The herd mentality

This is just an arbitrary post to get rid fo that on-the-inter.net post I've grown tired of looking at it.

Random thought for this post.

Many folks complain about G's algos and some say that someday they will be eclipsed by some other engines or a combination thereof.

I don't think the basic internet user puts that much thought into where they choose to search. I think they use Google the most because its the thing to do.

How many of us use G exclusively? How many of us think they deliver the best results? Its obvious that they deliver the most traffic, and that why WE pay attention, but I believe that it really wouldn't take much more than a fad to knock them off their roost.

There are lots of new engines and bookmark places to use these days. I believe that if someone were to come along and make search fun or create a bigger buzz, Google would turn into just another engine with lots of side projects. Maybe that's what social bookmark places have attempted to do and failed. Either way I think G's success has more to do with status quo than it does relevant results these days.

Anybody agree?

I think you are right in a sense that Google just became the "thing to do." "Just Google it" became the buzz words for search. I still think that there are a lot of people out there that feel Google actually does give them the best results. It would probably take a little more than a 'fun' search to knock Google out. It would have to provide relevant results. Also, those "side project" that you talk about that Google owns are actually used extensively in conjunction with search and the other parts so each piece that Google offers have actually strengthened the existing services in making the "Internet user" synonymous with "Google user."

Google is still one of the best. Sure, for some of OUR searches it returns spam. But that's just because our favourite terms are very competitive and they are heavily targetted by spammers. Try searching for something 'normal' for a change LOL. They have this HUGE index and that counts for something, especially on 'obscure' searches.

PS: if you guyz don't like this herd mentality, then I won't either LOL

I prefer to think for myself ........but I see your guyz point about 'the google user'. Like winning over a customer and keeping them happy. I guess the extra-caricular (sp?) stuff deserves more credit than I tend to give them as far as the big picture goes. ....and that would help explain why it may be that G is the place to go for some.

Going just on search however, I know I use whatever works for what I'm searching for and I'm not partial or commited to any particular engine.

good thead
better than that other one

Google is the best, you just have to "search right".

"Search right"?

Not sure what you mean there. If you need to "search right" to use Google, doesn't that mean there is something wrong with the engine?

Anyhow, I used to find what I wanted in Google, and at the time it was the best engine for me. But I have stopped using it - almost completely.

I think Google's side projects are ok, but they are not significantly better than others. Buying youtube = a good move so they still have some sense.

As far as search goes, I think they have a freshness problem. A couple of months back, a search for "Fresh content" returned results from 2001. Pretty ironic. I had posted about this on another forum at the time, but everybody was too anxious to defend Google, I am sure no one verified the info

Things are a bit better. Second result is from a 2004 DP thread, so thats very fresh!
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22Fresh+content%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

So yeah, freshness problem.

I think that people love Google blindly. It somewhat verges on obsession for some who just say "Google is the best" with no other argument. I call them Google lovers and they are the antethesis of the other extreme: Google haters. Its good to finally see a thread where people have a more refined set of ideas on the topic.

Sorry I Hadn't Noticed

I agree on that. Google has something to do with our status quo that we able to break some leg in order to get probable results. Google is the best.