[orangebelly]

It bothers me that Google is cooperating with the communist Chinese government and censoring its returns there. In addition, Google apparently turned over data on dissidents to the Chinese in order to access that market. Why has our community (MAC) embraced Google instead of protesting such a track record. Aren't we supposed to be the "good guys"?

Remember, Google keeps track of ALL of our your searches and that should make each of you uncomfortable. If you ask me, they're getting too big, too commercialized, and too close to government for their own good.

So can I switch the Safari search window to AltaVista? I seem to remember you could do so in a previous version, but maybe I'm thinking of Firefox.

Thanks!!

[smax013]

{quote:title=orangebelly wrote:}{quote}It bothers me that Google is cooperating with the communist Chinese government and censoring its returns there. In addition, Google apparently turned over data on dissidents to the Chinese in order to access that market. Why has our community (MAC) embraced Google instead of protesting such a track record. Aren't we supposed to be the "good guys"? Remember, Google keeps track of ALL of our your searches and that should make each of you uncomfortable. If you ask me, they're getting too big, too commercialized, and too close to government for their own good. So can I switch the Safari search window to AltaVista? I seem to remember you could do so in a previous version, but maybe I'm thinking of Firefox. Thanks!!

To my knowledge, the search function in Safari is limited Google...unless you do a little "hacking"/work at it. This document appears to give a method to change it.

And that is not to say that you cannot go to the AltaVista site and search from there and just not use the built-in search function in the toolbar.

[moose_n_squirrel]

You could also change the default with AcidSearch, which is free.

The China question is hard. Your Mac was made in China. If you want to avoid supporting China you practically have to clean out your house of most of its stuff.

[orangebelly]

Moose, its a good point you make.

But alas, I've tried to draw a line between my use of a simple manufactured good which in the end has economically benefitted individual workers (good people) and not so much the government. The problem I have with Google is their willingness to openly collaborating with the Communist government against these individual citizens by betraying their hopes of privacy and censoring the free flow of ideas and news of which the internet is supposed to symbolize.

OK, I'll get off it. But thanks for the patch - I'll try it out!!

[MacosNerd]

AFAIK, google is only following the law. The Chinese government has the right to govern their country any way they see fit and if google wants to do business there, then they have to play ball.

We condemn China for spying on their own citizens but what about US government eves dropping on phone calls and such

We condemn China for human rights violations, what about the human rights violations that goes on in our own country. Lets worry about our own failings rather then condemning another nation.