mariafarrell1d ago

RE: https://mastodon.social/@SteveRudolfi/116279083767770070

If one definition of evil is its wanton destruction of everything that is good and whole in the world, then Google is an active agent of evil.

It is setting out to destroy the world wide web and steal the livelihood of everyone who builds and depends on the web.

I honestly don't know how to mobilise normies to care about and stop this evil. It probably seems too niche and incremental until it's too late.

Oh yeah, and in the UK an ex-Google exec is now running the BBC. . .

Show thread3rdi1d ago
@mariafarrell I don't understand why people use Google. It never gets you what you are looking for.
Show threadMacCruiskeen1d ago
@3rdi @mariafarrell Google spends a large amount of money every year to keep you from thinking about switching. Browsers stick the function in the back of the settings so you don't think about it. But don't assume it's just a Google problem. I mean would MS do this if they could? Sure. And the linked article mainly talks about the context of commercial websites, websites trying to sell you shit, which is what drives Google's ad money, so that seems fair. If Google just ruined the part of the web that's there to sell you shit, maybe we could live with that. But of course, eventually it will intrude everywhere.
Show threadmariafarrell

@maccruiskeen yes + tks. I also think that patent registrations aren't plans but possibilities, though the direction of travel and intent are clear.

but I wouldn't write off commercial websites as being fair targets. e.g. I buy most gardening stuff, especially plants, online, and from independent retailers, and that sector in the UK is under massive consolidation pressure which would only be intensified by this kind of thing.

tbf I don't use google's browser or search engine.

9:18amWeb
Show threadMacCruiskeen18m ago
@mariafarrell Oh no, I didn't mean fair target, I meant the complaint was fair, since they would be the target. Though the 'we have to just give in to Google' attitude in the article doesn't exactly inspire sympathy. Google is powerful but not the whole world. They will take and give nothing back, so feeding them is in no one's interest.
Show threadmariafarrell7m ago

@maccruiskeen ah, sorry, I get it! my misread.

yes the whole 'it's now your job to do x' because google is doing y is pretty disgusting. It's not my 'job' to do <anything> for someone who's not paying me.

I think that way so many tech journalists have of being all 'it's google's world and we just live in it' is a reflexive urge to sound 'positive' and give the reader a 'takeaway' they can use.

it's just the bizarre emotional affect of those who cheerfully obey in advance.