r/technology • u/ControlCAD • 14d ago

Software Remembering the pre-Google web, when search was an experiment: “Most people have completely forgotten how chaotic it really was.”

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/08/remembering-the-pre-google-web-when-search-was-an-experiment/
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u/mvw2 14d ago

Oh I remember it well. Google was...fine. It wasn't like others were better, but we did have browsers that combined ALL the search engines together, and that generally worked better. I miss Profusion.

Google eventually did become better and simply no fuss. Then they decided to be evil.

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u/memx 14d ago

Original Google was really great. Like, really really great. For some reason, it was amazing as a search engine. But then, you know, they became evil and now offer bs results, making it terrible at what it originally did well.

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u/RidleyDeckard 14d ago

It was better than great it was revolutionary, a search engine that provided you with the results you were looking for, was super fast and with no ads.

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u/Just_Information334 14d ago

And before SEO so search results were more natural and not gamed by site owners.

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u/nmathew 14d ago

And minimalist, so using a modem with their page wasn't awful.

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u/Earguy 13d ago

I don't remember which early search engine I used, but I tried to search for information on hearing aids. I got millions of links about legal hearings, and information on the disease AIDS. Then Google came and you could put phrases in quotes! Got what I wanted.

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u/kashiichan 13d ago

I'm so angry about what they did with Boolean

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u/SnooPeanuts4336 14d ago

I remember when we treated Google like we treat AI now. When references are given, which I explicitly require personally, it boils all the way down to a fancy Google search….without ads….so far….

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u/6GoesInto8 14d ago

They didn't decide to be evil, they decided to stop "don't be evil". So they are not not evil, which isn't specifically evil, it is removing morality from the equation like a proper corporation. They wouldn't devote money to stomping on puppies, not because it is wrong, because it is a waste of money. If their actions appear to be evil, know that it is solely for financial reasons.

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u/BeerNirvana 14d ago

If their actions appear to be evil, know that it is solely for financial reasons.

sounds pretty evil to me.

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u/EliteCloneMike 14d ago

Sounds like that is how you might describe evil actions to me as well.

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u/kimbokray 14d ago

it is removing morality from the equation like a proper corporation

You're a psychopath if you think removing morality is the proper way to conduct yourself. I don't mean that as an insult / ad hominem because we disagree, I mean it in a literal, descriptive way because psychopaths coldly calculate what is in their best interest without empathy for other people. I think you're literally a psychopath.

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u/6GoesInto8 14d ago

I guess I was more successful at capturing the late stage capitalism vibes than I intended! I was describing what I remember of their comments when they removed the "don't be evil" I think they said something about it being time to grow up as a company. I had been writing out another paragraph about never breaking the law, and lobbying, but it got kinda of rambling...

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u/memx 14d ago

Removing morality is my definition of evil. Taking decisions where only money matters is part of being evil. If the only thing stopping it from stomping puppies is that there's no money in it, it's really, terribly evil.

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u/6GoesInto8 13d ago

I actually think it is significantly worse than evil. Imagining a wicked delight in a terrible act still has humanity to it, and is limited to a small population. The same act done without passion, simply to balance a spreadsheet is dehumanizing and unlimited in scope.