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by jere
4620 days ago
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I'm assuming the OP was referring to a protection racket: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_racket >A protection racket is an operation where criminals provide protection to persons and properties, settle disputes and enforce contracts in markets where the police and judicial system cannot be relied upon. Of course, Google isn't threatening anyone with DDoS, (even assuming that they somehow make money of you). Otherwise though, it's somewhat of an interesting analogy. This is a form of protection (of online property). And you can't really rely on the police to protect you from DDoS. I suppose it would be more reasonable to just compare it to a security firm though. |
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That's why the analogy is not interesting; the use of "mafia" is silly because it implies there's some criminal element to Google's intensions. For example, here's the opening line of that Wikipedia page:
> A protection racket is a scheme whereby a criminal group provides protection to businesses through violence outside the sanction of the law.
The only word this has in common with what Google is doing is "protection". The analogy captures nothing useful that "hiring a security guard" doesn't. But it also captures a whole universe of other implications that are entirely unwarranted and laughably unfair. It's a terrible analogy.
"You're just like a mafia don in that you also drive a car."
I should disclaim that I don't think the offering is above suspicion and criticism, just that the comparison to a protection racket is absurd.