Google's OS
Which is better for the people of China: a crappy censorship program that can be very easily circumvented, or a complete blocking of information? Given the choices, while it would have been nice of Google to be more difficult about cooperating, it was better in the long run to cooperate poorly than not cooperate at all. IMO.
Given the new situation, to continue to cooperate could cause more harm than not cooperating.
Not that I think they're perfect or anything, I just think they are making reasonable - if not ideal - choices.
Edited By TPRJones on 1263356514
Given the new situation, to continue to cooperate could cause more harm than not cooperating.
Not that I think they're perfect or anything, I just think they are making reasonable - if not ideal - choices.
Edited By TPRJones on 1263356514
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Well I don't think they care anymore, and never thought twice about giving the chinese government exactly what they wanted.
Oh, and to answer your question, I think it is better to completely block information and make the people so pissed off they actually rise up.
Edited By GORDON on 1263359732
Oh, and to answer your question, I think it is better to completely block information and make the people so pissed off they actually rise up.
Edited By GORDON on 1263359732
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Rising up in a police state is a bitch. Sometimes, it's better to poison the status quo internally. One dissident Iranian military leader w\ some munitions at his disposal would make a hell of an asset right now to a few folk.GORDON wrote:Oh, and to answer your question, I think it is better to completely block information and make the people so pissed off they actually rise up.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
That would be nice. But it's really hard for a down-trodden lower class to rise up against the upper class and win.
What's easier is for an annoyed large Westernized middle class to rise up and win. That's what's going on in Iran right now. A few decades of economic growth and consumerism has led to the growth of a middle class that gets annoyed when their toys get taken away, and it's much easier to rise up from inconvenienced comfort than it is from abject misery. This is the power of capitalism and it could eventually happen in China, too. Given how their economy is growing they're on the way.
Not that Google is some sort of noble freedom fighter or anything but they've been a useful tool in that direction, like cell phones, nike shoes, and SUVs. And now it's been taken away, which is another necessary step.
What's easier is for an annoyed large Westernized middle class to rise up and win. That's what's going on in Iran right now. A few decades of economic growth and consumerism has led to the growth of a middle class that gets annoyed when their toys get taken away, and it's much easier to rise up from inconvenienced comfort than it is from abject misery. This is the power of capitalism and it could eventually happen in China, too. Given how their economy is growing they're on the way.
Not that Google is some sort of noble freedom fighter or anything but they've been a useful tool in that direction, like cell phones, nike shoes, and SUVs. And now it's been taken away, which is another necessary step.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
I just think Google is not thinking about anything except their bottom line, which would be fine if they didn't try to portray themselves as anti-capitalistic "don't be evil" hippies.
I have a dollar that says there's no way in HELL google is pulling out of China, this is all just a ruse. They will come to an agreement with the chinese government and keep right on filtering content.
Edited By GORDON on 1263385366
I have a dollar that says there's no way in HELL google is pulling out of China, this is all just a ruse. They will come to an agreement with the chinese government and keep right on filtering content.
Edited By GORDON on 1263385366
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."