advertising company.  I trust their motives ...
> their motives to maximize shareholder value.  That is their duty
> as a for-profit corporation.

My impression is that Google knows it walks a fine line and that
the worst thing they could do to hurt their profits is "evil."
Microsoft had a monopolistic advantage when it was able to get
their OS installed on every machine.  That advantage made it very
difficult for people to actually choose an alternative.  Google's
advantage is much more ephemeral.  People can just stop using
them.  I don't even use them all the time. 

> I trust them to act responsibly and ethically regarding the
> untold mountains of information they are collecting on the human
> race exactly as far as it benefits them, and no further.

I do try to give the benefit of the doubt to people.  My
impression of Google, and I could very well be wrong, is that they
might understand the idea that "your welfare is important for my
welfare."  Until shown otherwise, I'll stick with that.  I also
believe in mistakes and that we all make them and that it takes a
lot of mistakes and a proven pattern before a conspiracy or an
intention can be shown to exist.

> But that's OK -- the best thing about this list is reading
> different viewpoints, and learning from them!  I know I learn a
> lot from you.

I do too. :)

Sean
-- 
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:15:56 -0600

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