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> That a query for an innocent term... I take strong issue with the "obvious" conclusion that Google knows which terms are innocent. Disclaimer: In this speci

> That a query for an innocent term... I take strong issue with the "obvious" conclusion that Google knows which terms are innocent. Disclaimer: In this specific case, I agree with you that "black girls" has an innocent connotation and am not suggesting otherwise. Please do not misinterpret my thoughts below. Shall we require Google to be ever vigilant about the meaning of words in use at various times by the various communities of the world, and to entrust them with the responsibility for determining the innocence or guiltiness of words or phrases for all mankind? If we shall require such effort of Google, ought we not elevate Google to the role of judge over other matters of humankind given their good stewardship over matters of innocence and guilt? Taken to the limit the argument advocates the establishment of an echo chamber to wrap tightly around each one's subjective interpretation of their reality. Isn't this the exact opposite of what we should be trying to achieve? Have we not had enough of this Brave New World?

jacquesm 9y ago
> Shall we require Google to be ever vigilant about the meaning of words in use at various times by the various communities of the world, and to entrust them with the responsibility for determining the innocence or guiltiness of words or phrases for all mankind? Google aims to 'organize the worlds information', how it does that concerns all of us so yes, this makes them responsible with determining whether a certain set of words has an innocent or negative interpretation. It's not the world I want to live in but I live in it nonetheless. That Google should not have this power to begin with is obvious but here we are. > If we shall require such effort of Google, ought we not elevate Google to the role of judge over other matters of humankind given their good stewardship over matters of innocence and guilt? Definitely not, why make things even worse? They already have too much power we will not make things better by compounding the problem. > Taken to the limit the argument advocates the establishment of an echo chamber to wrap tightly around each one's subjective interpretation of their reality. Isn't this the exact opposite of what we should be trying to achieve? It is, but again, the filter bubble is real and the more customized Google search results are for an individual the worse this gets. > Have we not had enough of this Brave New World? I do, and so does the author, but clearly you are either missing the point or you have not had enough yet.
- politician 9y ago
  You're right! I reread the article, and the author aligns ideologically with most of the commenters in this thread, including myself.
maxerickson 9y ago
I think they are already engaged in the business of trying to provide high quality, personalized results. Is it your argument that they should be prevented from doing this because highly personalized, low quality results might instead be the result of their efforts?

jacquesm 9y ago

> Shall we require Google to be ever vigilant about the meaning of words in use at various times by the various communities of the world, and to entrust them with the responsibility for determining the innocence or guiltiness of words or phrases for all mankind? Google aims to 'organize the worlds information', how it does that concerns all of us so yes, this makes them responsible with determining whether a certain set of words has an innocent or negative interpretation. It's not the world I want to live in but I live in it nonetheless. That Google should not have this power to begin with is obvious but here we are. > If we shall require such effort of Google, ought we not elevate Google to the role of judge over other matters of humankind given their good stewardship over matters of innocence and guilt? Definitely not, why make things even worse? They already have too much power we will not make things better by compounding the problem. > Taken to the limit the argument advocates the establishment of an echo chamber to wrap tightly around each one's subjective interpretation of their reality. Isn't this the exact opposite of what we should be trying to achieve? It is, but again, the filter bubble is real and the more customized Google search results are for an individual the worse this gets. > Have we not had enough of this Brave New World? I do, and so does the author, but clearly you are either missing the point or you have not had enough yet.

politician 9y ago
You're right! I reread the article, and the author aligns ideologically with most of the commenters in this thread, including myself.

maxerickson 9y ago

I think they are already engaged in the business of trying to provide high quality, personalized results. Is it your argument that they should be prevented from doing this because highly personalized, low quality results might instead be the result of their efforts?