from Hacker News

Eric Schmidt thought 'Don't Be Evil' was 'the stupidest rule ever' (2013)

by whizzkid on 2/7/19, 9:08 PM with 5 comments

• by projectileboy on 2/7/19, 10:56 PM

  It was brilliant play. In the beginning we believed in Google, so we (myself included) were all ready and willing to let them store our email, photos, documents, and anything else. They were here to index the world's knowledge! It wasn't even about the money! And now, I doubt most of us (at least, those of us who like to believe that we have any moral compass at all) only still have data on Google through inertia. Their ethical track record at this point is not encouraging.

• by daniel-cussen on 2/7/19, 10:23 PM

  > "Now, when I showed up, I thought this was the stupidest rule ever, because there's no book about evil except maybe, you know, the Bible or something." In the end, though, he believes it has worked, by giving employees a way to point out things they find unethical.

  Worth pointing out rules are made, usually on two premises: should we and could we. Should we: is it morally sound? Could we: good intentions and morality notwithstanding, can it be enacted workably, to achieve intended effects and create little or no unintended effects?

• by ddmma on 2/8/19, 5:19 AM

  So this ‘stupid rule’ was referring more on Microsoft hate that was crafted and promoted in order to get developers into Google stacks. After many startups (android, youtube,chrome,gmail etc) acquisitions, that were popular into people ‘search results’, they reunite their privacy terms and stalk everyone life’s therefore becoming top evil corp. enjoy!

• by gaspoweredcat on 2/8/19, 9:18 AM

  obviously, its a rather abstract concept thats very subjective at best, i dont suppose Hitler saw himself as evil