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Google Search Is Dying

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Re: Google Search Is Dying

#921

Post by goodluckchuck »

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #907
jedwhite wrote: post #585

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a reason why it seems shocking that Google has been able to balance the ads well enough that people still use it. They haven't! Google has orchestrated a monopoly over search engine distribution that allows them to get away with search results that are dominated by ads and spam, without losing most consumers. Let's be blunt here - almost no consumer consciously chooses to use Google search anymore. Google has…

"Let's be blunt here - almost no consumer consciously chooses to use Google search anymore." This bluntness does not go far enough. People do not change defaults, no matter how "easy" it may be to do so. A default is a pre-made choice by someone other than the consumer. There is no set-up process where the consumer makes a choice. The choice has already been made. Consumers do not make this choice. Even if they could…

Consumers don’t want to see the results of their search or find the answer to their question. They want the assurance of being told the answer by an authority. Google has tried to become that authority. It’s true, just Google it.

Re: Google Search Is Dying

#922

Post by vforvendettador »

Perhaps true for some things, but technology related Google is still irreplaceable.

Haven't found a better search engine for my problem solving. Yes, a lot of answers point to Stack Exchange but it's not the only place where you can solve issues.

Re: Google Search Is Dying

#924

Post by rvz »

aparsons wrote: post #13

I’ve posited repeatedly that when Reddit IPOs, I’ll be reallocating a significant chunk of my portfolio into their stock. Their management has historically lacked focus, but if Reddit ever builds a half-competent search index, and positions itself as a search-first, discovery-second destination, they will be in the FANG tier of stocks. They have the data. They have the dedicated, active user base. They have free mode…

> I’ve posited repeatedly that when Reddit IPOs, I’ll be reallocating a significant chunk of my portfolio into their stock.

I've also repeatedly said I wouldn't buy before the lockup has expired. When it sinks due to the lockup expiry then its a better time to buy.

Re: Google Search Is Dying

#925

Post by MitziMoto »

zmmmmm wrote: post #719

> There’s a fun conspiracy theory that popped up recently called the Dead Internet Theory I think we're well on the way ... Was recently pretty shocked, searched for "gas heating repair" and got back at the top some sites with my suburb name in the title. Naturally I thought, wow, if there is a local place I should go there. Clicking into it, it has everything about my suburb - a picture of the local park, and whole…

I am curious, did this small business actually provide the service you were searching for or not? If they do, then it sounds like it was ultimately useful.

Re: Google Search Is Dying

#926

Post by malthuswaswrong »

softwarebeware wrote: post #6

Some really good thoughts here. I'll summarize the ones that hit me: - "Why are people searching Reddit specifically? The short answer is that Google search results are clearly dying. The long answer is that most of the web has become too inauthentic to trust." This is it for me exactly. I search for the following kinds of things on Reddit exactly because results on other sites aren't trustworthy: Reviews are secretl…

>because results on other sites aren't trustworthy

Reddit is gamed way more than google. Paid posters, moderation of anything against a narrative. Google search may be dying, but reddit ain't doing much better.

Re: Google Search Is Dying

#928

Post by voidhorse »

SCHiM wrote: post #158

I'll echo one of the points in the article: "Google is trying to be smart". This is the source of many people's frustration, and the source of forced synonyms. A dumb tool that adapts to humans as they use it and tries to be "smart" prohibits us from getting more skilled in the usage of the tool. It becomes unpredictable, and it introduces significant friction each time it does something dumb. Even if the tool is cor…

I wish I could upvote this comment a second time. This resonates strongly with me, and in general is why I think the entire “ml driven” approach to contemporary technologies is misguided.

Historically, when we use tools, one of their crucial aspects is that they are deterministic. A hammer only does one (or arguably two) things, and those functions are completely static and will never change. This not only allows users to become experts and more proficient with the hammer much faster, but it also allows users to use the hammer in flexible and creative capacities—when you know with absolute certainty what something does it’s significantly easier to “deduce” what might happen when you apply it to different circumstances.

Contrarily all “smart” technologies move away from determinism. Rather, they all admit of some amount of indeterminacy, even if their basic purpose is fixed. There’s a happy medium where the indeterminacy is restrained enough that a tool’s cleverness really does save us time, but too often the pendulum swings too far and you wind up actively having to fight against your tools to do what it is you set out to do, making all the microscopic time shavings “smart” features net you worthless.

I’d much prefer my tools and products to be, dumb, fast, consistent and ai free.

Re: Google Search Is Dying

#930

Post by benreesman »

NaturalPhallacy wrote: post #780
benreesman wrote: post #702

I remember being on a call with the Bebo people like 2 days after that absurd buyout and asking sarcastically: “So what color is the Ferrari?” The answer: “Yellow”. Now you have the Battery. Reddit is so friggin user-hostile that I don’t read most of the comments anymore: because I literally can’t. You can do a little browsing but the minute you’re trying to pay actual attention you get slammed with the dark patterns…

The current admins are so deep in the authleft cult that ousting them is the only way to save the site.

I respectfully disagree. I love how culty and weird subs get, it’s always a forcing function to me on living in a complete stranger’s worldview. It stretches my brain.

Should ‘/r/all’ tilt as woke as it does? Eh, dunno. But that was/is the beauty of Reddit: you can dine at the buffet of subs as you choose.

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