does google own the world?
March 30th 2007 19:59
your searching stops here?
one issue that springs to mind is the idea of censorship in one form. for example, when one does a search for a particular item, the search returns with an enormous amount of results and who is to say that is the best selection of information that is available? the potential sources are selected through a process of recent activity on the many webpages that the information is available on, along with the highest amount of links that correspond to this webpage. for a useful explanation of this refer to this blog post. so in a sense, it is popular information that is found and could potentially not be the best source for this information. not to mention that you, depending on your research skills of course, have to traul through possibly 20 000 000 internet pages. i would really like to meet anyone that has done this.
with this in mind, people that are uploading information really play on this, as is the trick of any web developer or online content manager. an industry in itself has been created around this practice and this could be seen as further distorting what could be conceived as the correct information. it must then be said that both the media producer and consumer should be wary of the information that they develop/consume, and must always keep an open mind to other avenues of information technology.
as we all instantly go to google for our information fixes, we have to be aware that there are alternative research options available to us that should be utilised from time to time. one fantastic example of this is the social bookmarking network of del.icio.us. as a creative online community, they utilise the importance of metadata and tags to link people together with what has been bookmarked.
an example of a del.icio.us blog summary
for example, i might find a website on bettie page. i can then go to del.icio.us and create a post on bettie page, save it, and it will then tell me who else in the del.icio.us network have also bookmarked this website. instantly i have access to an entire network of people that have a similar interest to bettie page and might have further information that i would be interested in.
i actually just did this and google simply gave me pages of information related to bettie page and her photos. del.icio.us said it was bookmarked by 26 other users, which then directed me to other areas such as 'pinups', 'burlesque', and 'dancers'. when i clicked on that it directed me towards another network which opened up into 'art' 'dada', and 'deco'. so furthering my initial availability of information again.
it might not be the style of research for everyone, but it is an alternative and could possibly take you to places you would never have previously gone before. free information. information for everyone.
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by The black man
Experience is our only true form of information, the rest is heresay. This also opens another kettle of worms...perception. Our senses are also falable...yada yada, yada....and it goes on and on and on and on. This leaves us with one piece of important knowledge...that we really know nothing. (OOooo..I am the zen master, lol)
So I leave you with this.... be careful what you believe, for what we believe today could be proven otherwise tomorrow. Very scientific really, maybe also a bit zen, meh.
Maybe I should have a been a buddhist, maybe I am...maybe, I'm in the matrix....ahahahahahaaa..hmmm
side note: delicious sounds cool. love ya work son...hutchieson, lol
Comment by Damo
Then if I turn off my computer they own nothing.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
thanks for the zen tip. and you are right - the more one learns the more one realises that one doesn't know shit. it is one of those things that excites me and frustrates me at the same time! maybe what i was really trying to say here was to quote max cavelera - 'don't believe what you see, don't believe what you read.'
it may have just been a personal reminder to look through the arch window one day, then the circle window the next.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
thanks for the reality check! it is always comforting to know that we can always just turn off...
it is funny thing this 'e' world. so much money and interest involved in something that just isn't tangible. so who does really hold all the aces?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Billy M
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
it is kind of like a 'seven eleven' in the sense that you know your goods are going to cost you more, but it is going to be quicker to duck into the 'sev' rather than ride your bike down to the local market. convenience is a curse on us all, and is a curse that we are all guilty of at one time or another.....(damn it!)
it is interesting that you raise the idea that google
if you read this post from the official google blog about google in china, it is interesting to note how quickly they breeze over the topic. whilst at the same time suggest they will notify the reader that they have been 'censored' on their search, then suggest they will rectify the situation after some time. i wonder when that time will come? apparently it was better to censor content than to leave the country all together.
we are always warned to not believe what we read, but how can we be the judge of that if we can't even access it? i am pleased that others out there are reading between the lines when it comes to communication. thanks for the comment billy m.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
funny how not that many of the population really considers how valuable and important information is. when it boils down to it, it is the most valuable resource we have (apart from water and food). and it is not until you think about what a lack in this resource could potentially be doing to the mass media consumers. we could be slowly changing ideologies and discourses and not be aware of it at the time. or perhaps never be aware of it. yes indeed it is a scary thing.
Comment by megz
the discussion above of ideoligies, propaganda and, ahem, geospacial technology is great for us wise-olds in the know and down with an evolving IT world but what about the primary school kids who, when asked to search for information on the internet, are advised to "Google" it.
I guess my point is that not only does Google hold the lion's share of search engine prowess but they have also managed to enter the vernacular as a verb. this is very serious and very hard to reverse. can anyone else think of a situation where a corporate entity's trade-name is used to such effect?
there are of course nouns that have been replaced by trade-names, eg. texta, biro, band-aid, nitto (for the AV freaks) but i believe they are less harmless than a corporation that has its fingers in so many pies.
having said all that, i too am guilty of both using google as a search engine (regularly) and as a verb but at least i'm aware of it. it's the children in schools today who i worry about.
the children Jonathon, does anyone think about the children anymore?
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
'this tuckshop needs to be jamied.'
'just jamie the fat kids.'
oliver. oliver. you want some more?
and may i commend you on the use of the 'vernacular'. well slipped! hoorah!
i think it is not that far off where education needs to be given to school children about internet etiquette, i.e. how to find information, legitamite sites etc. it really could cause a problem in the future and is a common reaction to any discussion of information and the internet of late. if you are interested in a research being done into this check out here for an interesting discussion.
all this talk of google has made me hungry. i'm off to burger king my belly, whilst i coke up! after that i might chanel my wardrobe, macleans my teeth and holy sheet! for the night.