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> People use Google because they choose to, not because they're forced to, or because they can't find alternatives. The gall of saying this while simultaneousl

> People use Google because they choose to, not because they're forced to, or because they can't find alternatives. The gall of saying this while simultaneously forcing millions of businesses to conform to their idea of what the Web should look like in order to get favorable PageRank ratings. AMP? ReCaptcha? Google Maps? Lighthouse? SEO? As if it's optional to avoid those as a business owner. It's like telling a diabetic they can just stop buying insulin if they can't afford it.

panpanna 6y ago
I think this is the main issue. If google limited itself to good old search it would be all fine but they are trying to tangle themselves into _everything_ and you can no longer avoid them. Take app store as an example: if you are a digital company you need an app, which probably means you pay 30% of you earnings to either google or apple. ... Who may also be your competitors, since they are trying to get into every possible business.
m463 6y ago
You can't make an appointment at the california DMV without using google services. it's very common not to be able to rent an apartment without using google services. I stopped using my health care providers website because every single page has a google/doubleclick link on it - even viewing test results from my doctor.
- ab_testing 6y ago
  I think rather than blaming google, you should ask your healthcare providers why they choose to use double click tracking on their website. It is like you don’t go to your doctor because you don’t like which company they use for their blood collection services.
  - m463 6y ago
    I was pretty much addressing "People use Google because they choose to, not because they're forced to, or because they can't find alternatives." Sounds like a rant against google, but really - if the state uses google as a gatekeeper function to use their services, it turns their argument on its head. As to your question about the health care provider - I did ask them. I got nonsense replies at first, and then I got to someone with a clue and he said something like "our website is a convenience feature".
  - tpoacher 6y ago
    It is more like the blood collection solution your doctor uses also happens to collect a bit of DNA on the side and sells that to third-party buyers ('legit' or otherwise), and the doctor is either unaware or doesn't really care. In which case your options as a consumer is either to say "my options are sucking up the humiliation and massive invasion of privacy and having the blood test, or not having it done at risk to my health" OR if you have the means to find the resources to attack either the blood company or your doctor where it hurts (i.e. financially), either via a lawsuit or a successful PR campaign etc.
viro 6y ago
"Forcing millions of businesses to conform to their idea of what the Web should look like" You mean forcing them to stop doing shit that avg users don't want them to do? You people on here act like you(site makers) haven't spent the last ~15 years gaming every trick in the book. people like google BECAUSE it weeds out trash.
- dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
  You are both right. Some things Google did (like kiling Flash, together with Apple) were fine, but some feel like made by an opinionated person. And because Google has such enormous infulence on practically every aspect of the Internet, and especially the Web, no wonder people are upset whenever such unilateral decisions are made.

panpanna 6y ago

I think this is the main issue. If google limited itself to good old search it would be all fine but they are trying to tangle themselves into _everything_ and you can no longer avoid them. Take app store as an example: if you are a digital company you need an app, which probably means you pay 30% of you earnings to either google or apple. ... Who may also be your competitors, since they are trying to get into every possible business.

m463 6y ago

You can't make an appointment at the california DMV without using google services. it's very common not to be able to rent an apartment without using google services. I stopped using my health care providers website because every single page has a google/doubleclick link on it - even viewing test results from my doctor.

ab_testing 6y ago
I think rather than blaming google, you should ask your healthcare providers why they choose to use double click tracking on their website. It is like you don’t go to your doctor because you don’t like which company they use for their blood collection services.
- m463 6y ago
  I was pretty much addressing "People use Google because they choose to, not because they're forced to, or because they can't find alternatives." Sounds like a rant against google, but really - if the state uses google as a gatekeeper function to use their services, it turns their argument on its head. As to your question about the health care provider - I did ask them. I got nonsense replies at first, and then I got to someone with a clue and he said something like "our website is a convenience feature".
- tpoacher 6y ago
  It is more like the blood collection solution your doctor uses also happens to collect a bit of DNA on the side and sells that to third-party buyers ('legit' or otherwise), and the doctor is either unaware or doesn't really care. In which case your options as a consumer is either to say "my options are sucking up the humiliation and massive invasion of privacy and having the blood test, or not having it done at risk to my health" OR if you have the means to find the resources to attack either the blood company or your doctor where it hurts (i.e. financially), either via a lawsuit or a successful PR campaign etc.

viro 6y ago

"Forcing millions of businesses to conform to their idea of what the Web should look like" You mean forcing them to stop doing shit that avg users don't want them to do? You people on here act like you(site makers) haven't spent the last ~15 years gaming every trick in the book. people like google BECAUSE it weeds out trash.

dvfjsdhgfv 6y ago
You are both right. Some things Google did (like kiling Flash, together with Apple) were fine, but some feel like made by an opinionated person. And because Google has such enormous infulence on practically every aspect of the Internet, and especially the Web, no wonder people are upset whenever such unilateral decisions are made.