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De-googling, so far

blog.nradk.com

151–160 of 197 posts

Re: De-googling, so far

#151
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Paying won't make Shorts go away. Nor will it remove the 8 other elements of the YouTube UI I have to block to make the site somewhat useable. Also I believe the payouts are split entirely by watchtime. Three minutes of watching an original song with a high-quality music video is worth more to me than 8 hours of some game stream or rambling video essay I happened to have on in the background while doing chores, but i…

How should they split the money then? By time seems the fairest way. How else should they judge the quality? That music video you mentioned is likely to get more views so more money overall. But if the gamer stream is getting more views and watch time why shouldn't it get more money?

Likes and dislikes, like I said. It's literally a feature where the users judge the quality of the video.

Re: De-googling, so far

#152
Kagi is totally the only way to degoogle. It’s the only product where the results are clearly better or on par with google. Everything else I’ve ever use I found myself subconsciously back at google a few days later.

Re: De-googling, so far

#154

I was an Android user, looked at this mountain to climb 6 years ago and just decided to go with Apple. They offer email, calendar, etc, but don’t run a business model based on ads and data mining. That said, I can’t get away from YouTube and I still keep my Gmail account but only as a backup.

Somehow my temperament makes me much more comfortable battling an exploitative captor (Google) than succumbing to a coercive one. The fact that these are the only workable options depresses me.

Re: De-googling, so far

#155
post #128

> my second issue with Kagi: privacy-wise, I simply don’t believe that a service that requires login and thus naturally associates all your activity with your identity is better than a service which can be used without a login. I don't get this argument. Do you want to be protected from the services you use, or do you want a partnership based on trust? With aligned incentives, trust is easier. Without trust, not logg…

[deleted]

Re: De-googling, so far

#156
post #121

The impetus for my years long (i.e., lazy) effort to de-Google wasn't just about the privacy issues but that those seemed to stem from an utter lack of empathy for users overall. In other words, it was recognizing an intolerable pattern of behavior, which seemed inevitable that it would cause me actual, material harm in some way eventually.

Does the collapse of all knowledge as we know it count as a material harm? Or is it a revolutionary opportunity to craft a new Knowledge Society independent and protected from the abuses of the old and failed knowledge order?

Re: De-googling, so far

#157
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Day to day what does "monetizing my data and removing my privacy" actually mean to you? Are advertisers following you around town? Bothering you at work? Hounding you in the loo? Personally it seems like my data has been stolen from just about every company I've ever given it to EXCEPT for Google.

Just because this stalking happens invisibly in the guts of a Javascript file it doesn't make it any different than following me around every street I walk down and noting down everything I look at. Here's the metaphor. Google offers free video cameras to any person who wants them. The cameras collect thousands of data points about every single person who enters their field of view. The cameras pick up every movement…

So tl;dr the actual practical impact is just that you see more relevant ads when you’re visiting websites.

Re: De-googling, so far

#158
post #77

For me the point of de-googling is not to literally stop using every single Google service but to disengage enough that your entire online identity isn't tied to Google such that losing your account would be catastrophic. For example, I still have a gmail account I use for lots of random things, but critical bank/financial accounts go directly to a separate fastmail address (where I am confident I could get a human t…

for me its not about losing anything important or practicing safety with backups. i just dont want bloat and activity everywhere. too many connections too many extra features suggested or mandatory etc etc. i guess im a minimalist in that sense. just want cleaner faster everything even if its a bit more inconvenient.

Re: De-googling, so far

#159
post #77

For me the point of de-googling is not to literally stop using every single Google service but to disengage enough that your entire online identity isn't tied to Google such that losing your account would be catastrophic. For example, I still have a gmail account I use for lots of random things, but critical bank/financial accounts go directly to a separate fastmail address (where I am confident I could get a human t…

I think we should applaud the people who take these steps.

These tech companies work with all the rest of the companies to use our own computers against us.

Most folks have normalized the data collection, the dark patterns and the faustian bargains that are now happening on a daily basis.

Treating them with ridicule is just not necessary. The folks who say no are really working for the rest of us.

I can give you a couple website that are intimately intertwined with google services:

- the california FTB website (califorina's IRS) - the california DMV website (not only drivers licenses, but real id) - kaiser permanente (health care)

Most normal people, or your kids, or your parents are required to use these sites (or it is very difficult not to use them). Why should they be tracked by advertisers? why should nobody complain?

https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/26/kaiser_patient_data/

Re: De-googling, so far

#160
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Day to day what does "monetizing my data and removing my privacy" actually mean to you? Are advertisers following you around town? Bothering you at work? Hounding you in the loo? Personally it seems like my data has been stolen from just about every company I've ever given it to EXCEPT for Google.

Just because this stalking happens invisibly in the guts of a Javascript file it doesn't make it any different than following me around every street I walk down and noting down everything I look at. Here's the metaphor. Google offers free video cameras to any person who wants them. The cameras collect thousands of data points about every single person who enters their field of view. The cameras pick up every movement…

okay but you do realize they give you there products to use right. and you probably use them or at least use products that need them to function. thats the deal and i doubt anyone would rather it be for cash instead. i mean would you rather pay monthly for chrome or firefox? pay per google search. pay monthy for youtube. pay for android os. monthly for maps. hell google can stare at my naked ass all day for all i care id rather not pay for any of these things
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