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#1 Jul 24 2014 at 9:41 AM Rating: Excellent
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So before I get too far into this rant, the back story. This was the straw that broke the camel's back yesterday:

gbaji wrote:
Well, since 20 seconds on google gets you an answer


Since, of course, these days with 20 seconds on google one person can find something that wouldn't show up on the first 20 pages of someone else's search results. While the details of the Republican's health care plan really isn't something I have a huge stake in, this kind of thing is becoming more and more frustrating for me. It crops up anytime I want to get at information that's outside of the normal bubble I live my life in. While I'm generally happy with customized results 95% of the time, there's times when I want to look for something that should be easy to find, but that gets buried in bunch of other junk the algorithm things is more important to me.

So my question is this, is this a problem for you as well? If so how do you get around it? Different settings or different search engines perhaps? If you've found a way of course. Or is it not something that's bothered you to the point you'd feel compelled post a couple of disgruntled paragraphs on an internet gaming forum?

Do you find yourself frustrated by customized search results at times?
Yes, it has been known to frustrate me.:5 (31.2%)
No, I never look outside my comforting bubble.:0 (0.0%)
No, I've found a work-around.:5 (31.2%)
No, I don't give a ****.:3 (18.8%)
Wait, what? Google customizes my search results?:3 (18.8%)
Total:16


Anyway, any hints or tips would be appreciated.
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#2 Jul 24 2014 at 9:43 AM Rating: Excellent
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Work around, just use a new browser window in private mode and it opens the search engine without your search history in it.
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#3 Jul 24 2014 at 9:49 AM Rating: Excellent
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Shaowstrike the Shady wrote:
Work around, just use a new browser window in private mode and it opens the search engine without your search history in it.
I'm not sure that totally fixes it all though.

For example, I just searched "scaffold" in both a private window and my normal browser in firefox. The third hit on both of them was a software product I use in Proteomics, which I wouldn't have expected to be in unbiased search results (at least on the first dozen pages or so). I'd expect it in my personalized results of course, since I use the product, but I'd be surprised if someone else told me it was 3rd on their list as well.

Edited, Jul 24th 2014 8:51am by someproteinguy
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#4 Jul 24 2014 at 10:04 AM Rating: Excellent
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4th, so not quite 3rd.
Screenshot
#5 Jul 24 2014 at 10:05 AM Rating: Good
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The first two were ads, then after the dictionary box the first real one was that same software.
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"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#6 Jul 24 2014 at 10:41 AM Rating: Good
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Quote:
Since, of course, these days with 20 seconds on google one person can find something that wouldn't show up on the first 20 pages of someone else's search results


I'd not get too worried about anything gbaji says. He tends to stretch meanings beyond a normal persons reality. He probably had that link bookmarked - or he simply searched on the Heritage Foundation page. When I search for GOP Healthcare reform, I get much more recent stuff - from both conservative and liberal sites.

I got the Proteome Software as third link (not including the definition and the 'shopping' thing) underneath two wiki links. Proteome, as a software company, probably knows how to get their site to show up on searches.

Search 'totes' and tell me what you get, cuz i'm just not finding the perfect one needed for next months vaca.



Edited, Jul 24th 2014 6:43pm by Elinda
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#7 Jul 24 2014 at 11:25 AM Rating: Good
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I use a bunch of pluses and quotation marks in new tabs to narrow my searches, and usually run both Bing and Google if it comes to that. Rarely necessary, and the worst is sometimes it turns into a damn tvtropes and I end up looking at something completely unrelated to what I was looking for in the first place.
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#8 Jul 24 2014 at 11:31 AM Rating: Excellent
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Elinda wrote:
I got the Proteome Software as third link (not including the definition and the 'shopping' thing) underneath two wiki links. Proteome, as a software company, probably knows how to get their site to show up on searches.
Well alrighty then, I'll have to give them some kudos next time I'm over there. I'm genuinely impressed given their size and limited market. Smiley: lol
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#9 Jul 24 2014 at 12:17 PM Rating: Decent
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Anything i want to search for i can find through google. Except ****, of course, that's what Bing and incognito windows are for.
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#10 Jul 24 2014 at 8:12 PM Rating: Excellent
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DuckDuckGo

"DuckDuckGo is an Internet search engine that emphasizes protecting searchers' privacy and avoiding the "filter bubble" of personalized search results."

I've had it bookmarked for a while now, but I have to admit I slowly stopped using it and only remembered it when I saw your post.

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#11 Jul 24 2014 at 9:24 PM Rating: Excellent
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I definitely didn't get Proteome on my search
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#12 Jul 25 2014 at 9:32 AM Rating: Good
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My local newspaper recently went ppv. The deal is you can read 10 articles a month. Looking at the subscription choices I couldn't find a digital-only choice, so I called them up.

It's not listed on their 'subscription level' choices page, but digital-only costs $11/month. Too much for a stupid yokel newspaper. The kicker though is, you can get a Sunday paper delivered to your house for $6/month - this subscription also gives you full digital access. So you're thinking, well get the stupid Sunday paper and you can have your digital access for six bucks. I basically told them to shove it. I didn't like their stupid marketing games. I wouldn't read, nor do I want a Sunday paper and besides that, I live far enough out in the boonies that delivery would just be a further waste of resources.

This morning a coworker told me to just use an incognito window to view the newspaper. It doesn't save your cookies so never reaches the 10 article limit.



Edited, Jul 25th 2014 5:34pm by Elinda
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#13 Jul 25 2014 at 9:35 AM Rating: Good
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Sir Xsarus wrote:
I definitely didn't get Proteome on my search

I think spg infected us. I feel dirty.
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#14 Jul 25 2014 at 9:36 AM Rating: Excellent
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cynyck wrote:
"DuckDuckGo is an Internet search engine that emphasizes protecting searchers' privacy and avoiding the "filter bubble" of personalized search results."
Smiley: thumbsup

Sir Xsarus wrote:
I definitely didn't get Proteome on my search
You obviously need to click on more stuff I link. Smiley: nod

Elinda wrote:
It's not listed on their 'subscription level' choices page, but digital-only costs $11/month. Too much for a stupid yokel newspaper. The kicker though is, you can get a Sunday paper delivered to your house for $6/month - this subscription also gives you full digital access. So you're thinking, well get the stupid Sunday paper and you can have your digital access for six bucks.
And coupons. Smiley: wink

Well, assuming they have them...
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#15 Jul 25 2014 at 9:37 AM Rating: Good
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someproteinguy wrote:
cynyck wrote:
"DuckDuckGo is an Internet search engine that emphasizes protecting searchers' privacy and avoiding the "filter bubble" of personalized search results."
Smiley: thumbsup

Sir Xsarus wrote:
I definitely didn't get Proteome on my search
You obviously need to click on more stuff I link. Smiley: nod

Elinda wrote:
It's not listed on their 'subscription level' choices page, but digital-only costs $11/month. Too much for a stupid yokel newspaper. The kicker though is, you can get a Sunday paper delivered to your house for $6/month - this subscription also gives you full digital access. So you're thinking, well get the stupid Sunday paper and you can have your digital access for six bucks.
And coupons. Smiley: wink

Well, assuming they have them...

I can't even burn the coupon page cuz of all the colored dye.
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#16 Jul 25 2014 at 9:45 AM Rating: Excellent
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Elinda wrote:
I can't even burn the coupon page cuz of all the colored dye.
You shouldn't burn free money. Smiley: disappointed
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#17 Jul 25 2014 at 9:51 AM Rating: Good
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I still read the Sunday comics. I wouldn't pay six bucks for that, though.
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#18 Jul 25 2014 at 4:11 PM Rating: Excellent
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Somewhat related to the topic, I had a conversation with a group of friends the other day about progress in America (specifically pertaining to education, reasoning, and the decline of religion). One friend was adamant that the internet has opened the doors to a secular and educated future, because any information you need is just a search away online. Thus it's easy to debunk conspiracy theories, fact-check political claims, and be exposed to alternate views.

He was shocked when I mentioned that the internet also makes it all that much easier to stay in your bubble and overestimate your knowledge and the popularity of your preconceived ideas. Thanks to customized search results, you can find groups that reinforce your conspiracy theories better than you ever could alone; pundits who can twist any politician's lie into truths; and a plethora of like-minded individuals more than willing to explain why there's no need to listen to any other views - not that your search results showed any other viewpoints in the first place.

It's a bit depressing, really.
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