Some might think I have a lot of sympathy for the Google guy who was fired for blogging.

I do.

Am I angry at Google? Only for not having a clear blogging policy (or any blogging policy at all). From talking to people at the company, everyone feels he violated “corporate culture etiquette” by posting about the benefits and how he didn’t like them.

That’s rather vague. And, realistically, I’m kind of disappointed in Google. They could have called him in and said “listen, we’d rather you not behave in this way, please stop”. I always look at firing in the same way I look at physical violence: it’s a last resort.

Thankfully I don’t know the inside story on this. I feel bad for Mark. And I feel sorry for Google who should, more than just about any other cmopany other there, have a clear blogging policy. It’s sad, and telling, that they don’t.

For other great responses, see Jeremy Z, TDavid, and the rest of the blogosphere.

ps: I think I’m pussy footing around this, because it is Google – a company everyone wants to think well about, in spite of evidence to the contrary. Ah well, I’ll pussyfoot when I want to – apparently whether I like it or not.