Eliminating GOOGLE as search function

[olllllo]

This is a lot of elevated rhetoric and angst about the relative harm to users of this site by using the google search option on this site.

I guess the next obvious request would be to lock this site out of any search engines.

 

[olllllo]

If you don't want any HBT information to be tied to you IRL, then don't post personal information about yourself here.

This is a beer forum. If you are uncomfortable using the google search option in this site because presumably you'd be typing in beer search items, then really HBT is not your problem.

 

[weirdboy]

I'm not a conspiracy theorist.. but where could the billions of dollars for the servers, the google car drivers, etc etc be coming from?

Really? Is it that hard to look at their SEC filings?

http://investor.google.com/documents/2009_google_annual_report.html


Not only do they make billions of dollars (revenue in 2009 was over $23 billion), they have enough left over after paying for all the servers, etc. to have over $6 billion extra cash just from last year.

 

[dataz722]

I guess the next obvious request would be to lock this site out of any search engines.

Makes sense to me.

 

[Brew-Happy]

The idea that Information Privacy and its loss by Google is kind of silly. For most of us homeowners, our house appraisal, taxes, and payment history is available online for free. Next is my car purchase this last year. I am that info is out there as well. (I should google my VIN!!) I am sure my cell number is out there as well, since it is my only phone connection (home and work). So, if I was so paranoid that I didn't want random people to have my info, I wouldn't have a home, car, cell phones, internet connection, electricity, gas, water, trash pickup,...

Paranoia anyone???

Don't answer that TXBrew might be counting the Yes votes

 

[dougf]

You seem to be incapable of posting without insulting someone.

We'll see you in a few days.

A ban for that?

 

[Brew-Happy]

A ban for that?

olllllo probably owns Google stock

 

[TxBrew]

If I don't use Google how else am I supposed to track your online activities so I can ..... oh I've said too much.

 

[HoppyDaze]

I just used google to track a stripper I love....Shes gonna be so surprised!

Do you think she would like it if I cut off my ear and sent it to her? Or is that too much too soon?

 

[dataz722]

I just used google to track a stripper I love....Shes gonna be so surprised!

Do you think she would like it if I cut off my ear and sent it to her? Or is that too much too soon?

Are you serious??? You haven't sent it to her already?

 

[wildwest450]

A ban for that?

It's called nipping it in the bud. Test olllllo, I dare ya.

 

[dataz722]

It's called nipping it in the bud. Test olllllo, I dare ya.

No seriously, do it! It's fun.

 

[McKBrew]

Great thread. Has the potential to be epic.

Just in case anyone thinks that Google search puts you at some sort of increased risk, just keep in mind that there are so many other ways the government can track your activities that Google is the least of your worries.

It is totally amazing how easy it is to figure out things about just about anyone via the internet. Even the most "secure" of all of us probably aren't that protected. You might not post your real name here. Chances are that you are on other forums with the same user name, chances are that in a thread here your buddy who does post his real name has a conversation about you and gives your first name and mentions where he lives, then a bit more digging....

I'm not an internet genius, but if I can do it, I don't think the government is going to have much trouble tracking you down, even through completely legal channels.

 

[Edcculus]

The only real disadvantage I see is if Homebrewing one day becomes illegal. Then the government has a huge database of people who probably have no plans to quit!

 

[McKBrew]

The only real disadvantage I see is if Homebrewing one day becomes illegal. Then the government has a huge database of people who probably have no plans to quit!

And seeing as how pot is illegal and there are plenty of forums about that, I say that we are pretty far down the list if the government starts enforcing drug and alcohol laws on a big scale.

 

[JarrodH]

The big question for me is if your so concerned about Google searches being given to the government, why are you online in the first place? Most ISP's will work with government through legal channels with a warrant if they suspect your doing something illegal. Your ISPs logs are what you should worry about...

 

[HoppyDaze]

The only real disadvantage I see is if Homebrewing one day becomes illegal. Then the government has a huge database of people who probably have no plans to quit!

They can take my fermenter out of my cold dead arms......

 

[Brew-Happy]

These days it seems the gov is more interested in meth homebrewers than us.

Can't say that I blame them given the risk to both maker, user and neighbors.

Now if I decided to brew for all of my neighbor then I think my fermenters would be risked.

Not making fun of the condition, but I wonder how many people post their personal info on this site: http://www.psychforums.com/paranoid-personality/

Just pondering.

Ok out of curiosity I went to the site I listed. WOW! The debate forum here is absolutely cheery in comparison.

One poster I think has OCD as she has to post random comments multiple times.

 

[MrShake]

My confusion? Why do you think the information your type into GOOGLE'S product that YOU choose to use is somehow supposed to be private?

Or, why do you think that the website you CHOOSE to use is somehow obligated to spend its time and resources to secure your ramblings from the government?

Google provides a service... you choose to use it or not.
Homebrewtalk provides a service... you choose to use it or not.

 

[Gremlyn]

If Google is selling me out to the NSA, I'm UBER f*cked then... I have an Android phone, religiously use Gmail, Buzz, Talk, Voice, Maps, and I'm sure other things I'm forgetting about... They know where I am at all times, what I'm doing, and probably WHY I'm doing it (better than I know why at this point). And I'm OK with it, because I signed up for it.

At the moment, I trust Google and their "Do no evil" motto.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

The thing that concerns me most about Google is the new technology they are working on. Within just a matter of weeks they will have tin foil piercing capabilities. Their satellites will be able to see straight through my foil hat and read my brain.

In all seriousness though, if you are worried about Google, then you should be equally worried about using the internet at all. Even if Google over step the mark, they are simply the biggest company doing it. take away Google, and you lose the best search engine and create a bigger market for every other internet company out there, many of which have much less integrity.

 

[ZooBrew]

Super Snooper GOOGLE busted again. Is there something that smells about their mea culpa?

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64D60E20100514

 

[weirdboy]

Super Snooper GOOGLE busted again. Is there something that smells about their mea culpa?

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64D60E20100514

It's not google's fault a bunch of ******** don't know how to lock down their wireless networks, or to not send sensitive information in cleartext over open wifi.

 

[ChshreCat]

This'll keep them googles out!

 

[Dr_Gordon_Freeman]

This is quite a reasonable concern. Calling out the OP for being paranoid is just plain dumb.

And to the "if you aren't doing anything wrong" crowd-- there are thousands of historical examples of people who "weren't doing anything wrong" yet were persecuted for their actions.

 

[EricCSU]

This'll keep them googles out!

She stole my hat!

 

[weirdboy]

You guys are amateurs. If you're really paranoid like me, you get the foil surgically implanted in your skull.

 

[BeerWars]

Most anything you search for online can be obtained legally from your local public library or bookstore (if you live in a really conservative area).

 

[BBKing]

I'm supposed to worry about Google selling/giving away my info to the Government folks?

Sorry, NSA, CIA, FBI, ABC, XYZ wants to know what has been searched for from my IP address, I really doubt that they have to ask/pay for it.

 

[pickles]

This is OT but is that a woman or a man? Looks a little like Jeff Daniels in drag. Maybe Google hired him to throw us all off.