Posted on 08/26/2011 10:52:41 AM PDT by Chandalier
Google Inc. pulled the welcome mat out from under churches and other faith-based groups that previously were able to use its office software and popular Gmail for free when it, in effect, banned God from a program.. The Internet search and software giant’s new rules fly in the face of the program title of “Google for Nonprofits,” because it now excludes churches, schools, political think tanks, proselytizing groups and any organization that considers religion or sexual orientation in hiring decisions.
The move has been a blow to cash-strapped churches trying to use social media to keep faith in the Internet mix, according to a report in Christianity Today. For example, Brian Young, IT director for the Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky., had planned to unify 50 paid staff members and 270 volunteers with customized Gmail and office software; distribute video of Sunday services through a premium YouTube channel; beam live feeds of faraway missionaries using Google Video; and map locations of service projects and missionaries with Google Earth, according to Christianity Today. He expected that the 3,000-member church also could use up to $10,000 worth of Google AdWords included in the program. "There were so many things for nonprofits that were going to benefit us," Young told Christianity Today. "We just wanted to use them." Google’s move forced Living Hope to slash its plans and pay $2,500 ($50 per user) to use Google's office software and Gmail for a year.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I thought Gmail was free anyways?
We switched to Bing about a year ago, not because it’s necessarily better but because I refuse to give any more business to Google than I absolutely have to. They’re a scary bunch.
Colonel, USAFR
You are not Google's customer -- you are its products -- lab rats to be monitored and tracked before having your personal information laundered to advertisers - and maybe even shared with the government.
-- From the thread Do you really know Google?
As someone who’s worked in PR, I can’t believe they thought this was a good idea. Just think how many religious people there are using their products compared to gays. Also wonder if they apply this rule to Islam.
of course not. this is the continued attack on Christianity and the right
In looking at which Non-Profits can use it - it seems to exclude just about every non-profit category I can think of! So what’s the point of the program. It even dis-allows schools, or their booster clubs just as an example.
Seems to be a useless product.
I have started using Bing. Works fine for me. Why these companies want to drive away people, I don’t understand.
It should have forced them to find someone else to pay $50 per user, not Google... just sayin’.
According to the eligibility criteria, this program excludes not only religious groups (including all religions, not just Christianity), but also athletic leagues/teams, alumni groups, schools and other educational institutions, groups engaged in policy/political activities, and others. I don’t think this is part of a “continued attack on Christianity and the right,” as much as it is an attempt to limit this program to a rather narrow range of nonprofits (from the looks of it, primarily generic charitable organizations).
It isn't about that. But the Left has succeeded in indoctrinating a huge proportion of the educated population into the compulsion driven pursuit of uniformity of thought, along Socialist/Utilitarian/Collectivist lines. This is about punishing anyone who would dare make decisions based upon a belief that Faith & Religion are important; that we do not all have to accept the new social dispensation that the Left demands; that a free people have a right to still follow traditional lights.
Understanding better than anyone perhaps, how to use the internet for good or ill, does not necessarily qualify you as an authority on anything else. Outside their field of expertise, these folk are what we call "Mipips"--Marxist Influenced Pseudo-Intellectual Poseurs.
William Flax
I hope either Microsoft or Yahoo or even Facebook sees an opportunity here.
For a basic account, yes. I'm sure that they have extra services that might prove useful for small companies for a small fee.
Fees like that help keep the service free for everyone else.
“Google’s move forced Living Hope to slash its plans and pay $2,500 ($50 per user) to use Google’s office software and Gmail for a year.”
Huh? It didn’t force them to do that, they chose to pay. Gmail is free, and you can download and use Open Office for free. Why waste that money you could use to feed the hungry?
ABSOLUTELY INDEED
If I could just wean myself off of gmail, I'd be almost google-free.
Google has been cutting back on the IT services they provide for free. Last spring they cut back on the free services available to businesses.
They don’t owe free services to anyone.
I switched to Bing as well and for the same reasons. I don’t remember why but it was a few years ago.
Google Docs and G-Mail are free.
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