[ExI] No to Google

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 15/11/2025 03:22, Adrian Tymes wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 14, 2025 at 11:16 AM Ben Zaiboc via extropy-chat
> <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>> On 14/11/2025 15:21, John K Clark wrote:
>>> By the way, why don't you let Google Groups host this list?
>> Please, please, please, don't do that.
>>
>> I'd hate to lose this list.
>>
>> --
>> Ben (someone who Doesn't Do Google, for a number of reasons)
> I think they could use with an explanation of your concerns on this
> issue, if you please.  Both from your personal subscribe/unsubscribe
> basis, and - if you have them - worries about Google cancelling or
> otherwise affecting the list if it was to be hosted there.

I think John Klos and ExiMod have done a better job than I could of 
describing at least enough of my concerns to justify my plea.

I would add that Google is simply too big and powerful, and seems to be 
getting moreso all the time. For an unaccountable private company, that 
is simply unacceptable, for obvious reasons, and I don't see how anyone 
can sensibly disagree with that. I'm dreading the day when I'm literally 
forced to get a Google account in order to just live my life. Which 
suggests a quick poll: How many people reading this DON'T have a Google 
account? I'd be surprised if it's more than just a handful, and maybe 
just two or three. Considering that this list tends to attract people 
who can probably be described as independent-minded, that, if it's true, 
should cause concern (admittedly, I'm guessing here, but I think it's 
probably a good guess. I'm fairly sure that I'm the only person I know 
in real life that doesn't have one). Contrast this with the browsers 
that we use, or the operating system/s we favour. Or more relevantly, 
the other services we are signed up to. I'm sure there won't be anywhere 
near the same degree of uniformity.

When I said "I'd hate to lose this list", I wasn't referring to Google 
shutting the list down, I was referring to the fact that if it moved to 
Google, I wouldn't be able to take part in it any more. The same reason 
I sometimes read, but never post to, the Extropolis list.

-- 
Ben

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