Googlefasting
I love a lot of things about Google (especially how they fund many of my advertising-based ventures). I use Google search every minute of every day - or that's what it feels like. I don't like much of their software because of a poor design ethic, but I like what it does for users.
I've been growing increasingly concerned over how Google is starting to do more… and the world is just letting it do more without asking questions (because most users trust the brand blindly). Google is everywhere. I want it to be everywhere, but I also don't want it to be everywhere - because that's very scary. I trust that they will continue to “do no evil” (as opposed to “do know evil?”) - but perhaps there's such a thing as “too big?” I have to prepare for the worst.
In a recent show, I challenged myself to live without Google for a week. Now, this doesn't include tearing down my AdSense blocks (that would be totally insane). So, I'm gonna have to take myself up on this self-inflicted dare. You might think I'd use Gada.be (which is a great metasearch tool), but I'm actually going to use the engines that Gada.be runs upon - like Technorati, MSN, Yahoo!, IceRocket, etc. I'm not doing this to make a political statement - I'm doing it just to see if I can do it.
I'm going to live without searching for anything on Google (or using Google software) for a week… ohmygod.
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19 Comments
LordKaT
February 22nd, 2006
at 12:38pm
Good luck, and godspeed, Chris. We shall pray for thee.
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 1:25pm
I pretty much use nothing but MSN Search. Haven't found the need to use Google for a while.
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 2:14pm
AltaVista still works.
*smirk*
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 3:20pm
But a political statement could be needed. At least students for a free tibet are asking it. See http://flickr.com/photos/phauly/100734714/
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 3:21pm
I'm not really clear on what the point of going without Google for a week is if you don't plan to stop using their AdSense boxes. If it's a sort of protest, then making them revenue doesn't make sense. If it's to experience life without Google, then making revenue from them during that week negates the experience. Maybe you should just keep using Google.
Mollyfud
February 22nd, 2006
at 4:39pm
Are you going to stop them spidering your websites as well?
Just interested.
Molly
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 5:21pm
I have sensed something along these lines as well.
When I have to deliberately make myself to NOT open up gmail when the computer boots.
It feels too invasive.
Tim.
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 9:53pm
It should be easy…I have done that for months.
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 11:13pm
How about if I hold the laptop up in front of you and all you have to do is press enter? :)
Matt “Don't leave us for a week! We'll miss you!” Cutts
BTW, Kudos on the captcha–I don't see many with punctuation..
Anonymous
February 22nd, 2006
at 11:36pm
Does this mean you'll turn off google ads for the week?
Pioneer
February 23rd, 2006
at 12:58am
You said:
“but perhaps there's such a thing as 'too big?'”
Stalin once said:
“Quantity has a quality all its own.”
I say:
Yes, a thing CAN get “too big”.
Al
February 23rd, 2006
at 2:05am
Fasting from Google is probably harder than fasting from Microsoft :
For Microsoft you could just use a Mac or Linux for a week with open office and no MSN…
But for google it it actually quite different as they are in your income stream (Adsense), as well as searching, siteindexing (googlebot/mediabot etc..). Also if you use gmail/gtalk etc.. that could be a bit inconvenient (no email!!).
There is a big difference in effect turning one of vs the other which really shows how ingrained google has become in many ways.
But i think if you are really going to Googlefast then you need to temporarily disable your Adsense. Perhaps you can place yahoo or some other ads there for the period. and also disable googlebot/mediabot temporarily in your robots.txt file. You will still get indexed by yahoo et al…
That would be a real test a real fast , I would be interested in seeing the results of that
Goodluck
regards
Al
Shaymus22
February 23rd, 2006
at 6:42am
I feel bad…I'm the one who reminded him!
It happened yesterday, in gtalk, and now he's been idle since then!
Main Page -- A View from the Isle
June 1st, 2006
at 7:19pm
When I remember I like Sphere and Snap. [IMG Ads by AdGenta.com]Maybe it’s that darn Google toolbar. It’s there, it’s easy, I just use it. Hmm, maybe time for a switch. I’m not going to go Google free likeChris did, but I think I’m going to try some different toolbars for a bit. Maybe all it will take for Google to lose its strangle-hold on web search is if we really give the new engines a shot for a few days.
GoogleWatchBlog
September 21st, 2006
at 10:18pm
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April 1st, 2008
at 12:49pm
to do with the equinox and full moons, but this year’s now obligatory Google-fast, or Day Without Google is, perhaps prescient, April Fools Day. Last year, Google was banned among a small group of blog-followers on June 12th. In February of 2006,Chris Pirillo riskeda mental breakdown by going without Google for a solid fortnight. The apparent lack of alternative is both a testament to Google and a cause for worry among those whose innate, egalitarian sensibilities drive them toward more inclusive, and thus
Busty Hentai:Hardcore hentai porn ,3D hentai movies and manga!
April 1st, 2008
at 12:49pm
to do with the equinox and full moons, but this year’s now obligatory Google-fast, or Day Without Google is, perhaps prescient, April Fools Day. Last year, Google was banned among a small group of blog-followers on June 12th. In February of 2006,Chris Pirillo riskeda mental breakdown by going without Google for a solid fortnight. The apparent lack of alternative is both a testament to Google and a cause for worry among those whose innate, egalitarian sensibilities drive them toward more inclusive, and thus
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April 1st, 2008
at 4:21pm
to do with the equinox and full moons, but this year’s now obligatory Google-fast, or Day Without Google is, perhaps prescient, April Fools Day. Last year, Google was banned among a small group of blog-followers on June 12th. In February of 2006,Chris Pirillo riskeda mental breakdown by going without Google for a solid fortnight. The apparent lack of alternative is both a testament to Google and a cause for worry among those whose innate, egalitarian sensibilities drive them toward more inclusive, and thus
Jon
May 8th, 2008
at 12:33am
I deliberately avoid Google Search. There are plenty of other search engines that work. Google is much too intrusive and not for me. Quite apart from that, I’ve notice lately that search engines in general are getting less efficient. For example, you enter a phrase and get a list of links ostensibly containing that phrase but when you go there there is no sign of it, or you have to register to see the content. When I enter the American site address the damn thing opens at the site in the country I’m in. Don’t want that!
Too big , too powerful…
Best.
jon