Is Google God?

[nulltone]

Last year, a New York Times article talked about Google.

Says Alan Cohen, a V.P. of Airespace, a new Wi-Fi provider: "If I can operate Google, I can find anything. And with wireless, it means I will be able to find anything, anywhere, anytime. Which is why I say that Google, combined with Wi-Fi, is a little bit like God. God is wireless, God is everywhere and God sees and knows everything. Throughout history, people connected to God without wires. Now, for many questions in the world, you ask Google, and increasingly, you can do it without wires, too."

And apparently, this past Tuesday, Google saved a man's life:

An Australian journalist kidnapped in Iraq was freed after his captors checked the popular internet search engine Google to confirm his identity.
John Martinkus was seized in Baghdad on Saturday, the first Australian held hostage in Iraq since the US-led invasion.
But his captors agreed to release him after they were convinced he was not working for the CIA or a US contractor.
He was reported to be making his way home to Australia on Tuesday.

Its an interesting question. Google sees everything. Google is everywhere. And Google is merciful.
And am I crazy?

[kree]

And am I crazy?

I don't think so. For those who know how to really use google, it just as well may be god to them!

[renderman]

My $0.02 is that we are reaching a point where the sum of human knowledge is available at a couple of mouse clicks.

I find myself amazed at how much information (fact and bupkis) is available on any topic I want. I need to know something, I ask google.

I don't think google is god, but the accessability it gives the information is the 'god'. Someone will eventually supplant google, but the communal searching of human knowledge will survive.

/me gets off the phylosophical soap box and off the sauce

[Voltage Spike]

Certainly not the Christian God: that one is big on the whole non-interference thing.

And it hasn't quite approached omnipotence, yet. For example, it can't answer the question of what happened to the Defcon Forum smilies.

A wireless, searchable Internet does bring people closer to omnipotence and (arguably) speeds the progress of the human race. That is, once you get past the pr0n.

[renderman]

That is, once you get past the pr0n.

Been on the Internet since 1997, still have'nt gotten past it

[alklloyd]

If I had to choose, i'd take google and usenet as my must-haves. Find a google hacking book. Lots of info the average tourist may miss. I realize I'm preaching to the converted here...

Al

[LosT]

Hello Google, it's me, Margret....

It's interesting to try and find cycles (no pun on the title of this reply) in nature...I was thinking about how the availability of information seems to go in cycles also; the more and more knowledge we gain as humans, the harder and harder it becomes to be 'proficient' in many disciplines- you have to specialize to get the total depth in a particular area...but along comes Google, and now everyone is an expert with the right search string. *BUT* having the knowledge and *understanding* what you have are two different animals. Knowledge isn't wisdom and all that....

LosT

[bascule]

My $0.02 is that we are reaching a point where the sum of human knowledge is available at a couple of mouse clicks.

And before too long it will just be a thought away. That freaks me out.

[LosT]

And before too long it will just be a thought away. That freaks me out.

Actually I think that would be really cool...but again, the comprehension and understanding/digestion of such a resource would be wasted on the masses....

it will just be used for pr0n anyway... (thinking of a redhead, *poof*)


LosT

[Chris]

Been on the Internet since 1997, still have'nt gotten past it

Why would you ever want to get past the porn?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If they took all the porn of the internet there would only be one site left:

www.whathappenedtotheporn.com

[allentrace]

My $0.02

So that is like $0.0005 American currency?. Just kidding with you.

[Siviak]

Google is not GOD.... Microsoft is god.. so Google is kinds like the holy spirit... and since we all know that GodMinus1 is Jesus I think that due to this thread we amy have cracked this entire "Holy Trinity" thing.. thanks Nully

[lil_freak]

Siviak, I always thought Microsoft was the root of all evil, thus making MS the devil. So if that holds true then google could be god.

Um, maybe we should seek the advice of GodMinus1 on this.

[highwizard]

And before too long it will just be a thought away. That freaks me out.

How long is too long?

http://www.nature.com/news/2004/0410.../041011-9.html

[Import]

Siviak, I always thought Microsoft was the root of all evil, thus making MS the devil. So if that holds true then google could be god.

Um, maybe we should seek the advice of GodMinus1 on this.

If Microsoft is the root of all evil, Google has to be Jesus since M$ is trying to buy them out?!?