Google: "people with no data aren't worth listening to"

"People with no data aren't worth listening to." If that was quoted in context, it was a completely unnecessary comment, which suggests he truly believes it. No wonder Google has a hard time making friends...

By c6ten on 2 Mar 2010

Typical ubergeek: absolutely no idea how other people think, probably hasn't even crossed his mind that other people may in fact be different. Google clearly have too much money and don't know what to do with it. They should return it to shareholders.

By SwissMac on 2 Mar 2010

As a scientist, I have to agree with the statement (at least kind of). Do you take advice from someone who has nothing to back up what they're saying? No... Do you take advice from someone whos tried something, found it didn't work and found a better way to do it? Yes... so I agree with him!

By Ic3Knight on 2 Mar 2010

Is Google hated?

Is Google now the most hated big company? Slowly taking over from Microsoft and Apple?

By CraigieDD on 2 Mar 2010

They're not even close yet!

@CraigieDD -in my view (not even remotely humble) Google are nowhere near as bad as either Microsoft or Apple. Google do clever things which I use if I choose to do so. When I don't use them Google doesn't muscle into my world.
Microsoft operates a near monopoly which dictates much of the development of PC innovation.
Apple sell you a device and then choose who has the right to sell you additional value.
So, in summary, Google enables and gives you choice; Microsoft and Apple both try to limit choice. I know which model I prefer.

By milliganp on 2 Mar 2010

Doesn't muscle in?

Funny...Google didn't give me a choice about whether I was opted into a service that blarts your personal details and physical location at anyone you've ever exchanged an email with. Oh...but I forgot...that's not muscling in, because "privacy laws need to be respected, but I hope they don't get in the way of innovation." and (according to their CEO) "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."

By nichomach0 on 2 Mar 2010

"People with no data aren't worth listening to"
I can take this in two ways - either "We don't care about you as a person if you can't provide Google with its raw data" or (as I suspect he meant) "Your credibility as an information source depends on the information you have."
Trouble is - he comes over as a geek who simply doesn't understand people - that statement is not clear, while "privacy laws need to be respected, but I hope they don't get in the way of innovation" shows no empathy for people's concerns (real or imagined). And I cannot understand what possessed him to say "we're just a few thousand engineers" - sounds a heck of a lot to the man in the street.

By AdrianB on 2 Mar 2010

Do no evil...?

What happened to the "Do no evil" motto?

By SwissMac on 2 Mar 2010

I have no problems with Google or their activities. If they overstep a line, they pull back.

Most of the press coverage of complaints come from their competitors who can't compete, despite being in the market for longer than Google.

Privacy issues relating to Street View are a sham, anybody can take a photo, geo-tag and post it on the web without the EU getting involved, so why is Street View singled out?

By Phoomeister on 3 Mar 2010