Iran Threatens Legal Action Against Google For Not Labeling Gulf 'Persian' 246
New submitter PantherSE writes with an article at CNN about the geopolitical importance of labeling, excerpting thus: "Iran has threatened legal action against Google for not labeling the Persian Gulf on its maps. 'Toying with modern technologies in political issues is among the new measures by the enemies against Iran, (and) in this regard, Google has been treated as a plaything,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Thursday, according to state-run Press TV. He added that 'omitting the name Persian Gulf is (like) playing with the feelings and realities of the Iranian nation.'"
What's missing? (Score:2, Interesting)
Is the Persian Gulf unlabeled? Is it labeled "Gulf" (sounds stupid, but no reason for a lawsuit)? Is it labeled something else?
Re:Seriously (Score:5, Interesting)
We had a group of people that insisted on using the phrase "Freedom Fries", so I don't think the US is one to talk about what's silly or not.
Turkey threatened HP over Kurdish Language (Score:5, Interesting)
I used to work for HP, and the Turkish government threatened to ban our Debian-based thin clients because one of the language options with Kurdish. Apparently, the Turks are so sensitive about the Kurds that even having the language option appear in the list was unacceptable within their country. They refuse to acknowledge the Kurds, so they try to wipe out any evidence within Turkey that they ever existed, past or present.
Google vs. nationalist stupidity (Score:5, Interesting)
Oh, the many ways to provoke a nationalist!
I used to hang out on the Google translate forum. Every week there would be some loony nationalist who was deeply offended that
* His language was not implemented (Turks, mostly)
* His language was not implemented to his satisfaction (Lithuanians in particular. "Our language is the most complex in the world!")
* An "enemy" language was implemented ("Macedonian is not a language! It is a dialect of Bulgarian!" - said by Greeks)
* Their national anthem inexplicably got the words "God Save The Queen" inserted into them (an Irishman, memorably)
* etc.
In any case, the only explanation which they would accept was a deep conspiracy at Google to taunt and slight their proud nations.
Should change their name (Score:4, Interesting)
They should change their name from IRAN to IRAA. Then we would be scared of their threats. Next thing North KORAA will be taking legal action against the New York Times for referring to them as a "Stalinist dictatorship " [1.]
1. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/international/asia/02CND-KORE.html?ex=1380513600&en=a29d7f1e49aabee0&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND [nytimes.com]
Re:What's missing? (Score:5, Interesting)
hehe. Someone labeled it again. :) Well, I'll explain how to do it without the marker. It'll still work this way.
Go to http://maps.google.com/ [google.com]
Search "Persian Gulf"
In the middle of the gulf, right click, and select "Directions To Here"
You'll now have a green marker in the middle of the water. Click on it. It'll say something like
Click on "More" and then click "Edit History"
Someone made the gulf a polygon back in 2009. You'll see it in the history. :) You can do this almost anywhere in the gulf, I'd think. I just aimed for the middle.
The Arabian Gulf also has a marker, but it's just off of Kuwait. It's been there since 2009, and there is some discussion on the fact it should be the entire gulf, not just a coastal area.