Posted on 09/14/2005 5:37:46 AM PDT by imintrouble
Earlier this week we discussed the 9/11 Anniversary and one writer mentioned that Google had not placed a logo or identifying symbol on their opening page. I wrote an e-mail and received a reply.
I just sent an e-mail in return reminding them that I will not forgot to look next year to see what they have "come up with", and as far as "hurt feelings" of the international commuity, I thought Google was still a U.S. corporation. In addition there were lives from other nations lost in that tragedy.
A logo needn't be their "only answer" in opting to ignore the anniversary (which was their primary intent)... a simple phrase "We will never forget" would have sufficed. "Lest we forget" has done well in our memorials to WWI and WWII.
I also wrote their bias is showing through in their banner ads and their links for the general public and I personally feel if they are going to become a political activist company, I will spread the word to stop utilizing their services.
The sheer numbers of abstinence may make them think twice about where they are going in their philosophies or whether they intend to cover all spectrums of ideological belief.
Their response is as follows:
"Thank you for your note. We would like to explain to you why we didn't post a Google holiday logo for September 11 this year. As an international company, we'd like our logos to reflect the diverse, global nature of our user base. The decision whether to display a special logo for a holiday doesn't reflect any judgment on our part about the holiday itself.
Furthermore, Google's special logos tend to be lighthearted in nature. If we were to commemorate September 11, we'd want to express reverence, rather than mirth. This would be a particularly challenging design. We would not want to, in any way, create a graphic that could be interpreted as disrespectful. In light of the mail we've received about this, we're actively considering designs we could display on this day next year. We welcome any suggestions you may have.
Regards, The Google Team"
Americans must unite or we will lose our freedoms given to us by the lives of others in defense of those freedoms.
Amen to that
Um. I could have sworn they had a ribbon up for the past couple of weeks in support of Hurrican Katrina victims. Hardly and international incident and hardly "lighthearted in nature."
Do you suppose there's a "Mrs. Team" who named her child "The"?
Screw Google. I avoid them whenever possible.
Google News is a total outrage. When you search Google's so-called news site, it brings up lefty blogs like OpEd News and sources like Media Matters [the polar opposite of Brent Bozell's Media Research]. Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs has long complained about how pro-American views and sources are filtered out in Google News.
International, diverse and global are nice words from some more rich and powerful liberals. I am still so confused how liberals have money. When I gre up I was taught by libs that they hated money and power because they corrupt. Now we find out that the rich and powerful are often liberals. I am so confused.
I suspect that Google is going to blow it by getting political to a greater and greater extent. They are successful now because they are seen as a neutral party that helps with all things. But I don't think they are going to be able to resist the temptation to try to use their successful position to start pushing the standard Idiot Lefty line. At that point, they will sacrifice the characteristic of univeriality which is the only reason they were successful in the first place.
If Google is still a major player in five years, I will be very surprised.
The designs must reflect the preferences of the person creating them.
I'd love to stop using Google--I noticed the lack of a 9/11 tribute too.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a better search engine?
How about a Red Crescent of Embrace?
Holiday? Stupid wankers.
I'm pretty sure that whether or not Google posts a logo for a day has nothing to do with the continued existence of our freedoms. In fact, I would posit that outrage over Google's logo - or lack thereof - is more of a threat.
"As an international company, we'd like our logos to reflect the diverse, global nature of our user base.....We would not want to, in any way, create a graphic that could be interpreted as disrespectful"
Assuming that the world (not just NY) was attacked on Sept 11, who the hell are they going to offend...THE TERRORISTS? I would think ignoring the whole thing would be more disrespectful of the victims (and their families).
Too much self-appreciating "***Symbolism over Substance***" already in this country.
The GOOGLE logo as a "SOLIDARITY" symbol?
Velcom to the Gulag! Where ***Symbolism over Substance*** always wins!
I wondered why that did not put one up myself.
Many people of many different nationalities died on 9/11, I don't think it gets much more international than that.
Dogpile. Uses multiple search engines
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