Google’s top search result is Google • Hacker News Board

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#11

Post by onetimemanytime » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:00 PM UTC

chdaniel wrote: post #5

I know there's the sentiment of fear/hate/etc about Google taking over but... 1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing) and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google 2) Wouldn't you do the same? Keep in mind they're a public company and we know how incent…

1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing)

They've made a fortune so instead of saying they've "offered it for free" let's point out that they are not a charity. Google became famous for saying that they will list the best SE when ranking, not Google properties or ads.

>>and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google

Even if you said is true, another one would have done what Google did. By the way, internet as we know it today, would have happened without Google. In fact, MS and Apple did a LOT more for the internet...a computer in every home and all.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#12

Post by _8j50 » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:00 PM UTC

chdaniel wrote: post #5

I know there's the sentiment of fear/hate/etc about Google taking over but... 1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing) and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google 2) Wouldn't you do the same? Keep in mind they're a public company and we know how incent…

No, I wouldn't do the same. Maximize profits? Yes, sacrifice core values and even social stability to acheive the goal? Nope. Be deceptive, do things against people's will? Nope.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#13

Post by bilal4hmed » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:00 PM UTC

martinskou wrote: post #6

Search is essential infrastructure for the internet and should not be monopolized. It should be free, uncluttered, distributed and transparent. The problem is not Google, its the lack of good alternatives, only DDG really.

Im guessing the alternatives get better the more you use them.

Otherwise there are a lot of alternatives like : Bing Duck Duck Go ( as you mentioned ) Startpage Yandex

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#14

Post by uniqueid » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

chdaniel wrote: post #5

I know there's the sentiment of fear/hate/etc about Google taking over but... 1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing) and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google 2) Wouldn't you do the same? Keep in mind they're a public company and we know how incent…

Give me a break. Google hasn't been a net positive for the internet in nearly a decade. And cry me a river about their "free" search. They're worth over $600 billion, much of which they acquired by selling out their users' privacy. These days, Google is a blight on the world, and deserves all the criticism lobbed at it.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#15

Post by ZinniaZirconium » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

martinskou wrote: post #6

Search is essential infrastructure for the internet and should not be monopolized. It should be free, uncluttered, distributed and transparent. The problem is not Google, its the lack of good alternatives, only DDG really.

Duck is a front-end for Bing. Why not use Bing?

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#16

Post by antibuddy » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:01 PM UTC

chdaniel wrote: post #5

I know there's the sentiment of fear/hate/etc about Google taking over but... 1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing) and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google 2) Wouldn't you do the same? Keep in mind they're a public company and we know how incent…

Yeah it makes sense, however I don't think we should be grateful* that Google played an important role in building the internet, since for Google it is about control and that's where the problems begin.

*not that this was your point

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#17

Post by danso » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

ZinniaZirconium wrote: post #7

Not really though. My top search result on most topics is usually Wikipedia. Maybe if you're searching for Google you find Google.

FTA

> How a search for “Linux” has changed. In 2000, Google only returned “organic” results, ads, and a category header. Now the top of the page is full of Google products and “answers.” Source: 2000 screenshot/Archive.org

2000 screenshot: https://mrkp-static-production.themarkup.org/graphics/google...

2020 screenshot: https://mrkp-static-production.themarkup.org/graphics/google...

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#18

Post by ocdtrekkie » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

chdaniel wrote: post #5

I know there's the sentiment of fear/hate/etc about Google taking over but... 1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing) and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google 2) Wouldn't you do the same? Keep in mind they're a public company and we know how incent…

The fact that it "makes sense" for companies to become evil monopolies when they are capable of doing so is a problem. It's like a big hole in our economic system where everything breaks down and grinds to a halt.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#19

Post by Jaruzel » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:02 PM UTC

gberger wrote: post #8

chdaniel wrote: post #5

I know there's the sentiment of fear/hate/etc about Google taking over but... 1) Doesn't it make sense for them to do that? After offering the search engine for free for ages (not that paid search engines are a thing) and playing an important role in building the internet? For most, all the internet they know is thanks to Google 2) Wouldn't you do the same? Keep in mind they're a public company and we know how incent…

> not that paid search engines are a thing They are in enterprise, but I digress

Interestingly, they couldn't break into Enterprise Search (their Google-in-a-box product failed).

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#20

Post by topicseed » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 1:03 PM UTC

Google Search is an information-search tool — and results often come as websites (the usual search result links), but also as widgets. Google can absolutely be the curator and a provider of information.