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(semi-sarcastic post ensues:) Folks.. come on.. some of us have invested in Google stock (ok.. it's not much, but it is what it is). And for the Google stock t

(semi-sarcastic post ensues:) Folks.. come on.. some of us have invested in Google stock (ok.. it's not much, but it is what it is). And for the Google stock to go up people have to use Android without a firewall, Chrome browser in all their devices, Gmail, and so on.. so they be tracked, their data to be harvested and sold x10000 so that the ad machine makes billions and the stock price goes up. I decided to STOP pestering my friends on switching to Signal, Firefox, etc. and instead I just bought stocks of Google, Meta, Microsoft, etc.. Since people don't want to protect their own privacy and the one of their children, and I cannot help them.. well then I can help myself. I will 'forever' use FF and suggest it ONCE to friends and family, and then move on with my life (on the 'consulting friends & family on privacy focused solutions). EDIT: Unfortunately I am not joking on the above.. it made me throw up a bit in my mouth the first time I sat down and bought Google and Meta stock (I was a mutual funds guy until then). I use "dollar cost averaging" so I buy a little, but very often (monthly). I got tired of debating with people on why THEIR privacy is CRITICAL for them and their children. Insurance companies will screw them in the future, Pedophiles are monitoring their instagram, Google (and everyone they sell the data to) knowing where they keep and spend their money, Google knowing who they email and what/when/why/etc. It is insane what type and how much data 'we' are freely giving away, only to bite us in the a$$. For me the cost-benefit of convenience vs what-will-come is very much against us.

jraph 3y ago
Don't you aspire to do the right things, or at least to avoid doing the wrong things? I don't understand what drives you. You were pestering your friends to switch to Signal and Firefox for privacy reasons and then you bought GAFAM stock? Aren't you actively going against your ideals by doing this? Also, what a mix up! You managed to mention pedophiles in your comment?! Your reasoning is very hard to follow. You mention being semi-sarcastic and then you write "Unfortunately I am not joking on the above". What a mess. You really need to clear up your writing if you want to be understood. And that "Unfortunately": you have leverage on what you do, you know? If you find what you do "unfortunate", change something! We can't do it for you.
- HenryBemis 3y ago
  Not mutually exclusive. I can feel bad for my friends who insist on using WhatsApp, Gmail, Facebook. That's their choice to do. I am not friends with 7bn people. I am extrapolating and considering that majority of humans care more for convenience and much-much-less on Privacy. And since I cannot do anything about it, I am doing what I can do about it. Make sure my family has a better future. People feel both good and bad when eating junk food. In this case, people consume Gmail, and I merely bet on the horse that will most likely win (GAFAM/FAANG). I warn people of the risks of plastering their kids' photos all over the social media - thus potential exposure to pedos. That's also a privacy & safety issue. https://fortune.com/2023/11/27/social-media-addiction-teens-children-facebook-zuckerberg-complaint-lawsuit-age-verification/ https://fortune.com/2023/11/27/social-media-addiction-teens-... https://www.foxnews.com/tech/former-facebook-exec-wont-let-own-kids-use-social-media-says-its-destroying-how-society-works https://www.foxnews.com/tech/former-facebook-exec-wont-let-o... You've been in HN since 2017. You must have seen these/or similar discussions and links. Big bosses of social media don't let their kids consume their own services. Yet these companies make billions. I don't drink coke, pepsi, etc. Many people do. It hurts them. You can't call me out for buying Coke or Pepsi stocks. I feel bad for them, but I feel good for me. I don't push people to use Gmail, that would make me an accomplish. But hey, if they WANT to use Gmail, thank you, I will gladly take that dividend, while some insurance company 30 years from now will screw your kids over the premium for a life insurance, and YOU (the parent) caused it.
  - jraph 3y ago
    Yeah, but there's a difference between eating junk food (once in a while) and investing in a junk food company, isn't it? Surely you can invest in something else? But you do you of course :-)
mjan22640 3y ago
Do you expect Google stock to go even higher?
- HenryBemis 3y ago
  Won't it? These guys net billions every year. As long as there is online ads, Google will be raking it. Unless there is a technological game changer OR 95% of all users globally start caring for their privacy.

jraph 3y ago

Don't you aspire to do the right things, or at least to avoid doing the wrong things? I don't understand what drives you. You were pestering your friends to switch to Signal and Firefox for privacy reasons and then you bought GAFAM stock? Aren't you actively going against your ideals by doing this? Also, what a mix up! You managed to mention pedophiles in your comment?! Your reasoning is very hard to follow. You mention being semi-sarcastic and then you write "Unfortunately I am not joking on the above". What a mess. You really need to clear up your writing if you want to be understood. And that "Unfortunately": you have leverage on what you do, you know? If you find what you do "unfortunate", change something! We can't do it for you.

HenryBemis 3y ago
Not mutually exclusive. I can feel bad for my friends who insist on using WhatsApp, Gmail, Facebook. That's their choice to do. I am not friends with 7bn people. I am extrapolating and considering that majority of humans care more for convenience and much-much-less on Privacy. And since I cannot do anything about it, I am doing what I can do about it. Make sure my family has a better future. People feel both good and bad when eating junk food. In this case, people consume Gmail, and I merely bet on the horse that will most likely win (GAFAM/FAANG). I warn people of the risks of plastering their kids' photos all over the social media - thus potential exposure to pedos. That's also a privacy & safety issue. https://fortune.com/2023/11/27/social-media-addiction-teens-children-facebook-zuckerberg-complaint-lawsuit-age-verification/ https://fortune.com/2023/11/27/social-media-addiction-teens-... https://www.foxnews.com/tech/former-facebook-exec-wont-let-own-kids-use-social-media-says-its-destroying-how-society-works https://www.foxnews.com/tech/former-facebook-exec-wont-let-o... You've been in HN since 2017. You must have seen these/or similar discussions and links. Big bosses of social media don't let their kids consume their own services. Yet these companies make billions. I don't drink coke, pepsi, etc. Many people do. It hurts them. You can't call me out for buying Coke or Pepsi stocks. I feel bad for them, but I feel good for me. I don't push people to use Gmail, that would make me an accomplish. But hey, if they WANT to use Gmail, thank you, I will gladly take that dividend, while some insurance company 30 years from now will screw your kids over the premium for a life insurance, and YOU (the parent) caused it.
- jraph 3y ago
  Yeah, but there's a difference between eating junk food (once in a while) and investing in a junk food company, isn't it? Surely you can invest in something else? But you do you of course :-)

mjan22640 3y ago

Do you expect Google stock to go even higher?

HenryBemis 3y ago
Won't it? These guys net billions every year. As long as there is online ads, Google will be raking it. Unless there is a technological game changer OR 95% of all users globally start caring for their privacy.