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This is a bit f'd, Quora

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Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#31

Post by _delirium »

vladd wrote: post #7
blhack wrote: post #4

The new "social" web is really creepy . Browsing in an incognito browser and logged into nothing has sortof become my default. I don't want google chrome saving my search history, or to accidentally read an article on some news website that then broadcasts that fact to all of my facebook friends.

You can no longer browse Quora while being logged out: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4332978

I'm still confused how that gets by Google. The full text shows up in search results, but is blurred by CSS for humans. Isn't that not allowed? Even experts-exchange includes the readable plaintext answers way at the bottom if you scroll down, for that reason.

edit: removed discussion of googleoff/googleon directives in the HTML source. Seemed suspicious, but apparently it's something to do with Google Search Appliance.

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#32

Post by rhizome »

minm wrote: post #30
chermanowicz wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I agree with you, I think Quora did announce in advance that they were rolling this out

This should not be a default option. I accidently found out after reading an article in YC. So creepy.

The default will always be what supports their desired business model the most.

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#33

Post by Herring »

manaskarekar wrote: post #26
blhack wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd be wrong. Try this from incognito: https://panopticlick.eff.org/

I'm aware of that link and here's my result in Chrome on Incognito. Within our dataset of several million visitors, only one in 1,172,808 browsers have the same fingerprint as yours. Currently, we estimate that your browser has a fingerprint that conveys 20.16 bits of identifying information.

I changed my user agent string & managed to get down to 15.99 bits of information (one in 65,161). Curious if anyone did better.

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#34

Post by relix »

_delirium wrote: post #31
vladd wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can no longer browse Quora while being logged out: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4332978

I'm still confused how that gets by Google. The full text shows up in search results, but is blurred by CSS for humans. Isn't that not allowed? Even experts-exchange includes the readable plaintext answers way at the bottom if you scroll down, for that reason. edit: removed discussion of googleoff/googleon directives in the HTML source. Seemed suspicious, but apparently it's something to do with Google Search Applian…

That's insane, that's a bannable offense in Google. How do they still show up in search results?

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#35

Post by m_for_monkey »

heyitsnick wrote: post #13

I see the author's point, and users should be aware Quora does this and have the facility to disable this but ... is this not an over reaction? Viewing a question titled “Should I come out to my parents?” or “What is the best way to hide an affair?” doesn't in any way imply you are gay or hiding an affair... just that you showed some interesting the question and possible answers. I'd be interesting in both those topi…

You are right, people shouldn't jump to conclusions, but, unfortunately, they often do.

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#36

Post by its_so_on »

blhack wrote: post #4

The new "social" web is really creepy . Browsing in an incognito browser and logged into nothing has sortof become my default. I don't want google chrome saving my search history, or to accidentally read an article on some news website that then broadcasts that fact to all of my facebook friends.

Blhack,

I ran across this comment of yours - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4377315 - and certainly appreciate your privacy concerns. A healthy private life is undoubtedly everyone's personal choice.

At the same time, HackerNews is YCombinator's tech blog, and highly visible. Frankly, your opinion comes off as somewhat paranoid. It's not that it isn't justified, I'm not saying that one way or another, but I would strongly consider the impact statements like this have on your image in the social space.

I heard back from Kenneth. He actually said that your social strategy is a "shambles", which is excusable, and also that you "had 0 interest in improving this" -- which is not.

He said that you were more interested in getting to the moon than in building a social network around the project.

blhack, the money we entrusted you with not appropriate to spend idly dreaming up conspiracy theories.

The world is social. People chirp, tweedle, and most recently iMessage those they care about and feel a community with.

This community is now your top priority. I want to be able to show Ken that you have put together at least 10,000 likes and 30,000 followers by the end of the year. Consider this "stage one" of your rocketry design phase.

While we are not saying that failure to meet this metric means the board will necessarily replace you, consider it a part of your job description.

We are also denying your proposed budget. Please work on your social program.

Your board.

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#38

Post by incision »

Smells desperate to me.

Quora launched with all kinds of "Former Facebooker!" hype that it hasn't really lived up to.

I've had some good reads on the site, but only from the cream of the crop threads that make it into the digest emails.

Searching out a general question on Quora seems more likely to lead directly to hordes of marketers linking back to their own sites.

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#39

Post by nandemo »

its_so_on wrote: post #36
blhack wrote: post #4

The new "social" web is really creepy . Browsing in an incognito browser and logged into nothing has sortof become my default. I don't want google chrome saving my search history, or to accidentally read an article on some news website that then broadcasts that fact to all of my facebook friends.

Blhack, I ran across this comment of yours - http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4377315 - and certainly appreciate your privacy concerns. A healthy private life is undoubtedly everyone's personal choice. At the same time, HackerNews is YCombinator's tech blog, and highly visible. Frankly, your opinion comes off as somewhat paranoid. It's not that it isn't justified, I'm not saying that one way or another, but I woul…

Relevant: (?)

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4366002

Re: This is a bit f'd, Quora

#40

Post by alanh »

I sent feedback@quora.com a message to let them know I am very upset with this gross violation of privacy and Web norms.

I encourage you all to do the same. (Or call them, if you know someone.)

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