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Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by alecco on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @11:43AM (#12498101)
It's even scarier than that. Both Google and Facebook got into politics. Both were caught manipulating results to favor their political allies.

Even if you like the politicians they have today it's still a serious issue. A huge step towards an Orwellian Nightmare.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by Angostura on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @12:12PM (#12498405)
As far as I know the Google claims were shown to be false. Have I missed something?
Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by alecco on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @12:47PM (#12498827)
A recent one

https://sputniknews.com/us/20160912/1045214398/google-clinto...

NOTE: The site is an organization sponsored by Russia. But the researcher is well respected with a Ph.D. from Harvard. His 2015 paper was published in PNAS and reviewed by very respectful people. This article is a preview of his upcoming paper.

Where did you see this proven to be false???

It's sad how critics and whistleblowers have media blackout in USA and only can do it via Russian agencies or Al-Jazeera.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by agildehaus on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @01:21PM (#12499196)
There's absolutely nothing scientific about that article. It's entirely cherry picked examples. I tried similar queries and got completely different results, often negative.

And he lacks basic understanding quite often. In one example, Google pulls a Hillary image instead of a Trump (or both) when referencing the 2016 election in a fact card. He doesn't even think that image is simply the first to appear on that page.

Heck, I type "next president" into Google right now and I get a fact card with Obama as the image and "5 Reasons Why Trump Will Win" by Michael Moore as the top result.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @01:13PM (#12499119)
Well respected? Robert Epstein is the idiot who served malware through his website and when Google displayed a warning about it, Epstein didn't try to fix the problem, he instead went legal and news nuclear claiming Google was trying to censor him.
Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @12:56PM (#12498930)
Sigh. Continued belief in debunked conspiracy theories is one of humanities worst traits. The moon landing was real, the earth is not flat, and Google is not manipulating search results.
Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by ocdtrekkie on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @06:00PM (#12501568)
Google regularly manipulates search results in their best interests. They even modify their browser to behave differently around sites which they want to discourage or demote. And Google is proud of it. Regularly informing people of how Google will prioritize sites using Google's mobile framework or Google's definition of what's mobile friendly. Or preferring and promoting HTTPS websites, which are more expensive to operate and primarily from users with larger disposable income, over potentially equally valuable voices without. Far outside of content quality and relevance, the only things that should matter, Google regularly manipulates results to reward or punish behavior they want from the entire Internet.

When the chairman of Google's board is directly funding a startup with the mission of electing Hillary Clinton, and a Alphabet subsidiary CEO is one of Hillary's former aides, and Google has an incredible shield from prosecution under the current government leadership, I think we can safely assume Google considers it important to it's interests to ensure she's elected.

The article often cited isn't really a solid proof of Google manipulating results, but that doesn't mean it's true that they aren't. And of course, with Google's search algorithm one of the most guarded secrets at the company, some of the only code that regular rank and file Googlers aren't allowed to see, even you, a Googler who's failing to disclose your bias here in these comments... can't prove otherwise.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @08:40PM (#12502529)
Are you trying to parody a debunked conspiracy theorist? You are good, but your "isn't really a solid proof of Google manipulating results, but that doesn't mean it's true that they aren't" line that gave you away as a parody account.
Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by ocdtrekkie on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @10:30PM (#12502905)
Hey, this is the realm of easily provable fact. If Google isn't manipulating results: Prove it. It's easy to do, just open source the algorithm.

Long as you can't do that, you're not really doing much to advance the conversation. Just being a paid shill for your employer.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Thursday September 15, 2016 @03:06AM (#12504008)
Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by ocdtrekkie on Thursday September 15, 2016 @09:25AM (#12505890)
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/One_single_proof

The cool thing about linked logical fallacies as an argument point is that, like Bible verses you can find one to support every side of an argument.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Thursday September 15, 2016 @12:49PM (#12507692)
"Thou shalt not quote logical fallacies unless one has read its definition first" -- Argument 10:1

There's no proof that Google is manipulating search results, and when anyone fabricates a new possible manipulation it is immediately debunked. And yet you still want me to prove the negative. I'm not asking for a key proof, I'm asking for any proof.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by ocdtrekkie on Thursday September 15, 2016 @05:12PM (#12509868)
Is not Google proud of their tradition of manipulating presentation to encourage behavior? Outside the already listed examples above which refer directly to search results, I recall a proud blog about how Google figured out they could manipulate their own employees into eating healthier by rearranging the food on the buffet in the cafeteria.

Given the clear relationship of corrupt influence in our government by Google (feel free to try and "debunk" this one, please), can you not accept that it is not just reasonable, but prudent to be skeptical of Google's search ranking motives?

I mean, your employer has literally actively gotten involved in overthrowing governments in collaboration with Hillary: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/google-built-tech-to-sup...

I personally am generally hesitant to factually state "Google is manipulating search results in favor of Hillary Clinton", because, as you said, I don't see conclusive evidence. But acting like people are wrong to be suspicious is not much better. If I were to make an educated guess as to whether or not they are, I'd be inclined to guess that they are. You work for a company that makes Comcast look positively cuddly by comparison.

The fact that some bad articles used bad evidence does not prove Google is not manipulating search results, it's merely the http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Fallacy_fallacy at work.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Thursday September 15, 2016 @08:04PM (#12510940)
Let me try to summarize your argument.

1) Google posted about putting healthier snacks closer to eye level in employee kitchens.

2) Unsubstantiated claim that Google has a corrupt influence on the US Government.

3) Google Ideas helped create a visualization of Syrian officials who publically opposed the government for the newspaper Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/syriadefections...

Therefore, Google is manipulating search results in favor of Hillary Clinton.

It is difficult for me to believe that you take your own arguments seriously

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by ocdtrekkie on Friday September 16, 2016 @12:26AM (#12511814)
You might want to read up on http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Strawman because when you believe that you should write your own version of someone else's point, in a manner that doesn't represent the position or the logic therein, you may in fact be putting up a strawman to try and discredit the other person.

"Unsubstantiated"? Do your own homework on how many Congressmen are in Google's pocket: http://www.opensecrets.org/usearch/?q=Google+Inc&cx=01067790...

EDIT: Sorry, your company hid most of their donations under their shell corp this year: http://www.opensecrets.org/usearch/?q=Alphabet&cx=0106779074...

Not to mention Google literally having bought out one of our previous FTC Commissioners, who was paid to fabricate "academic studies" that supported Google's legal positions, which Google then used as "independent" evidence of their claims. During his FTC term, the investigation of Google's conduct mysteriously disappeared, despite the staff at the FTC recommending a case proceed. (And almost every other civilized country has opened such a case against Google. Why's the US silent on the matter?)

You work for a criminal organization that uses deception and manipulation as basic operational currency. And you expect me to take your arguments seriously?

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by namesbc on Friday September 16, 2016 @02:46AM (#12512286)
I think I can help clear up one point here at least. You confused Shell Corporation with Holding Company. There is nothing "shell" about a multinational conglomerate.

As to your other points, I'll refer you to my original post.

Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by ocdtrekkie on Friday September 16, 2016 @03:03AM (#12512358)
Nothing you posted adequately contests anything stated here. The difference between Alphabet being a shell corp or a holding company by definition is almost meaningless since everything that isn't Google is a hilarious failure. If anything it seems designed to shield Google's reputation from all their failing projects, but most nobody is buying it.
Re:Google’s become an obsessive stalker by awqrre on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @12:48PM (#12498834)
Politics also got into Google and Facebook, don't they have to share most of their data with the Government [1]?

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRISM_(surveillance_program)#E...