topic Re: To Google or Not in Among Friends

To Google or Not

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:41:15 GMT

Often I'll have a question about something and then, rather than Google, I'll decide it's not worth the time to get an answer. Just not Google worthy.

Are you willing to remain in the dark rather than spend time on a visit to Google?

Re: To Google or Not

Kachina624 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:42:37 GMT

No, I Google things constantly. It's not a huge chore.

Re: To Google or Not

FranandZoe — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:43:37 GMT

I'm with Kachina.

Re: To Google or Not

sunshine45 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:46:14 GMT

i google (or use whatever browser you prefer) things multiple times a day......best thing ever when you have a smart phone. knowledge at your fingertips!

#knowledgeispower

Re: To Google or Not

Bri369 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:51:12 GMT

I always Google. Just pull out my phone and find what I’m looking for. It’s so simple.

Re: To Google or Not

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:04:48 GMT

Seems everyone is visiting Google day and night, and I'm an uninformed outlier.

Re: To Google or Not

Cakers3 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:05:11 GMT

I do use Google but not constantly. Usually for topics not related to current events.
I've also seen AI weigh in first and the information is not always accurate.

Re: To Google or Not

D Kay — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:09:41 GMT

Wouldn't want to be without it.

Re: To Google or Not

Desertdi — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:18:39 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
No, I Google things constantly. It's not a huge chore.

@Kachina624

I use Microsoft Bing, and do the same thing. There is ''some stuff' I just gotta know about...right now! di

Re: To Google or Not

beach-mom — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:19:05 GMT

@occasionalrain - I'm with the others; I Google all of the time. And many times I find myself going down "rabbit holes." For example,

I read an article about the 10 most nostalgic destinations in the US. That article includes links to places I've been and places I'd like to go. Of course I had to follow some of the links, then did more research, and somehow I ended up with the recipe for George Washington's favorite soup!

It's easy and fun!

Re: To Google or Not

Zhills — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:22:48 GMT

Why would anyone choose to be ignorant of a subject?

Re: To Google or Not

KBEANS — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:26:30 GMT

I try not to Google to refresh my memory. If I can't remember a song, movie, an actor, or an event; I try to think my way through it.

My son and I always remind each other not to hit the Google button right away.

Don't want to depend on it for things I can't recall immediately. I'd hate to become dependent on it. 😝

If I want to find something out, a fact or statistic that I don't know I Google.

Re: To Google or Not

tansy — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:29:19 GMT

@Cakers3 wrote:
I do use Google but not constantly. Usually for topics not related to current events.
I've also seen AI weigh in first and the information is not always accurate.

AI often gets top billing. I wouldn't mind blocking it.

Re: To Google or Not

MamaWick — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:43:23 GMT

If you want to learn, Google is your friend.

Re: To Google or Not

Snowpuppy — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:34:39 GMT

@occasionalrain wrote:
Seems everyone is visiting Google day and night, and I'm an uninformed outlier.

Joining in an an outlier. 😆

Color me as disinterested. I don't get notifications or alerts other than weather.

I would venture that posters who say they search often are constantly scrolling on a phone.

While I use DuckDuckGo, I disabled AI in search results.

Re: To Google or Not

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:52:23 GMT

@occasionalrain wrote:
Seems everyone is visiting Google day and night, and I'm an uninformed outlier.

@occasionalrain

I happen to non-Google for another reason .... privacy. The collection of information about us that is gathered over time is unbelievable.

When I read that if you Googled something in 2003, there is a record of it. I'm sure that prosecutors proving serious crimes are happy to be able to access whether that thug searched "how to hide a body" or some other thing.

I use DuckDuck Go. No tracing or tracking.

Maybe it's because I've always been a bit of a privacy nut, but tidbits of information are just out there all over .... and companies are SELLING what they know about us.

Doesn't sit well with me at all.

Re: To Google or Not

feline groovy — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:57:41 GMT

Nope; I'm too naturally-curious.

Re: To Google or Not

occasionalrain — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 02:12:51 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 .

Thank you. Now I'm going to use the Duck instead.

I like court cases so I've googled some questionable, incriminating information

Re: To Google or Not

Cakers3 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 02:16:10 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

True Duck Duck go itself is not tracking you but if you click on any link that protection ends.

What you link on now starts tracking.

Legitimate links.

Re: To Google or Not

Cakers3 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 02:26:36 GMT

@monicakm

DH used Duck but found less information, one of the cons we saw about that search engine.

Nothing is totally private. Let's face it.
Google has been around a very long time so unless someone used it for illegal purposes no need to worry about, imo.
Switching to an alternate search engine does not wipe out what was stored by prior Google usage.

"Every step you take, every move you make I'll be watching you." The Police 😜