Joe Surfer Speaks: I Love Google

Google Rocks - "Google is a Cultural Icon"

[martinibuster]

Found this article over at PC Magazine. Came out in the middle of Update Florida.

Peek into the mind of... Joe Surfer:

Google is the first place I go when I want to find something on the Web or figure out virtually anything. I not only type search terms into Google, I regularly ask it questions—and it nearly always has the answers.

Google Watch and other search watchdog sites also worry about how easily others can manipulate Google's algorithms... I can't say I've seen evidence of this manipulation, however.

...odd how in technology, whenever one brand or product becomes dominant, fearful libertarians come out of the woodwork decrying anticompetitive practices, privacy invasion, and technical malice... But Google? This company won a brand name that became a verb the old fashioned way- by earning it.

[rfgdxm1]

>The search used was \how to milk a cow/ and not the actual \"how to milk a cow"/.

Then maybe you should read the instructions on how to use Google. They even provided a link at the top of the page.

[Stefan]

The following words are very common and were not included in your search: how to a.

It's "Google" not "Ask Jeeves". Haven't most people who use Google figured out how to refine a search? Thinking as a user, I clued into that stuff in the first few days... you have to think people who have the brains to even use a computer in the first place have done the same thing.

Anyway, didn't mean to dispute that some commercial serps are wonky, but right from the start, as a user, I found all the SE's to need a lot of refining to glean something good from the dross... it's still the same.

[Chndru]

>surfing instructions yields no surfing instructions....
try surfing instruction..it yields about.com site to surf

>no specifications for taylor made golf clubs....
Try the 3rd result..it's a yahoo store having ton of specs you need.

[rfgdxm1]

>It's "Google" not "Ask Jeeves". Haven't most people who use Google figured out how to refine a search? Thinking as a user, I clued into that stuff in the first few days... you have to think people who have the brains to even use a computer in the first place have done the same thing.

And, Google *has always been this way.* If people don't RTFM, this isn't Google's fault. Google even provides a link to how to search at the top of that SERP. I'm like you. I got on the Net in 1997, and learned how to refine searches in a few days.

[c1bernaught]

rfgdxm1:

Thanks for the advice.

The search was conducted as a reguler "joe/jane" would search. AKA: my 12 year old... oh...of normal intelligence...

Not the way you would search.... genius....

BTW: You, and many here are the exception.... not the rule..

Geez....

[c1bernaught]

Chndru:

Cool... so out of all the results you found a couple relevant sites.... congratulations....

I personally have higher standards than 1 or even 3 out of 10....

Flip that and give me 7 out of 10 and I'd agree with you.