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Is Google Now Evil? Ask the Engineer!
superboyac:
Is this the fault of Google - not at all. There are a number of culprits:
* The individual who doesn't look at what they are doing (and mostly don't care)
* The stupid who don't understand what they are doing and don't want to know when you try to explain
* The even more stupid who claim to know what they are doing and are too arrogant to accept help
* The lazy - who want to use the internet like a washing machine and aren't in the least interested in how it works
-Carol Haynes (March 19, 2012, 01:44 PM)
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This is one where I like to point the finger to both sides. First, the users. A lot of non-geeks have certain expectations from computers, which are completely unrealistic. But they get all worked up about it, even though I'm pretty sure that they are aware that they don't know much about computers at all, and if they did, their expectations would be a little more realistic. And then, they cast condescending looks upon the geeks who DO understand what's going on...and when we say things like "No...the PC is actually better if you want to DO something." they think we're making a religious argument. That's the problem with the Apple vs. PC thing...it's the Apple people who make it religious...most of the nerds have very detailed, practical reasons for their preference.
But then, there's the other side. Apple is absolutely killing their competitors because they spend a lot of time focusing on all the aesthetic stuff the other guys ignore. Build quality. Easy to use. Yes, if you have a lot of options and flexibility like Windows or Linux, of course it will naturally be more complicated to use. But...it doesn't have to be THAT complicated. All people, geeks or not, will appreciate something that is easier to use. So the competitors need to accept that and work on it.
And like I enjoy saying...the personal computer is the most advanced piece of technology the world has ever seen. Why do we expect it to be as easy to use as a push-button telephone? Reminds me of your gf, 40hz, when she was talking about entitlement. it's true...these computer-illiterates feel entitled to having everything be plug n play. And all it is is frustration due to lack of knowledge. Go figure out how to download a driver, it's really not that bad. But they project that anger out to everyone else...they bully the geeks (the curious and seekers of knowledge are always persecuted)...they like to say things like "you have waaaay too much time"...instead of learning beneficial skills, they learn tactics to intimidate, to market, to advertise, how to weild power, how to supervise, etc. And frankly, I'm a little tired of it.
mahesh2k:
Go figure out how to download a driver, it's really not that bad. But they project that anger out to everyone else...they bully the geeks (the curious and seekers of knowledge are always persecuted)...they like to say things like "you have waaaay too much time"...instead of learning beneficial skills, they learn tactics to intimidate, to market, to advertise, how to weild power, how to supervise, etc. And frankly, I'm a little tired of it.
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I thought i was the only one on this planet thinking in this pattern. Holy galactus, i can die peacefully now.
superboyac:
People who have no clue about what is the internet and how it works are the ones who run society in much more conservative ways. I am sure even the people who comment on each others clothes or critic based on their looks are now starting to use the internet. 5-10 more years from now, people with "real life and less internet life" will be minority.
I don't think this has anything to do with google. Google is only cashing in on the gaps of laws. I think there needs to be more changes in the current laws on governing internet ads, or else these ad giants will literally setup devices to stalk people. By no means I am too old to comment on future, hell i am yet to hit 30's. But I do think that if we continue to let these creeps walk over our lives, future is going to be "us vs them".
-mahesh2k (March 19, 2012, 03:15 PM)
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Well, first, society has to stop painting geeks as the guy who fixes things that lives in the basement, while throwing all of their power/money/respect at things learned in business school. Give us a little respect also, after all, we're doing all the work. I'm not saying a complete overthrow...we need the businessmen to balance out the non-techie stuff OCCASIONALLY. But the geeks need a little more respect now since they're doing the heavy lifting. Just like the african americans in the 19th century...and the factory workers in the early 20th...the minorities in the mid-20th...well, it's the geeks now in that position.
it's clear listening to the politicians and the businessmen that the decisions they make about today's most valuable resource--technology--that they are woefully unqualified to even open their mouths. Even though their position doesn't require them to know this stuff, they are making it even more impossible by not asking for help properly from the people that DO know. Don't make decisions without asking the experts first...and that means PAYING the geeks who are living in their basements the way they pay the investment banking associates. because they have worked hard, they have learned a lot, they have done so without so much of a thought of taking advantage of others, and they now have the knowledge needed to help people make the decisions to get out of this mess. Pay them. Stop stressing them out for profit.
but maybe this is just the nature of power, money, and true knowledge.
superboyac:
The other thing the wealthy don't respect:
They think they are more intelligent because they've learned about risk management, economics, etc.
What they don't get is that ALL practical knowledge to programmers can be seen as if/then loops and some data. A person who knows a lot about risk management is NOT smarter than a person who knows a lot about C++ code...so stop acting like a bunch of douches and acknowledge that. It's all relative and all perspective. Maybe a hundred years ago different information had more distinct relative values, but in an age where information is free and ridiculously easy to access...well...the data itself is not so valuable. So what becomes valuable? How to use the data? geek time. Now the businessmen will say that their expertise is decision making based on that data. it is...sure. But is it worth $1 million a year vs. $50k a year? Nope. They get away with it because everyone still thinks geeks are losers with no social skills, etc. And that idea can die with our parents' generation, sorry to say. Love ya, but you're time is past.
So we'll see what happens. The more that gets exposed of our political system, the more that gets exposed about wall street, the more that gets exposed about how large technology corporations make their profits...the more people will realize how much of their time, effort, and money is going into a black hole where nothing fun, good, or comforting is coming out of.
Renegade:
Holy Buddha? I am really starting to hate everything about the online and computer world lately.
-40hz (March 19, 2012, 02:42 PM)
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A long time ago, in an era not too far away as to escape memory, the hype was all about SaaS...
It was then that my alarm bells went off, and that a certain disgust and contempt crept into me.
It seems I'm not alone...
Bloody! Why do I keep doing this to myself?
-40hz (March 19, 2012, 02:42 PM)
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Sigh... Because you care about people and you're not a greedy psychopath.
I know I'm not alone...
Time for a rant! (Why should Renegade have all the fun!)
-40hz (March 19, 2012, 02:42 PM)
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Definitely! ;D
The more, the merrier!
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