Google results and "truthiness" ( conspiracy )

submitted by hwong

So, I have been noticing something odd with google search results the last few weeks. Results are coming back kinda...I don't know... "sterilized", for lack of a better term. When I search for something, I see a pattern of 5-12 stories or info resources that are listed over and over again. Then I noticed that old info, that I know I searched on months prior and read and saw, not even showing up... I don't know.... it's hard to put into words exactly. But it had me puzzled, something seems off.... Then I remembered this....

Google Develops System For Ranking ‘Trustworthiness’ Of Websites

And I think the "machine" is running full force and it makes me wonder what info I am not seeing, what info is being censored from the net. I guess it's time to ditch Google all together and try BING (which seems to be more open anyhow)or even Gogoduck (which I think is still backed by google search indexes, so I don't know if that will even help.)

Is anyone else noticing this, or is it just my google-fu getting weak?

RedditIsPropaganda23

try duckduckgo

maiqtheliar

Use an alternate source. Remember the websites that you visit and go back to bookmarking in your favorites and using RSS feeds. If you find a good aggregator or use Live Bookmarks in Firefox or Thunderbird you can keep a listing of your go to sources "on the ready." Search engines are hit or miss, and the machine is very active.

You can try duckduckgo, or for the time being use a trick I've used with twitter and hashtags, then find alternative news sources from that and get on their feeds.

Tallest_Skil

DDG sells your personal information to advertisers. Don’t use it.

maiqtheliar

They're selling a lot of bullshit then. Honey pot and ghost accounts are good for regular folk too, not to mention script/cookie blocking, and the occasional proxy.

ElspethTirel

use a trick I've used with twitter and hashtags

Which is?

maiqtheliar

Use hashtags to find new sources.

ElspethTirel

I still don't understand what you mean. Could you lay it out for me?

maiqtheliar

Interesting topic

Hashtag it and search

Comb the results to find informative links

Choose different sources

Compare and contrast news from different outlets.

Mix it up with establishment and alternatives sources to get the best picture of who takes what side and why.

Maki_Man

I don't think Bing would really be a good alternative... I guess you can try Duckduckgo

Tallest_Skil

DDG sells your personal information to advertisers.

Maki_Man

Startpage then? It uses Google but doesn't track you or share your searches with Google.

TFP191

Well it could be many things. Problem with Google is that it seeks relevance through interconnection. Meaning the more popular something gets the quicker results change.

Additionally, your browser may be storing your search habits or otherwise tailoring results to fit you. You can browse in incognito mode with Firefox. Using TOR or a VPN is even better.

hwong

wait, now, what? The browser is storing/caching search results????? I haven't heard this one before. There's a cache somewhere in mozzilla for storing this type of info? This could explain it I guess....

pitenius

check your google cookie... google watches your choices from their returns and then modifies their returns to be the most like the things you click. It can be really useful in some situations and an echo chamber in others.

hwong

Wow. I did not know this. Makes sense though, once I think about it. Good call. Thanks for the tip!

qzxq

which is why you use other browsers