4 ms·

You know what, Google forsakes many sites fairly frequently, even sites that a lot of people like. Why would MetaFilter be spared? Because it's popular with tec

You know what, Google forsakes many sites fairly frequently, even sites that a lot of people like. Why would MetaFilter be spared? Because it's popular with techies and Google can do no evil in their eyes?

nether 12y ago
As a MeFite of several years, I've gotten a lot of useless/terrible advice through Ask MeFi. Basically for any subject remotely esoteric, you'll get a lot of "subject 101" answers and ones that are totally wrong. For general/life advice it's pretty good though, mostly because of the number of older users there.
- mbrock 12y ago
  Everyone on there is a 30-something linguist, musician, or grad student; is an experienced fetishist; is a traveller who goes off the beaten track; is involved in several local community organizations; and has a long history of therapy.
dredmorbius 12y ago
Disruptions, unpredictability, and random swings in support are all harmful to the ecosystem. Google's actions have consequences. Alternatives are to make yourself far less dependent on Google (all the more reason to support search alternatives, including DDG). But so long as your business is eyeball aggregation, you're going to be at the whim of the aggregators (and that is a control point).
- adventured 12y ago
  I don't disagree with what you said, but it's constantly pointed out that start-ups (etc) should avoid being dependent on x y z for traffic. There isn't a single business on earth that is not dependent on a 'platform' of one sort or another. Even Google is dependent on other platforms. You merely pick your poison, if you're so lucky, when you run a business. There are always gatekeepers and always will be; and they can cripple you if they choose to, the only variable is how much of an incentive they have to do so, and the damage they'll take by doing so. Make yourself less dependent on Google? Ok, which means you're going to make yourself more dependent on Facebook, or Twitter, or LinkedIn, or DuckDuckGo, or radio ads, or television ads, or newspaper ads, or billboards, or etc. None of those are benevolent lords just looking out for your own well being. DDG can still chop you up with an algorithm change just as easily as Google can, and at Google's scale every little change would impact businesses just as Google's present changes do, and there would be just as many claims of unfair treatment. DDG can be as transparent and open as they like, that wouldn't change the sour grapes that would be derived from algorithm changes.
  - dredmorbius 12y ago
    Make yourself less dependent on Google? You're omitting another option: invest in a business opportunity which isn't dependent on online visiblity at all. If you're in the mass-consumer space, eyeballs matter. If you're in a more selective space, the number of eyeballs matters _far_ less than their quality. A B2B proposition cares about exposure within their chosen industry, a neighborhood or regionally-oriented business about local word-of-mouth or reputation. A consultant really only needs sufficient clients to keep booking solid. Etc. Google might play a role, but odds are far higher that other methods: cold calling, networking, flyers, street signage, radio or TV advertising, industry-specific publications publicity, etc., play a far larger role. The problem with the online space is that, if you're going to play there, Google owns something on the order of 80-85% of all search. There are other avenues to eyeballs (Facebook, Twitter), but there are specific components to their reach.
  - massysett 12y ago
    "Ok, which means you're going to make yourself more dependent on Facebook, or Twitter, or LinkedIn, or DuckDuckGo, or radio ads, or television ads, or newspaper ads, or billboards, or etc." Being dependent on Google + Facebook + Twitter + LinkedIn is better than being dependent on Google alone. MetaFilter is just now learning that it did not have a sustainable business model.

nether 12y ago

As a MeFite of several years, I've gotten a lot of useless/terrible advice through Ask MeFi. Basically for any subject remotely esoteric, you'll get a lot of "subject 101" answers and ones that are totally wrong. For general/life advice it's pretty good though, mostly because of the number of older users there.

mbrock 12y ago
Everyone on there is a 30-something linguist, musician, or grad student; is an experienced fetishist; is a traveller who goes off the beaten track; is involved in several local community organizations; and has a long history of therapy.

dredmorbius 12y ago

Disruptions, unpredictability, and random swings in support are all harmful to the ecosystem. Google's actions have consequences. Alternatives are to make yourself far less dependent on Google (all the more reason to support search alternatives, including DDG). But so long as your business is eyeball aggregation, you're going to be at the whim of the aggregators (and that is a control point).

adventured 12y ago
I don't disagree with what you said, but it's constantly pointed out that start-ups (etc) should avoid being dependent on x y z for traffic. There isn't a single business on earth that is not dependent on a 'platform' of one sort or another. Even Google is dependent on other platforms. You merely pick your poison, if you're so lucky, when you run a business. There are always gatekeepers and always will be; and they can cripple you if they choose to, the only variable is how much of an incentive they have to do so, and the damage they'll take by doing so. Make yourself less dependent on Google? Ok, which means you're going to make yourself more dependent on Facebook, or Twitter, or LinkedIn, or DuckDuckGo, or radio ads, or television ads, or newspaper ads, or billboards, or etc. None of those are benevolent lords just looking out for your own well being. DDG can still chop you up with an algorithm change just as easily as Google can, and at Google's scale every little change would impact businesses just as Google's present changes do, and there would be just as many claims of unfair treatment. DDG can be as transparent and open as they like, that wouldn't change the sour grapes that would be derived from algorithm changes.
- dredmorbius 12y ago
  Make yourself less dependent on Google? You're omitting another option: invest in a business opportunity which isn't dependent on online visiblity at all. If you're in the mass-consumer space, eyeballs matter. If you're in a more selective space, the number of eyeballs matters _far_ less than their quality. A B2B proposition cares about exposure within their chosen industry, a neighborhood or regionally-oriented business about local word-of-mouth or reputation. A consultant really only needs sufficient clients to keep booking solid. Etc. Google might play a role, but odds are far higher that other methods: cold calling, networking, flyers, street signage, radio or TV advertising, industry-specific publications publicity, etc., play a far larger role. The problem with the online space is that, if you're going to play there, Google owns something on the order of 80-85% of all search. There are other avenues to eyeballs (Facebook, Twitter), but there are specific components to their reach.
- massysett 12y ago
  "Ok, which means you're going to make yourself more dependent on Facebook, or Twitter, or LinkedIn, or DuckDuckGo, or radio ads, or television ads, or newspaper ads, or billboards, or etc." Being dependent on Google + Facebook + Twitter + LinkedIn is better than being dependent on Google alone. MetaFilter is just now learning that it did not have a sustainable business model.