Turns out uBlock Origin is the best anti-malware software there is. For some reason friends and family just don't seem to get malware anymore after I installed it on their browsers.
Google's other big line of business is shaking down businesses for cash by selling the top result for someone's own brand name unless they're paid for protection.
I want real opinions written by real people with no conflict of interest. People who are't getting paid by the corporation.
But the incentives for advertising remain the same, so another similar competitor with similar evilness would emerge to replace them.
I don’t believe the problem is “Google is evil”.
I think the problem is that the incentives create evil, and there is little effective effort (that I have seen) to fix Google’s incentives through legislation or other means.
I worry that many other major companies we interact with are heading down the same path.
TVs are one canary warning us.
Another example: Apple seems to be getting keener on advertising revenue, and I’m not sure that opposing incentives (within Apple or by their customers) are strong enough to overcome the financial temptation. That temptation leads to eventual sin (to use a religious metaphor!) Apple already commits egregious harm through many kinds of “free” apps.
If you think I'm trolling, report me. If dang tells me to stop, I will respect his decision. Don't accuse me of "baiting" otherwise. This isn't 4chan.
That's maybe 10% of what advertising does. Everyone on the planet is well aware that Coke is a carbonated beverage.
Advertising is pretty gross.
And maybe that wasn't always the case, and maybe it's also using advertising in place of another word, but that's where it's ended up in my understanding of the world.
It's become lifestyle sales, of you buy this, you'll be this. They use that technique just about everywhere now. Used to be just cars and fashion. Like someone else said, emotional manipulation, narcissistic [my add].
Most people don't think with logic, but with emotions, so they're easy targets. Which makes me sad, because frankly no one deserves to get scammed and lied to.
I'm the type of person to appreciate direct and frank discussion. Many don't like this, especially people having power ambitions.
And yet it tries do "educate" the public about why they should buy whatever product or service they're offering. Lies and half-truths are common.