News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on What I use instead of Google services. Parent comment

Re:What I use instead of Google services by eevilspock on Tuesday September 02, 2014 @08:04PM (#8260855)
> The REAL issue is accountability. True information lockdown rarely benefits anyone, but openness without accountability is useless and downright dangerous.

Google is accountable. The problem is that they are accountable to advertisers, currently to the tune of about $55 billion per year.

For consumers to hold Google accountable, they have to fight against their addiction to free web content and services, and start directly paying for what they consume. It's important to note that "Google is free!" is an outright lie, and in fact we are paying more for Google through advertising than if we just paid straight up[1].

> We should instead be spending our breath advocating for greater accountability in the system as a whole.

The best way to do that is to advocate against ad-supported websites and services, and to advocate (and invent if missing) honest ways to get necessary revenue[2].

-

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7485773

[2] I avoid the term "monetization" which to me is a word invented to make it easier to be dishonest.

[EDIT] Sigh. As usual, either Google or advertising apologists are downvoting without supplying a reason. Upton Sinclair said, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." Too many people here have a salary dependent on advertising, or an identity dependent on Google fanboyism.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What I use instead of Google services by astrocat on Tuesday September 02, 2014 @09:37PM (#8261129)
> The best way to do that is to advocate against ad-supported websites and services, and to advocate (and invent if missing) honest ways to get necessary revenue

I like this. I mean, not gonna lie I love free stuff as much as the next guy but most services that offer to remove ads for a subscription (Spotify/Pandora for example) I pay for.

Even journalism - support your local NPR!

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What I use instead of Google services by Oletros on Wednesday September 03, 2014 @01:21AM (#8261614)
Do you want a reason?

None of your post give any single proof, just some grandiloquent claims.

[Too many people here have a salary dependent on advertising, or an identity dependent on Google fanboyism.]

Tinfoil too much?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What I use instead of Google services by eevilspock on Wednesday September 03, 2014 @11:06AM (#8263330)
I provided plenty of facts and logic behind my statements. Did you even follow my link? And how do you refute my claims? You label them "grandiloquent" and say I must be wearing too much tinfoil. I bow deeply to your logic, reason and debate skills.

It's obvious from your comment history that you're a Google fanboy. And an Amazon fanboy. And an Apple hater. Good luck with that.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What I use instead of Google services by Oletros on Friday September 05, 2014 @08:03AM (#8273375)
> I provided plenty of facts and logic behind my statements.

No, you don't. A claim it is not a fact or proof.

> It's obvious from your comment history that you're a Google fanboy. And an Amazon fanboy. And an Apple hater. Good luck with that.

Well, perhaps it is obvious to people like you, that only have a black and white world and everything not agreeing with you is because a paid shill or a hater.

Good luck with that

[ Parent | on HN ]