For Bluepig: Good post.
I am a firm adherent to freedom of choice, and while I may be somewhat confused by another's choices, I will--if I can speak cogently about it--offer hopefully useful and valid points to consider.
In re a government's or corporation's monitoring of its citizens or customers, the plain truth is that unless one is determined to live "off the grid," a la Ted Kaczynski (or "John Connor"), then we have to deal with our decision to participate as best we can. Similarly to the Birkenstock crowd going to a protest rally in their gas-guzzling Volvo's... (sorry, don't want to sound all political-ly).
Back OT, the OP's query about alternatives to Google didn't need the reason (a moral choice of sorts) to justify the question, as it was technical in nature. The replies, for the most part, that challenged the choice, were of the nature of many of those on the forum, not for moral reasons, but for perceived utility. I'm a Googler, because I prefer the interface, and I've never found better returns for my queries on any other engine. Personally, I could care less about their politics (as is the case with many of my choices), I'm simply about the personal ROI.
We have some good, soul-searching debates and discussions on MR, better than most forums I participate in. Another good mind is always welcome!
I am a firm adherent to freedom of choice, and while I may be somewhat confused by another's choices, I will--if I can speak cogently about it--offer hopefully useful and valid points to consider.
In re a government's or corporation's monitoring of its citizens or customers, the plain truth is that unless one is determined to live "off the grid," a la Ted Kaczynski (or "John Connor"), then we have to deal with our decision to participate as best we can. Similarly to the Birkenstock crowd going to a protest rally in their gas-guzzling Volvo's... (sorry, don't want to sound all political-ly).
Back OT, the OP's query about alternatives to Google didn't need the reason (a moral choice of sorts) to justify the question, as it was technical in nature. The replies, for the most part, that challenged the choice, were of the nature of many of those on the forum, not for moral reasons, but for perceived utility. I'm a Googler, because I prefer the interface, and I've never found better returns for my queries on any other engine. Personally, I could care less about their politics (as is the case with many of my choices), I'm simply about the personal ROI.
We have some good, soul-searching debates and discussions on MR, better than most forums I participate in. Another good mind is always welcome!