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Re:Web’s Reach Binds N.S.A. and Silicon Valley Leaders by Helianthus on Thursday June 20, 2013 @09:48PM (#5916041)
Why would you only be ashamed now? The Silicon Valley's always been more greed than idealism; if anything, the idealism just makes the greed ever more rotten.

"Do no evil" ended up giving Google the power to do _more_ evil than it otherwise might've managed.

Re:Web’s Reach Binds N.S.A. and Silicon Valley Leaders by _delirium on Thursday June 20, 2013 @09:58PM (#5916071)
I do think there have been some internal struggles in the Valley, though I agree that the idealists have never really been in charge of the companies.

A simplified factional map might involve the "techies", the "suits", and the "apolitical pragmatists", with various shifting alliances between them. The early internet, for example, seems to have been largely dominated by ideologically pro-openness techies, working in a period where their bosses didn't interfere much. It's interesting to read Jon Postel's public emails, for example, and imagine if anyone in a similar position could fulfill his role with the same integrity today.

Re:Web’s Reach Binds N.S.A. and Silicon Valley Leaders by gundy on Thursday June 20, 2013 @11:00PM (#5916275)
It's marketing, friend, nothing personal. Just trying to make some money. You know. It's the 'murican way! No principles, just winning and money.