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Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

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Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#631
post #281

There is a German movie about the system that is used to gather TV ratings. It's a special box that some users get which reports what they are watching. Small sample size goes into a big statistic (not sure how accurate the portrayal of the system in the movie is). These boxes are given to the people who pay the German public TV fee, which excludes i.e. students (they don't have to pay) and some other groups. This gr…

As someone who has been in one or another meeting with German TV stations I can assure you this is not completely far fetched. The people deciding what is running at these stations are of the mindset (a translated quote): > Our average viewer is 65 years old and watches TV while doing the dishes, we must not show things that cannot be understood by them and then they will serenade about how they would "love to have a…

> Our average viewer is 65 years old and watches TV while doing the dishes, we must not show things that cannot be understood by them

> because the people at the levers are in the illusion they do the good thing for "the small man" while in fact they just think the small man is incomprehensible stupid

So basically they have a Hacker News mindset!

In every thread about a dumbed down GUI/website it is argued that granny wouldn't understand it otherwise. No power user allowed, because data shows user is monkey.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#632

I am amazed at how non-techy people use the internet. I teach college and I will sometimes have students go to some web site. I am amazed at how few use adblocking and just accept all the ads and popups and overlays and crap. Even more than that, I will see them using something like google docs and google will put an overlay for some new feature and they don't click the X to close it. They just type away with that ov…

I know a CTO with plenty of wealth and space that sits at a kitchen table with a laptop instead of setting up a home work station. I know information workers who have workplaces that would gladly pay for nicer monitors or keyboards but don’t bother to even request them. I know a couple with a brand new house that has a miserably squeaky front door that could be silenced a half dozen ways in under a minute. People of…

One contracting job I had, on my first day one of my tasks was to do some grunt work right in front of the bathrooms. The men's door was squeaky as all hell.

"Oh don't worry, it's always done that."

I lasted as long as I could but I finally walked over to the shop crew and asked if I could borrow some WD-40. "I'll bring it back in 10 minutes."

10 minutes later it's all "Thanks guys!", "No problem", and "Wow you really did mean 10 minutes!". [Note: I'm a man so there was no problem me stepping into the men's bathroom to make the repair myself].

And the door never squeaked again. My sanity was saved; it turns out I would be doing a decent amount of grunt work in that same area over my contract.

If anyone else ever noticed, they never said a word. The door had always squeaked and literally everyone either didn't care or did nothing about it; it just was how it was.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#633

I'm curious as to why Reddit users were considered a tech-savvy audience. While there are some tech-centered subreddits, many others are not.

the subreddit that drove the traffic to the post that was analyzed was /r/linux which should be more technical than the average subreddit out there

Thank you, I missed that part.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#634
post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Opt out? It should be an opt in system in a for-privacy app.

Apple does ask you when you set your phone up if you want to share analytics or not. I consider that opt-in, since you're given the choice up front.

Great, now it's equally as privacy-friendly as Windows 10 /s

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#635

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you assume they are getting all browsing data?

Motive + ability. They want all the data and they own the OS. Why would you assume they aren't?

there's never been any evidence that Google is capturing all internet traffic on android devices.

that being said...

The other option is even less anti-consumer than privacy hating Google.

There's no Apple phone with an sdcard slot. No Apple phone with a headphone jack. Repair your iPhone ? Well Apple just slows down your device under the guise of prolonging its life.

No Apple phone where you can install apps through a non-Apple owned store.

Not a single iPhone has a built in FM tuner.

And for all the privacy flag waving from Apple over the years, they're now scanning local files for child porn. This is a feature set that will just grow.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#636

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not op. I also use Edge on my Android, it has a built-in adblock plus. I prefer unlock origin, but it's better than nothing.

Doesn't firefox on android allow ublock origin?

and privacy badger, https everywhere, decentraleyes and a number of privacy addons.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#637
post #575

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a CTO with plenty of wealth and space that sits at a kitchen table with a laptop instead of setting up a home work station. I know information workers who have workplaces that would gladly pay for nicer monitors or keyboards but don’t bother to even request them. I know a couple with a brand new house that has a miserably squeaky front door that could be silenced a half dozen ways in under a minute. People of…

A kitchen table? That's way more fancy than I bother with. I do most of my programming work from a couch or a hammock. It's a feature, not a bug. I have a workstation with a fancy dock, keyboard and trackpad, but I never really feel like using it. I will, however, close every unnecessary popup that comes my way.

I'd love to work from a hammock, but I get crazy neck and wrist pain when I use a laptop for several hours.

Re: Tech-savvy audiences block Google Analytics

#639

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, you say that, but isn't that exactly why Netflix got rid of ratings? All the documentaries were getting really high ratings, so would display highly in searches, but not many people actually watched them. It's the same for most content, I read a huge amount. I do read some intellectual books, but only occasionally. The rest of the time I read utter, thoroughly entertaining, trash. I don't want to read about an…

That is how it is with documentaries. Just because they are getting lower viewing numbers doesn't mean you shouldn't keep promoting them. Certainly there should be a mix of entertainment and public interest stuff, but following audience preferences for entertainment creates a feedback loop that damages society.

How many of these documentaries are actually public interest though? Versus propaganda by someone with an agenda to push under the guise of intellectualism?
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