Comments on: Google won't autocomplete "bittorrent" but will autocomplete "how to kidnap a child" http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 16:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: hellishmundane http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008896 hellishmundane Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008896 odd. I never would have thought stealing from walmart was considered a "terrible" thing. I don't steal. But if i had to i would definitely go around ripping off walmarts and maybe long john silvers, that guy is just asking for it. odd. I never would have thought stealing from walmart was considered a “terrible” thing. I don’t steal. But if i had to i would definitely go around ripping off walmarts and maybe long john silvers, that guy is just asking for it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008641 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008641 They probably use something along the lines of ngrams (http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/). They probably use something along the lines of ngrams (http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/).

]]> By: bosconet http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008645 bosconet Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008645 actually if you can manage to type in bittorrent auto complete still works.... actually if you can manage to type in bittorrent auto complete still works….

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008911 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008911 +1! :D Please don't kill batman! +1! :D

Please don’t kill batman!

]]> By: YarbroughFair http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008658 YarbroughFair Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008658 "How To" A-Z Google Auto Complete. how to a ctivate a verizon phone how to b ake pumpkin seeds how to c ook a turkey how to d raw how to e at a pomegranate how to f lirt how to g et rid of bed bugs how to h ack how to i nduce labor how to j ailbreak ipod touch how to k nit how to l ose weight fast how to m ake out how to n egotiate salary how to o pen rar files how to p lay qwop how to q uit smoking how to r oast pumpkin seeds how to s olve a rubix cube how to t ie a tie how to u nblock someone on facebook how to v ote how to w rite a resume how to x ray how to y odel how to z ip a file “How To” A-Z Google Auto Complete.

how to a ctivate a verizon phone
how to b ake pumpkin seeds
how to c ook a turkey
how to d raw
how to e at a pomegranate
how to f lirt
how to g et rid of bed bugs
how to h ack
how to i nduce labor
how to j ailbreak ipod touch
how to k nit
how to l ose weight fast
how to m ake out
how to n egotiate salary
how to o pen rar files
how to p lay qwop
how to q uit smoking
how to r oast pumpkin seeds
how to s olve a rubix cube
how to t ie a tie
how to u nblock someone on facebook
how to v ote
how to w rite a resume
how to x ray
how to y odel
how to z ip a file

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1009170 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1009170 A-Z "How can I" autocomplete: How can I access Wikileaks How can I bring on labour How can I change my life How can I download Youtube videos How can I edit a pdf How can I find my IP address How can I get rid of spots How can I hack someones facebook How can I improve my credit rating How can i jailbreak my iphone How can I keep from singing How can I lose weight fast How can I make money How can I not love you How can I open a docx file How can I put on weight How can I quit smoking How can I record my voice How can I speed up my computer How can I tell if i'm pregnant How can I unlock my iphone How can I view a private facebook profile How can I watch free movies online Hos can I xls How can I youtube video download How can I zip a file A-Z “How can I” autocomplete:
How can I access Wikileaks
How can I bring on labour
How can I change my life
How can I download Youtube videos
How can I edit a pdf
How can I find my IP address
How can I get rid of spots
How can I hack someones facebook
How can I improve my credit rating
How can i jailbreak my iphone
How can I keep from singing
How can I lose weight fast
How can I make money
How can I not love you
How can I open a docx file
How can I put on weight
How can I quit smoking
How can I record my voice
How can I speed up my computer
How can I tell if i’m pregnant
How can I unlock my iphone
How can I view a private facebook profile
How can I watch free movies online
Hos can I xls
How can I youtube video download
How can I zip a file

]]> By: Granger http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008660 Granger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008660 I respectfully disagree. I believe piracy is everyone's problem. It drives up costs, makes it more difficult for artists to be independent, leads companies to onerous DRM schemes, etc. And if Google wants to stop autocompleting the word BitTorrent, when we all know that the service is mostly used for piracy, that strikes me as a very mild thing to do and does not constitute "evil" behavior. Just because someone doesn't do things the way I might do, or how I might wish them to do, doesn't make them evil. Where I think they would cross the line is if they removed torrent services used for legitimate uses from their search results. I respectfully disagree. I believe piracy is everyone’s problem. It drives up costs, makes it more difficult for artists to be independent, leads companies to onerous DRM schemes, etc. And if Google wants to stop autocompleting the word BitTorrent, when we all know that the service is mostly used for piracy, that strikes me as a very mild thing to do and does not constitute “evil” behavior. Just because someone doesn’t do things the way I might do, or how I might wish them to do, doesn’t make them evil. Where I think they would cross the line is if they removed torrent services used for legitimate uses from their search results.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1010708 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1010708 Come drive the new Pontiac Bukkake! Come drive the new Pontiac Bukkake!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1011477 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1011477 I guess using https://encrypted.google.com/ is different from http://www.google.com/ because it doesn't autocomplete how to kidnap anything. I guess using https://encrypted.google.com/ is different from http://www.google.com/ because it doesn’t autocomplete how to kidnap anything.

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008918 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008918 rss and xml I don't know. . .but a G6, zumba, potash. . .those things I have some knowledge of. . . rss and xml I don’t know. . .but a G6, zumba, potash. . .those things I have some knowledge of. . .

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008665 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008665 What does CIYA mean? All I could find was "Corrugated Iron Youth Arts". What does CIYA mean? All I could find was “Corrugated Iron Youth Arts”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1011228 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1011228 One doesn't have to read past "passed" in the "kidnapped kid" item to see that Grammar Goddess must again moonlight as Spelling Sorceress. One doesn’t have to read past “passed” in the “kidnapped kid” item to see that Grammar Goddess must again moonlight as Spelling Sorceress.

]]> By: Stooge http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008673 Stooge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008673 Granger, do you think Google should also stop autocompleting email, as it's a service used mainly for selling fake Viagra? Granger, do you think Google should also stop autocompleting email, as it’s a service used mainly for selling fake Viagra?

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008929 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008929 The 'where is' is far more difficult: I can get most of the geography. . .but waldo? osama? norris? I have no idea where those guys are. . . In fact the only other one I do know is the 'where is my mind' lyrics: 'Waaaayyyyyy out in the water. . .see it swimmming!'~ Klang!!! Klung! bang bang a bappibappi bap bap 'I was swimmin in the Caribbean!~' Surfer Rosa is such a great album. . . The ‘where is’ is far more difficult: I can get most of the geography. . .but waldo? osama? norris?

I have no idea where those guys are. . .

In fact the only other one I do know is the ‘where is my mind’ lyrics: ‘Waaaayyyyyy out in the water. . .see it swimmming!’~ Klang!!! Klung! bang bang a bappibappi bap bap ‘I was swimmin in the Caribbean!~’

Surfer Rosa is such a great album. . .

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008677 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008677 Moreso than kidnapping, tax fraud, shoplifting, and terrorism are everyone's problems? Moreso than kidnapping, tax fraud, shoplifting, and terrorism are everyone’s problems?

]]> By: signsofrain http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008684 signsofrain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008684 Yeah, piracy isn't a "problem" it's an inevitability. Give all humans in the world the ability to transfer large amounts of data very quickly to any other humans combined with the technology to capture and digitize just about anything... people are going to use the tools available to them, and nothing is ever going to stop them without completely breaking the internet. The fight against piracy is pointless, what the industries affected by digital copying should do is figure out how to adapt. Making content harder to access with broken DRM schemes (and most of them ARE broken - when I can't enjoy content I legally purchased because my DSL is out, that's when I'm gonna pirate something, duh) isn't fighting piracy. You're just egging on the nerds out there who get their kicks out of making big corps who just spent huge money on encryption software feel like idiots. Engage with the downloading community. Figure out how to use them for publicity, sell to them, provide them with files containing brief advertising messages... why isn't anyone trying this stuff? Instead, they're suing single moms, people without computers, dead people. They turn themselves into the bad guys then wonder why we all get a kick out of sticking it to them. These guys are evil, therefore Google siding with them is an evil act. As long as the internet remains free, I'm going to use it freely. Just try and stop me. Yeah, piracy isn’t a “problem” it’s an inevitability. Give all humans in the world the ability to transfer large amounts of data very quickly to any other humans combined with the technology to capture and digitize just about anything… people are going to use the tools available to them, and nothing is ever going to stop them without completely breaking the internet. The fight against piracy is pointless, what the industries affected by digital copying should do is figure out how to adapt. Making content harder to access with broken DRM schemes (and most of them ARE broken – when I can’t enjoy content I legally purchased because my DSL is out, that’s when I’m gonna pirate something, duh) isn’t fighting piracy. You’re just egging on the nerds out there who get their kicks out of making big corps who just spent huge money on encryption software feel like idiots. Engage with the downloading community. Figure out how to use them for publicity, sell to them, provide them with files containing brief advertising messages… why isn’t anyone trying this stuff? Instead, they’re suing single moms, people without computers, dead people. They turn themselves into the bad guys then wonder why we all get a kick out of sticking it to them. These guys are evil, therefore Google siding with them is an evil act.

As long as the internet remains free, I’m going to use it freely. Just try and stop me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008701 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008701 Why would anyone volunteering want censorship of any kind? Why would anyone volunteering want censorship of any kind?

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008703 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008703 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49403380@N00/5393805373">Google is</a>??? Google is???

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1009219 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1009219 From Google's support: "We aim to provide you with relevant search queries, but we exclude a narrow class of search queries related to pornography, violence, hate speech, and copyright infringement." http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=106230 If they expand this policy further and for all languages then they might as well remove autocompletion all together. I've already run into this several times while typing innocent words in my native language that happen to begin with something that Google thinks may lead to English profanities. From Google’s support:
“We aim to provide you with relevant search queries, but we exclude a narrow class of search queries related to pornography, violence, hate speech, and copyright infringement.”

http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=106230

If they expand this policy further and for all languages then they might as well remove autocompletion all together. I’ve already run into this several times while typing innocent words in my native language that happen to begin with something that Google thinks may lead to English profanities.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1011011 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1011011 Try: can i get Try:

can i get

]]> By: 42isall http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008712 42isall Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008712 I don't know where these guys are googling, but I just googled everything they claim they block. How to torrent cam up with tons of how-to's, Bitorrent came up with bittorrent, all of them worked fine. And google did kinda claim that they were entirely anti-censorship, so if they ARE doing this, its pretty hypocritical. I don’t know where these guys are googling, but I just googled everything they claim they block. How to torrent cam up with tons of how-to’s, Bitorrent came up with bittorrent, all of them worked fine. And google did kinda claim that they were entirely anti-censorship, so if they ARE doing this, its pretty hypocritical.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008714 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008714 "What is" A-Z Google Autocomplete what is a g6 what is black friday what is cancer what is diabetes what is energy what is facebook what is gluten what is halloween what is illuminati what is java what is kush what is love what is my ip what is normal blood pressure what is osmosis what is potash what is quinoa what is rss what is salvia what is twitter what is url what is vertigo what is wikileaks what is xml what is yoga what is zumba PS: I do not know what some of those items are. “What is” A-Z Google Autocomplete

what is a g6
what is black friday
what is cancer
what is diabetes
what is energy
what is facebook
what is gluten
what is halloween
what is illuminati
what is java
what is kush
what is love
what is my ip
what is normal blood pressure
what is osmosis
what is potash
what is quinoa
what is rss
what is salvia
what is twitter
what is url
what is vertigo
what is wikileaks
what is xml
what is yoga
what is zumba

PS: I do not know what some of those items are.

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1009996 semiotix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1009996 <blockquote>Why would you even make such an absurd statement?</blockquote> I'm so seldom given a chance to account for my absurdity, so thanks for that. Google is not a monopoly with respect to Internet search because there are several hundred alternatives for consumers. The fact that x% choose Google reflects its popularity and name recognition, not its "market share." Nobody, but nobody, can use only Google to search for torrent sites.

Why would you even make such an absurd statement?

I’m so seldom given a chance to account for my absurdity, so thanks for that.

Google is not a monopoly with respect to Internet search because there are several hundred alternatives for consumers. The fact that x% choose Google reflects its popularity and name recognition, not its “market share.” Nobody, but nobody, can use only Google to search for torrent sites.

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008729 semiotix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008729 <blockquote>A monopoly choosing what you can and cannot read (autocomplete is publishing, yes really) is close enough to censorship to call it what it walks and quacks like.</blockquote> As for monopoly, I Googled "search engines" (which it autocompleted) and found tons of other search engines out there, many of them with autocomplete. They're all free, by the way. Advertisers might have an anti-monopolist case to make against Google, but from the user standpoint, the search engine "market" is as open and competitive as it can possibly be. Censorship is one of those things that's so bad we need to be really, really careful about preserving the value and meaning of the word. One search engine out of hundreds failing to <i>volunteer</i> information is just about the least convincing example of censorship I can think of in a world that still has governments taking hammers to printing presses. For what it's worth, I say this as a user of torrent sites--not in a noble civil-disobedience way like most BBers; I just download stuff I like for free. Also, I notice that Google still autocompletes "peer to peer," and "damn the Man" but not the more effective and rebellious "fuck the Man."

A monopoly choosing what you can and cannot read (autocomplete is publishing, yes really) is close enough to censorship to call it what it walks and quacks like.

As for monopoly, I Googled “search engines” (which it autocompleted) and found tons of other search engines out there, many of them with autocomplete. They’re all free, by the way. Advertisers might have an anti-monopolist case to make against Google, but from the user standpoint, the search engine “market” is as open and competitive as it can possibly be.

Censorship is one of those things that’s so bad we need to be really, really careful about preserving the value and meaning of the word. One search engine out of hundreds failing to volunteer information is just about the least convincing example of censorship I can think of in a world that still has governments taking hammers to printing presses.

For what it’s worth, I say this as a user of torrent sites–not in a noble civil-disobedience way like most BBers; I just download stuff I like for free. Also, I notice that Google still autocompletes “peer to peer,” and “damn the Man” but not the more effective and rebellious “fuck the Man.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008730 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008730 a search for ".torrent" will auto-complete. a search for “.torrent” will auto-complete.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008731 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008731 Where Is A-Z Google Autocomplete where is area code 289 where is belize where is chuck norris where is dubai where is euthanasia legal where is flanders fields where is grim batol where is halls of origination where is ip where is justin bieber from where is karla homolka where is los cabos where is my mind lyrics where is new england where is osama bin laden where is puck on glee where is qatar where is rex murphy where is santa where is the love lyrics where is uldum where is vimy ridge where is waldo where is xander root where is your appendix where is zinc found Where indeed. It seems to me that that auto-complete is geo-locational. Where Is A-Z Google Autocomplete

where is area code 289
where is belize
where is chuck norris
where is dubai
where is euthanasia legal
where is flanders fields
where is grim batol
where is halls of origination
where is ip
where is justin bieber from
where is karla homolka
where is los cabos
where is my mind lyrics
where is new england
where is osama bin laden
where is puck on glee
where is qatar
where is rex murphy
where is santa
where is the love lyrics
where is uldum
where is vimy ridge
where is waldo
where is xander root
where is your appendix
where is zinc found

Where indeed.

It seems to me that that auto-complete is geo-locational.

]]> By: gigarizel http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008987 gigarizel Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008987 Is it really so bad that when you do a search for software you find the guy who made it before you find a torrent? Personally I was getting irritated by finding torrents before finding the legit sources. If you really want to find the torrent all you have to do is type torrent. sheesh. Is it really so bad that when you do a search for software you find the guy who made it before you find a torrent? Personally I was getting irritated by finding torrents before finding the legit sources. If you really want to find the torrent all you have to do is type torrent. sheesh.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1009248 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1009248 @semiotix 35 "Google, but from the user standpoint, the search engine "market" is as open and competitive as it can possibly be." No. An oligopoly is not as open and competitive as a market can be. Why would you even make such an absurd statement? The most open and competitive market would includes 100s of competitors in a space large enough that any single firm has little overall influence. That market is NOT search, which is 70% google, 15% yahoo, 10% bing, 5% other. @semiotix 35

“Google, but from the user standpoint, the search engine “market” is as open and competitive as it can possibly be.”

No. An oligopoly is not as open and competitive as a market can be. Why would you even make such an absurd statement? The most open and competitive market would includes 100s of competitors in a space large enough that any single firm has little overall influence. That market is NOT search, which is 70% google, 15% yahoo, 10% bing, 5% other.

]]> By: XerxesQados http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1008741 XerxesQados Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1008741 Google Instant is the default now, though. For many people, autocomplete <em>is</em> the search results. It's not censorship if you know that pressing Enter gives you something different. How many people know that? Google Instant is the default now, though. For many people, autocomplete is the search results.

It’s not censorship if you know that pressing Enter gives you something different. How many people know that?

]]> By: tuckels http://boingboing.net/2011/01/27/google-wont-autocomp.html#comment-1009005 tuckels Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1009005 "bit" will get you bitlord. "pi" will get you pirate bay as the second option, "pir" will take it to first. Both "bittorrent" and "torrent" will get you a number of suggestions (the first is "torrent sites, for example) if you complete the word, whereas "nude" for example, will get you absolutely nothing, even with the full word. It also doesn't display any results until you hit enter when instant is on, whereas "torrent" will net you 68,400,000 results in the same test. If they are trying to censor autocomplete, they do a pretty lousy job at it. “bit” will get you bitlord.
“pi” will get you pirate bay as the second option, “pir” will take it to first.
Both “bittorrent” and “torrent” will get you a number of suggestions (the first is “torrent sites, for example) if you complete the word, whereas “nude” for example, will get you absolutely nothing, even with the full word. It also doesn’t display any results until you hit enter when instant is on, whereas “torrent” will net you 68,400,000 results in the same test.
If they are trying to censor autocomplete, they do a pretty lousy job at it.

]]>