Yahoo's Semel Resigns as Chief Amid Google's Gains (Update2)

Yahoo's Semel Resigns as Chief Amid Google's Gains (Update2)

Yahoo's Semel Resigns as Chief Amid Google's Gains (Update2)

By Jonathan Thaw

June 18 (Bloomberg) -- Yahoo! Inc. Chief Executive Officer Terry Semel, who revived the company after the Internet bust before being surpassed by Google Inc., stepped down.

The stock gained 4 percent after Yahoo named co-founder Jerry Yang its CEO and said Susan Decker, who had been an executive vice president, will become president. Semel, 64, will be chairman, Yahoo said in a statement today.

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This is expected, when I covering my opinion about the flickr censorship & No action from Terry Semel.

In the field of Business & eBusiness & eCommerce, there is no difference in priciple actually.

"Customers" is still the key for the success. It is unwise to get into both the company & the national political issues.

They should work things on the professional & ethical level.

Flickr = Censorship

Flickr = Censorship, originally uploaded by Thomas Hawk.

The following is from Thomas Hawk:

Flickr = Censorship

[I'm CEO of Zooomr]

Well it is with great disappointment that I found myself yet again a victim of censorship on Flickr. Earlier today while engaging in a debate about Flickr's recent censorship in Germany I had over a dozen of my comments permanently deleted out of a debate by Flickr staff.

You can see the references to my involvement in the debate here and here among other places.

It's ironic that of all places that Flickr would choose to censor me would be in a thread protesting their censorship. And without any warning even or explanation.

This is not the first time I've been censored by Flickr.

The points that I was making in my debate about censorship on Flickr had a lot to do with what I see as problems at Yahoo. The fact that their CEO is the highest paid CEO in the United States, the fact that Yahoo 2 days ago rejected an important shareholder proposal denouncing censorship. And yes this most recent issue of censorship where people in Germany can only access Flickr in "safe mode."

Now some might say that it's not right for me as a competitor to Yahoo to be critical of their practices. But let me point you to the screen shot above. It comes from Flickr employee Dunstan Orchard's public zipline on Zooomr. Dunstan and other Flickr employees have been on Zooomr disparaging our site for the past week. So to me it seems a tad hypocritical that when I legitimately object to censorship on Flickr that I would have my words censored, while Flickr staff seems to feel that it's perfectly appropriate to disparage Zooomr over at Zooomr.

It's not right. And what Flickr doesn't understand is that by censoring your critic you only make him stronger. I'm sure it's probably only a matter of time before I get kicked off of Flickr entirely. All my photographs destroyed and deleted as well. Over 40,000 comments from many good friends.

This is the difference though between me and Flickr. When Dunstan and other Flickr employees disparaged Zooomr I let their words stand. Rather than censor them, I took the high road and did not. Meanwhile Flickr continues to build a name for itself: Flickr = censorship. Silencing me will not change this and it's a sad state of affairs to see happen to the Flickr that I once loved so much and that even now professes to "love me" on the little icon above my page.

Censorship is borne out of fear and weakness. This is something always to remember.

Uploaded by Thomas Hawk on 14 Jun 07, 3.24AM PDT.

The following is my comments:


I have been a supporter of flickr like TH all along. Although I have a Zooomr account, but I am not too active.

To me, These events are a history repeated by itself of flickr-Yahoo.

Yahoo - flickr = Yahoo!

TH is a user of flickr. However, flickr have the Supreme God & goddess. Whom decide who should be censored; block or deleted...etc.

I have experience that since Sept 29, 2005 till today.

To me flickr is a great photo management community, but over time the Power - politics seem to be happening in both internal & external which are the "customers".

If the management on the top is assuming the imperialism management or authoritarian style then e-gangsterism or e-hooliganism would born naturally.

TH is good heart by sounding out for flickr to improve. It means well & good. However, that is not really appreciated as my earlier experiences.

Perhaps it is the same as what I have been served & f-team God think that it is a threat to their existence.

Especially, TH have commented at his own flickr. Which they have the power to do what they want. Anytime a violating the TOS can just created. & then they can exercise their power.

flickr junior staffs messing at Zooomr site are totally un-professional in the web2.0 era.

In my opinion, Yahoo CEO Terry Semel should need to come forward to the front to assume the leadership to iron out those censorship issue including Germany, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea & also those blockage, suspensions, deletions, harassments; oppressions; bully to the Yahoo customers..etc. before it is too late.

Yahoo Chief Terry Semel : Please Read: Flickr's new censorship system

The following are the comments that I adapted from Malingerlin Site:

Yahoo Chief Terry Semel : Please Read: Flickr's new censorship system



Rock On Malingering*

Yeah having Photos deemed Unsafe kinda Sucks or having 1 Photo Deleted like Rebekka did - but these Pale in comparison to the Travesty of Gail Orenstein*

Yeah it's Sad n Pathetic*

Twits + Hypocrites are Flickr!!

Whattabout Gail Orenstein + Flickr Deleting her entire Account & amazing Body of Work of over 3,400 Photographs + over 1 Million Views + over 20,000 Comments from all her Flickr Fans!! A bloody outrage!!

Gail's Work incorporated behind the scenes Photos of Strippers in their Work environment so yes that meant shots of bOObies but nothing Pornographic* She would post the Top World Headlines of the Day concerning things that All People should Care about like Bush's Illegal War in Iraq + the Pope banning Condoms for African Women etc. Like Rebekka said - this sparked lively Political + Social Discussion - some of the Smartest insights to be found anywhere on Flickr & poof it's all gone!!

A bloody outrage!!

Even Professional Recreationalist who tried to setup a Flickr Customer Union had the Group Deleted + all the comments!!

ridiculous*

It goes right to the Top of Flickr with Stewart ButterMyAsshole + his SheWolf of the SS sidekick Heather Chump! Their Arrogance knows No Bounds!!

I was actually gleeful with scheudenfreude to hear Miss Chump got the Boot from JPG Mag!! Pompous Twit!! ;))

atanyrate i've been NIPSA + none of my Photos show up Publicly on Flickr for over a year - yeah i've posted about 12 Nudes (fer a Joke) but I also Speak my Mind - last I heard Freedom of Speech was still a good thing in America!!

The ONLY reason any of us still stay at Flickr is cuz all our Friendz our there & frankly it is still an awesome Web2.0 website*

Otherwise people would be over to Zoomr in a heartbeat*

Cheers Hawk + Malingering + Everybody fer having the Courage to SPEAK UP!! Billy Warhol ;))

SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION*

Peace*

[24] Posted by: BillyWarhol | May 19, 2007 11:42 AM

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[I am CEO of Zooomr]

Malingering,

Thanks for telling your story as well. Even though higher profile cases like yours and Rebekka's, Kris Krug's (Flickr took down a cease and desist letter he got from a photographer who was ripping him off), mine etc. get attention, just imagine how many people this happens to all the time at Flickr who have no recourse.

The problem is that Flickr just does not take their responsibility of censoring seriously. They censor willy nilly and your case is but another example. When it's a high enough profile case they fix and issue but another hollow apology as they have done in your case.

Flickr says that in the future that they will err on the side of "caution" with regards to censorship but refuses to outline what steps they will specifically take to ensure that they follow through with their promises. Heather Champ, Flickr's Community manager says that because you agree to Flickr's terms of service that when they delete your stuff that it "is not and cannot be viewed as censorship."

Heck, they refuse to even admit that they censored me despite sending me a threatening email threating to shut down my account.

What makes it worse is that rather than have a serious debate about how to make Flickr a better and less censored place, Flickr Chief Stewart Butterfield would rather write PR spin comments on my blog "challenging" me to write that child porn would be ok into Zooomr's TOS.

You know I have a blog on blogger (owned by Google). I'm sure somewhere in their TOS I've agreed to give them some power over my blog. But you know what? If blogger ever came and deleted a blog post I wrote I'd be just as pissed. Blogger is every bit a platform for ideas as Flickr is.

Thanks for blogging your story and raising more awareness on this important topic.

Power to the people.

Thomas Hawk

[29] Posted by: Thomas Hawk | May 19, 2007 5:58 PM