OK...time for     starkers and Aesir Rising are both correct.

Google and M$/Yahoo are only interested in $$$.

Anything else invites paranoia.

Stop staring at me. All of you. DAMN the voices in my head! Shut Up!!!!!!

ZehDon...it is Google's track record of amending search results for one particular group [purely for the potential loss of a market were they not to] that demonstrates just how unreliable ALL searches must be.  If they alter the truth [read - unfilted/unadjusted results] for one then they can be likely to be doing similar for ALL.

Their poor record precedes them.

"for me, Google works just fine" ....as far as you either care...or are aware.

And no, Google isn't "owned" by the Chinese Government...but it HAS been "bought" by them.

I certainly agree with the basic argument, and Google's track record does cast a shadow on it's reliability, however if your trying to justify a switch from Google to a Microsoft Search engine because Google filters the results of searches to allow it to make more money by increasing traffic to particular websites that pay more, or filter traffic away from certain websites if that don't pay, I question your logic. Microsoft have a proven track record of attempting to and, indeed, successfully monopolising certain markets in which it conducts it's business to ensure greater profits and the online advertising market has massive potential financial gains for them and so it's a fair assumption Microsoft will attempt to Monopolise this market as well.

As for being aware - let's be honest. In a realistic, day to day basis, how many searches have been altered that really make a difference to the end user? I'm not talking hypothetical situations, I mean really - how many times has Google been unable to find what you want? I can't even remember the last time. It probably does happen, but it doesn't make a difference. Are the people who are paying more spending their money wisely? No. As a regular internet user, I ignore all advertising anyway. Literally, I have never clicked on an online advertisement. I tune them out. I'd go as far to say that online advertising is my least favourite aspect of general internet use, so I'm not feeling sympathetic to the companies who flood my inboxes and webpages with crap.

Now, is it's business practices unethical? In my opinion yes, however so are Microsoft's, EA Game's, Maxis' and several other companies who's names don't immediately spring to mind. If you consider Google 'bought' by the Chinese government, do you consider others who alter their products to meet with the standards or requirements of other nations and governments 'bought' as well? Fallout 3 was banned in India for it's depiction of Cows - if they had of removed these cows and re-submitted the game, would you consider Bethesda 'bought' as well? Or are we holding Google to a higher standard because they are a Search Engine and thus should provide all searches and information absolutely? I'm not trying to be rude, merely understand where we're drawing the line. If your arguing about freedom of information, or some such derivative, Google is filtering it's results to ensure greater profits - they're not limiting what information you have. Being as they don't exclude millions of results when I type in 'Running Shoes' to ensure I can only go to the Nike Website, for example, I believe the same information is available, merely from different sources. And if I still get the exact same information for the exact same price - free - as an end user the outcome doesn't really effect me. This situation may be different in China, however if it wasn't Google wouldn't be available in China and thus China have the exact same issue - minus Google. I may not agree with what Google does, however moving to Bing isn't going to make any difference. To anyone. Except Microsoft, who can make enough money from their advertising due to increased traffic that they too can filter their search results to ensure greater profits.

I just wonder why everytime I look for info on a game via google the lower half of the first page of results are links to torrents. Seems like game publishers would be actively trying to stop them from what looks like promoting piracy. With all the filters they have available you knwo they could cut those out. Anyone looking for game info can scroll down and see this and that "Full Game-Precracked" and like titles, effectively exposing and encouraging piracy to a group of people who otherwise wouldn't get or actively seek such info. Hmm, maybe google's on their payroll as well.

Edit: Haha. After looking for a game with Bing vs Google, seems Bing has the same issue with readily displaying torrents as well.

Haha, I've noticed that as well, several forums I go to have a torrent area and the bottom of the page is just littered with millions of keywords to grab the Search Engine's attention.

One more than one occasion... way back when I used Google search.  Was looking for local computer stores close to me and, no matter how I asked the question, two that I wanted to check out in particular were excluded from the results... even typing in the names directly failed to produce a hit.  What I got instead were the names of large department stores, so I went to Yahoo search, where I got the desired results.

* Google designed its seach engine to suit itself, not the user... if there isn't a buck in it for them, then the results are omitted, despite their having trawled the net and being in possession of the requested information.

* What they "just 'omit' to find" is (should be) criminal!!  When you ask for *say* PK Computers and get Hardly Normal, Myer, Dick Smith... everything EXCEPT what you asked for it sucks big-time and is a downright inconvenience. Some of the smaller traders have better deals, and omitting results for these deprives  "Google search" users alternatives and opportunity to shop with non-Google clients at better prices.

Stuff Google!!!  Now when I want computer parts or anything else I look in the phone book and front up to the stores... that way I can see what I'm getting and don't have to wait on deliveries, etc.

Oh, and before anyone asks/comments: "What about Yahoo"?, etc.... Yeah, I know, they aren't pure as the driven snow and can filter search results to suit themselves... which is why I do NOT depend on any of them to provide the information I need regarding purchases/matters of importance.

The other answer would be:  I dislike/distrust Google more... and didn't come here to bash Yahoo.

....and there's the next 'problem' with search engines....it's not just the engines themselves who can 'cook the results'...but also the tech-savvy sites who can play the system.

Heck....why not just start up a company called 'XXX enterprises - home of porn and manufacturer of fine tea-cosys/whatever'.

I'm pretty sure if you search for 'tea cosy' your first hit will be XXX enterprises.....

That's not true. They are based here in the NW and are US owned.

You haven't really shown anything. There are no clear examples here.

Kona.....I thought even you could 'follow' the train of logic of my comment.

'bought' as in 'sold their soul to'....

NOT

'bought' as in 'signed over title and deeds to'....

Sigh.....the lights are on.....

What he said.

Hey Starkers look at this:

Notice the third entry? Google isn't as bad as you think...

And look at those top three entries...

(I know Jafo)

Btw i surched tea cosy and the first thing that came up was wikipedea.