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Think about those who wish to start new business? Why? Because of money! Google is doing the same thing, growing Growing, utilizing every small space that Googl

Think about those who wish to start new business? Why? Because of money! Google is doing the same thing, growing Growing, utilizing every small space that Google occupies, earning money from it. Why Not!

goda90 7y ago
I'd say the problem arises in market share. Google almost has a monopoly on digital map data. With any monopoly, there should be limitations on their ability to profit, as there can be lots of pricing abuse due to lack of competition.
- ucaetano 7y ago
  > Google almost has a monopoly on digital map data Where did you get that from? There are plenty of other map data providers. Just look at this thread.
ebg13 7y ago
Some businesses make the world better. Some businesses make the world worse. Let's not pretend that the two are the same.
- jfoster 7y ago
  Are you trying to imply that Google and/or Google Maps have made the world worse?
  - ebg13 7y ago
    Are you trying to imply that adtech has made the world better? Are you trying to erase the difference between mapmaking and tracked advertising? My eyes are about to fall out the back of my head, I'm rolling them so hard. Google's core business is tracking you and shoveling ads at you. Every time they pollute one of their side hobbies with their core business, it makes that side hobby worse and worse for the world. Search, mail, news, I can go on.
    - jfoster 7y ago
      You dodged my question, but I'm happy to answer yours. I do think that advertising has made the world better. A majority of the content on the internet is viable because of it.
      - ebg13 7y ago
        > I do think that advertising has made the world better. A majority of the content on the internet is viable because of it. AKA the "harmful behavior is ok when it's profitable" theory. I don't agree.
        mrep 7y ago
        Would you rather have every website prompt you with a paywall instead because that is the only other profitable solution I can think of.
        ebg13 7y ago
        You are either ignoring the context of this subthread or agreeing with it. I'll remind you: ashishmalik says "Everything is ok because money!"
        objectivetruth 7y ago
        You are seemingly ignoring parent's point that the adtech model funding our free web services is one of only two seemingly-possible models, and they both involve money. I guess a utopian 100% decentralized mesh network with easy-to-home-build commodity OTS hardware and 100% open well-defined protocols is theoretically possible but that's not how the cards played out. Nothing is black and white, most people recognize nuance, and for most people the net balance of the trade-offs in the current 'free online services subsidized by adtech' model is good enough.
        objectivetruth 7y ago
        Every activity or decision has the potential for good and bad nuances. Bacon is terrible for the pig, the pig farm's neighbors, and my cholesterol level... but on occasion I make the decision that the taste experience outweighs those negatives. Most people (or "the market") have decided that the cons of adtech are outweighed by the pros of generally free web services.

goda90 7y ago

I'd say the problem arises in market share. Google almost has a monopoly on digital map data. With any monopoly, there should be limitations on their ability to profit, as there can be lots of pricing abuse due to lack of competition.

ucaetano 7y ago
> Google almost has a monopoly on digital map data Where did you get that from? There are plenty of other map data providers. Just look at this thread.

ebg13 7y ago

Some businesses make the world better. Some businesses make the world worse. Let's not pretend that the two are the same.

jfoster 7y ago
Are you trying to imply that Google and/or Google Maps have made the world worse?
- ebg13 7y ago
  Are you trying to imply that adtech has made the world better? Are you trying to erase the difference between mapmaking and tracked advertising? My eyes are about to fall out the back of my head, I'm rolling them so hard. Google's core business is tracking you and shoveling ads at you. Every time they pollute one of their side hobbies with their core business, it makes that side hobby worse and worse for the world. Search, mail, news, I can go on.
  - jfoster 7y ago
    You dodged my question, but I'm happy to answer yours. I do think that advertising has made the world better. A majority of the content on the internet is viable because of it.
    - ebg13 7y ago
      > I do think that advertising has made the world better. A majority of the content on the internet is viable because of it. AKA the "harmful behavior is ok when it's profitable" theory. I don't agree.
      - mrep 7y ago
        Would you rather have every website prompt you with a paywall instead because that is the only other profitable solution I can think of.
        ebg13 7y ago
        You are either ignoring the context of this subthread or agreeing with it. I'll remind you: ashishmalik says "Everything is ok because money!"
        objectivetruth 7y ago
        You are seemingly ignoring parent's point that the adtech model funding our free web services is one of only two seemingly-possible models, and they both involve money. I guess a utopian 100% decentralized mesh network with easy-to-home-build commodity OTS hardware and 100% open well-defined protocols is theoretically possible but that's not how the cards played out. Nothing is black and white, most people recognize nuance, and for most people the net balance of the trade-offs in the current 'free online services subsidized by adtech' model is good enough.
      - objectivetruth 7y ago
        Every activity or decision has the potential for good and bad nuances. Bacon is terrible for the pig, the pig farm's neighbors, and my cholesterol level... but on occasion I make the decision that the taste experience outweighs those negatives. Most people (or "the market") have decided that the cons of adtech are outweighed by the pros of generally free web services.