Google freaks me out sometimes

[shrdlu]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

...but its still scary that they're "reading" my email. Even if its not a human its still kinda big brother-ish. I mean they can compile lists of topics of conversation in my emails....

Don't like it? Don't use it. I like gmail for certain things. I cannot imagine dealing with the cesspool that is Full Disclosure without it. I like its ability to handle spam. It sucks seriously for real email conversation on real lists, with people that are interesting, but I use actual email for that.

I find the Web Clip things interesting, and have, now and then, clicked on one. The spam and recycle suggestions get a bit repetitive after a time, but I have Hawaiian friends that adore spam, and once in a while I'll see the name of a familiar recipe, and it'll make me laugh.

I can see someone easily looking at a few subjects strung together to imagine criminal behavior or whatnot.

Seriously? It ISN'T people that see your email. Really. Some of the things you've posted here, on this forum that is globally searchable, and that will live on in Google and Yahoo forever, are incriminating enough. One doubts that anything Gmail can deduce will be nearly so interesting.

Yes, I do need more coffee.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

You have the choice not to use them and host your own email.

it is for this sort of reason that i opt to have my own email and never use GMail or any such service. PGP and crypto whenever i check messages... no inline ads for me, that gives me bad vibes, too, on some level.

[streaker69]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

true, but its still scary that they're "reading" my email. Even if its not a human its still kinda big brother-ish. I mean they can compile lists of topics of conversation in my emails.... I can see someone easily looking at a few subjects strung together to imagine criminal behavior or whatnot.

You have the choice not to use them and host your own email.

[faye]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

There's ads?

Right column.

This is one of those things that falls under 'general knowledge'. Seeing as Google is pretty open about the fact that they can help tailor advertising to those that may be receptive to it.

true, but its still scary that they're "reading" my email. Even if its not a human its still kinda big brother-ish. I mean they can compile lists of topics of conversation in my emails.... I can see someone easily looking at a few subjects strung together to imagine criminal behavior or whatnot.

[theprez98]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

There's ads?

It's more a line of text with a link than anything else. As such, its one of the few things that adblock doesn't block.

[barry99705]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

Actually if you use gmail, you might find that the ads on the sidebar tend to relate to whatever is going on in your email conversations....Does anyone else notice this?

There's ads?

[theprez98]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

Actually if you use gmail, you might find that the ads on the sidebar tend to relate to whatever is going on in your email conversations....Does anyone else notice this?

This is one of those things that falls under 'general knowledge'. Seeing as Google is pretty open about the fact that they can help tailor advertising to those that may be receptive to it.

Yeah, every time I empty my spam folder I get ads for (actual) spam recipes.

[noid]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

Actually if you use gmail, you might find that the ads on the sidebar tend to relate to whatever is going on in your email conversations....Does anyone else notice this?

This is one of those things that falls under 'general knowledge'. Seeing as Google is pretty open about the fact that they can help tailor advertising to those that may be receptive to it.

[faye]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

I wonder if Google will ever digest your search history and spit out a complete personality profile, or perhaps start recommending you web sites you might be interested in.

Actually if you use gmail, you might find that the ads on the sidebar tend to relate to whatever is going on in your email conversations....Does anyone else notice this?

the only times things have been sort of "off" tended to be on rural roads where the "blocks" are nonexistent and a certain numerical address is maybe an extra mile along further than Google thought.

I know some people that built a house in a new rural subdivision in the summer of 2006 and their address still isnt available on google maps nor does their house show up on satellite view. I wonder how often google maps is updated?

[Ænder]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

I've done well with it but I've only used it for the hard ones. Most of the time a regular map suffices. I was using Map Quest last year in the mid summer when the usual map could not approach the detail I needed to get to my destination in a real dead man's land. I wonder if they have upgraded to GPS mapping on searches which may explain improvements?

I personally found that although MQ can be a life saver when it comes to directions, it can also completely face plant into the concrete. Beyond any reasonable explanation I can come up with, MQ once told me the fastest way off a military base in Georgia was by going on tank trails through swamp and marshlands (that I thought were not mapped). I guess I should have looked for the 'I don't own a jeep' check box.

[streaker69]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

Personally, I rather see Kirk kicked in the nuts. I would pay to see that, actually.

Sounds like a job for Ashton Kutcher.

[Gadsden]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

For some reason, I just can't get enough of watching Spock get smacked. Dunno why.

Personally, I rather see Kirk kicked in the nuts. I would pay to see that, actually.

[streaker69]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

Yes and please throw in a frontal slap for good measure. Wearing a red dress is optional.

For some reason, I just can't get enough of watching Spock get smacked. Dunno why.

[boredsilly]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

Originally Posted by streaker69

For all you people that have gotten lost using Mapquest. One of the original developers will be in my office in the next month or so. Shall I give him a collective smack across the back his head?

Yes and please throw in a frontal slap for good measure. Wearing a red dress is optional.

[streaker69]

Re: Google freaks me out sometimes

...and crime.

...and the singing road

Apparently, MapQuest is trying to kill you. I'm glad you made it out of there alive considering that areas crime rate. I lived there for most of my life and finally escaped last year to the mid-west.

Once MapQuest sent me to the middle of nowhere just outside of Lancaster. It was trying to get me to a testing center at a small airport but instead it indicated I needed to go down a dirt road for a mile. Since I had enough time and didn't know where else to go, I decided to do it. It ended up being a small farm house where the old guy knew exactly where the testing center was. MapQuest was off by over a freakin mile. Thankfully, Google Maps has been pretty accurate or I'd need to get a GPS.

For all you people that have gotten lost using Mapquest. One of the original developers will be in my office in the next month or so. Shall I give him a collective smack across the back his head?