oneguy - 10:24 pm on May 10, 2007 (gmt 0)

For that matter, the premise of this thread is academic.

Sure.

However, the original poster was in part asking people to look at themselves and see if it matches up with reality.

I can see some value in that, and it can be applied.

The history, while interesting, is still history. There's hardly a debate as to whether webmasters were instumental in the rise of Google. No matter what Google turns into, that can not be taken back. It's easy game theory at work here. That's why nobody ever takes anyone up on the "block google from your server" thing.

And since nobody asked, I'll say a little more. :)

I can fit most webmasters that talk about Google into a few categories.

1.) Those who profit as a result of their relationship with Google

2.) Those who don't and would like to.

I fit into the first one. I make some adsense money. Not a giant amount, but positive economic profits, IME. I also have a positive ROI from advertising with Google. I also get plenty of search referrals, which also make money for me.

Just looking at that, you'd think I should be madly in love with Google. We should get a room or something!

As it turns out, we have a troubled relationship.

Google doesn't really tell me what's expected of me. Google will make some cryptic comments about it, but I'm walking on eggshells as a result.

Google watches me way too closely. If I mention that I have some problems with Google, all of Google's friends jump on me like I'm crazy. Google ignores me.

Google tells me how I should act. They can't just take me as I am and rank me among their other relationships.
Google asks people to spy on me.

Google knows a lot about me. I don't really know how or when that information will be used against me, and I can't really trust Google. They don't have to decide to use information against me. It can be legislated. In that case, their privacy policy becomes rather useless.

So, yes, Google does a lot for me. We also have a rather troubled relationship. Some people say I should just leave. So, Google loves me? Mistreats me? Both, I would say.

[edited by: oneguy at 10:25 pm (utc) on May 10, 2007]