www.ted.com Google’s “Jolly Good Fellow,” Chade-Meng Tan, talks about how the company practices compassion in its everyday business — and its bold side projects.TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the “Sixth Sense” wearable tech, and “Lost” producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
www.ted.com Much of the TV, video, film and sport we watch is sponsored by a brand, a product, a corporation. But … why? With humor and persistence, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dives into the hidden but influential world of brand marketing, on his quest to make a completely sponsored film about sponsorship. And yes, this talk was sponsored too. By whom and for how much? He’ll tell you.TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com
39 Responses to “Chade-Meng Tan: Everyday compassion at Google”
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This may be the most important TED talk. Heartlessness is the #1 problem in the world today. The science and marketing of compassion might save all our asses. Heartlessness = war. Heartlessness = death by poverty. Heartlessness = slave economy. Heartlessness = broken heath care. Heartlessness = broken education. Heartlessness = crime. Heartlessness = broken governments. Gee ? Think we need more compassion?
@DancingHorses26
babby’s first breakthrough
I CANT AFFORD OT BE HAPPY IN THIS ECONOMY
Common sense is usually not common practice, not really understanding all the cynicism. It seems unwarranted.
Especially liked the third step, creating new mental habits: 12:28
THAt was AMAZING
@Basetrem
“There going after the compassion dollar, very lucrative market, there very smart”
^ knows what I mean!
@edrice22
Most political scenarios that involve people speaking about how good the things are that they’re doing, are more indicators of how good they think what they’re doing is and how good they want you to think what they’re doing is–independent of the actual good that may or may not have even been done.
I guess bottom line is: IF this video is just another “LOOK AT US! WE’RE DOING GOOD THINGS!” P.R. skit with P.C. jargon, then to hell with them in a hand basket
IF NOT, then /joy
@edrice22
I don’t know if speaking of the deed is more important than the commitment itself. I imagine that’s a fight between pragmatists and idealists.
I’m suspicious when people who do good deeds FEEL THE NEED TO BROADCAST THEM TO THE WORLD–it is not essential and is usually a mask of pride for advertisement or saving face. While this particular video may just be an innocent expression of goodness, because it is possible that it isn’t, I’m just cautious.
@xjustamem0ryx How do you know that… that speaking of the deed is more important than the commitment?
A hospital was built based on the initial commitment of a few people. I’d say that was 100% commitment and the talk of the good deed came after the commitment that made it happen. I don’t understand why you’re “suspicious”. These are people who not only talk, but get things done in the world.
@DrInfidel
There going after the compassion dollar, very lucrative market, there very smart
@edrice22
we agree. I just mean the plane needs the pilot. and yes when all there is is just pilots then there’s no take off. but I’m just suspicious when the exceptionalism of a good deed is broadcasted more than it is actually committed to.
@xjustamem0ryx And if they wouldn’t? Then what? I understand what you’re saying, but I feel it’s much more valid and valuable to encourage and support people who are doing something worthwhile than to point fingers.
We have a world in which everyone is pointing fingers. This talk is an example of people getting on with it… helping others. And they didn’t do it because someone pointed a finger at them. They did it because they care enough to do something.
the speech just sounds like one big PR-spin even if some of the ideas contained are worth listening to.
@edrice22
pointing fingers is important if the people who can do something about it would like do something about it.
@xjustamem0ryx It says a great deal about our world… all of it obvious. No surprises!! But the important thing is that people are trying to bring about change. What is the good of pointing fingers at the human condition without doing anything about it? What delights me is that on the corporate level, google is educating and inspiring people to treat their fellow humans with care, and to make a difference. That’s more than nice… it’s brilliant, and it moves us all toward a better future!!
@DrInfidel
I think you miss the real point. Anything that brings greater awareness, greater respect and care for one another, anything that brings people together to help others has great value, and is essential on our planet, now more than ever. The end result may be better leaders, and more efficient business, but in that context, it’s fine with me if it’s having positive and life supporting benefit out there in the world. . Existence is not deceived but delighted when humans help each other.
Meng, I think you are right that Google is a company of idealism, but I found your statement disturbing. I remember Google suppressing search results for Tiannamen Square in the Chinese version of Google. Then there was the problem with Google Buzz exposing people’s information without their permission…..or notice. Google needs to acknowledge their ethical mistakes, especially the first one before someone like me can listen to your good talk without feeling conflicted.
Excellent talk!
I wish google had some compassion to not to cheat me by not sending me Adsense verification email
@lexmarak every page you visit gives google money right now… why do you people give them money then only mouth off. I hope in the very least you give money to counter causes. I get it though, you guys are like rebels spreading the word. gg
brilliant
This guy is awesome.
@Dquelnel His wife. Was she baked? I don’t mean baked as in high, I mean put in the oven until golden brown.
If someone asked me what my brand was, I would most likely playfully slap them and tell them to cut that shit out and to ask a question that has the meaning they are trying to pretend the brand question has. And that’s really a fundamental in advertising (a field in which I work) most people prefer to create the appearance of an idea having meaning, rather than create a meaningful idea. To quote my father – scratch the surface, and you find more surface.
If I bought the naming rights to this lecture, I would name it something terrible like “cunty mcshitballs” and then he’d have to say that at TED and I would feel satisfied with my life
People believing in their own personal brand is so monstrously pathetic, and sad.
morgan is an awesome guy! i’d love to see a film about the true nature of marketing and the process behind it.
Spurlock is FUCKING AWESOME!
Kev3d sounds like he needs to learn that there are many ways to cheat common sense, many ways to make ads influence decisions subconsciously. Oh yes, what a horrible machine it would be to demand, by law, all corporations publish a PDF of their marketing strategy and a PDF of their campaign contributions. Be careful you don’t end up in a police state over there. Ta ta
I maintain that self control, common sense and freedom (and yes, risk) are better than a government or some other unassailable body deciding the precise level of “truth” that people should be exposed to. What shits me about guys like Spurlock is that they don’t understand what they are actually advocating. “Transparency” sounds nice and unobtrusive but the reality is they want a world without free expression or free commerce. The “I know whats better for you” shtick is getting rather old.
@xjustamem0ryx The “Souls” look out for themselves and inform each other, almost always for free. Ultimately it comes down to what kind of society people want to live in; one where people are free and on occasion they are duped, either intentionally or by foolish mistake, or one where speech, commerce, entertainment and information itself is censored,regulated, edited, controlled and metered in the name of “fairness”. Imagine the “truth police” apparatus that would need to exist.
@xjustamem0ryx It is the precise opposite of common sense, that is to say “exceptional stupidity”, to judge a commercial or print ad all by itself and make purchasing choices on that alone. Common sense is broad and deep. But this is the arrogance of dicks like Spurlock who believes that he knows whats better for everyone else. But hey, he does it with a smug smile and a biker’s ‘stash so he must be a legit renegade right? In the end he’s just another sanctimonious shitbag or a moral crusade.
I’m as much against nanny statism as you. my concerns are purely with the souls of the participants.
@xjustamem0ryx At some point one has to take personal responsibility for their own actions and not rely on a freedom-crushing nanny state to decide what is “fact” and what is fit for the censor’s shredder. If not, then why stop at ads? Movies are far more deceptive than ads but do you really want a disclaimer flashing on the screen whenever something dangerous or unrealistic takes place? “Warning; The Force does not exist. Do NOT attempt to imitate Jedi”.
@xjustamem0ryx What a sad outlook you have on humanity. I’m curious what morons you have known in your life that cannot distinguish between obvious entertainment and harmless glamour and actual facts. Anyone dumb enough to purchase a truck with the intention of hauling a literal pile of boulders “like the commercial shows” is not likely to have the intelligence to scrape together enough funds to even buy a truck in the first place.
@xjustamem0ryx Because common sense is more powerful than you seem to think. People do not watch commercials or read ads in isolation. Believe it or not, over time people gain life experience; this is why parents typically make purchasing decisions for their inexperienced children. No system is perfect and fraud does exist, but there are already laws against fraud and there are many consumer advocacy groups, review publications, better business bureau etc.
@kev3d
common sense would be being able to tell from watching the commercial, but that’s like saying you can tell the wolf in sheep’s clothing is actually a sheep because it looks like a sheep…
which is both naive and ridiculous.
@kev3d
I’m trying to be serious…
when you look at a commercial and it’s cosmetic wrapping how is common sense nearly enough in order to tell whether the motivations behind it are innocent or deceptive when they share the same symptoms?
@xjustamem0ryx Common sense.