bbrown
07-08-2007, 03:40 PM
I don't know if this has been discussed elsewhere, but what are your opinions about the Google blog entry (http://google-health-ads.blogspot.com/2007/06/does-negative-press-make-you-sicko.html) slightly dismissing Michael Moore's new hit piece, Sicko?
They've apologized both in the press (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_6310943) and on the blog (http://google-health-ads.blogspot.com/2007/07/my-opinion-and-googles.html) in question (plus the general corporate blog (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/google-and-health-care.html)).
The blogosphere erupted (http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?q=sicko+google) like a veritable (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/google-takes-on-michael-moore/) volcano. You'd have thought that Google had publicly denounced Michael Moore (oh, how refreshing that would be!) and called him a liar. If you read the Googler's actual statement, it seems pretty watered down and something that Moore himself couldn't disagree with.
I haven't watched Sicko, so I can't speak to the veracity of its claims or the tenor of its message. But being familiar with Moore's tactics, I can say that I bet I wouldn't agree with it and that I'm sure I'd find it the worst form of pandering.
I work for a company whose owner writes some pretty outrageous blog entries that have generated their own share of controversy (http://www.metafilter.com/42906/Dear-Bob-Im-glad-youre-not-in-charge). Why must businesses be so mealy-mouthed? Why can't we take stands when things are not right? I wish Google had stood its ground (if, in fact, that was its corporate position).
Bill
They've apologized both in the press (http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_6310943) and on the blog (http://google-health-ads.blogspot.com/2007/07/my-opinion-and-googles.html) in question (plus the general corporate blog (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/google-and-health-care.html)).
The blogosphere erupted (http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?q=sicko+google) like a veritable (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/01/google-takes-on-michael-moore/) volcano. You'd have thought that Google had publicly denounced Michael Moore (oh, how refreshing that would be!) and called him a liar. If you read the Googler's actual statement, it seems pretty watered down and something that Moore himself couldn't disagree with.
I haven't watched Sicko, so I can't speak to the veracity of its claims or the tenor of its message. But being familiar with Moore's tactics, I can say that I bet I wouldn't agree with it and that I'm sure I'd find it the worst form of pandering.
I work for a company whose owner writes some pretty outrageous blog entries that have generated their own share of controversy (http://www.metafilter.com/42906/Dear-Bob-Im-glad-youre-not-in-charge). Why must businesses be so mealy-mouthed? Why can't we take stands when things are not right? I wish Google had stood its ground (if, in fact, that was its corporate position).
Bill