I've mentioned a number of times i work for google, and try to do so when appropriate.
I removed it from my HN profile after I started getting folks bringing it up randomly.
I regularly am discussing Google's business with Googlers on here. Some of them disclose in the post, some of them disclose on their HN profile. Many do not, and calling them on it is generally discouraged, but it's usually not super hard to figure out or prove.
There are definitely some acting as spokespeople (even if they claim otherwise), but there are also quite a few who are just, you know, incredibly biased fans of their employer, who like to defend them on topics unrelated to their job.
But when a tech company has 100,000 employees, it's not particularly surprising to see a good number of them on a tech forum. ;)
Agreed. Seems like a conflict of interest. I'd very much appreciate any Googler outright stating as such at even the slightest mention of their employer, and doubly so when recommend Google products.
It would be hypocritical of me to not do as I ask of others, so for the record: I'm a self-employed programming consultant.
ironically it achieves the opposite, when someone declares themselves a Googler I assume they're biased (you are, uncontrollably) and disregard it
it's not a legal requirement, I mean maybe they say it is, but it's bogus...
on a deeper level, I honestly think it's an unintentional brag... if I mention my notable employer it scratches a little itch
if you really want to put on a tinfoil hat, they're one of the world's largest advertisers and are pleased as peach if their employees just walk around telling everyone they meet that they work at google
This seems really off to me. Mentioning that you work for Google only seems to introduce the risk that your words would be taken to represent Google. There’s a post in this thread where someone mentions they work for Google but fails to include the “opinions are my own” disclaimer.
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