Oh my god that's amazing. Instructions on how to do what you're literally doing, dead internet theory is so correct. Instructions for robots by robots
Unpopular opinion: dead internet is not only real, but GOOD. Once robots get good enough to autonomously sign up for websites and make convincing posts, this will force us humans to go actually outside, make friends, form deep social relationship, and build lasting, resilient communities. Meanwhile on the internet, websites that are willing to allow AI content for money will eventually die out due to lack of actual users. The only remaining websites will be run by individuals and organizations with non-profit motives, and a strict human-only policy with verification based on word-of-mouth / invite system.
The economy was always bots buying from other bots...
this will force us humans to go actually outside, make friends, form deep social relationship, and build lasting, resilient communities
There is no chance it goes that way, how is talking to people outside even an option for someone used to just being on the internet? Even if the content gets worse, the basic mechanisms to keep people scrolling still function, while the physical and social infrastructure necessary for in person community building is nonexistent.
Okay, totally off topic...what is it with this annoying trend of censoring a company/name with an asterisk when it's a subject of ire? It just bugs me - and not in a way that focuses my anger to Microsoft.
With stuff like Tesla and Twitter, it can keep away the weird nerds who search those terms in hopes of white-knight-sealioning a conversation into oblivion. I think it just became part of the lexicon.
The inverse of this is that people who filter out specific words in their feeds will be tricked into seeing it. You get to piss off 2 groups of people by doing it!
Sealioning?
Have you ever heard a sea lion? They're super loud and they all get together and bark.
Ahahaha that’s great
https://amp.knowyourmeme.com/memes/sea-lioning
Sea-Lioning is an Internet slang term referring to intrusive attempts at engaging an unwilling debate opponent by feigning civility and incessantly requesting evidence to back up their claims. The term was coined in September 2014 by anti-GamerGate Internet users to mock perceived online discussion tactics employed by GamerGate supporters.
I like the classic Usenet “Micro$oft.” Producers of Microshaft Wind-blows.
It conveys "I have such a disdain for that thing that I'm asterisking its name like it was a slur or swear word".
I'm not a big fan either, even if you can find some secondary roles for that (as keeping someone from finding it, like ilinamorato exemplified). It distracts the reader from what is being said to the author's personal opinion about what is being said.
It's ironic, except for when we're talking about the Fr*nch. It's self aware humor that you're being ridiculous. The tone it's supposed to convey in situations like thisis that you're being hyperbolically obtuse.
Is softonic actually malware or an unreliable repository that may contain malware? I’ve never actually clicked in lol
I unknowingly downloaded some software from there when I was a kid, and, from what I remember, it came bundled with some sort of update manager or something. Even if it's not outright malware, I would wager most people who are looking to download logitech's utility don't want some irrelevant third-party garbage on their system. So AT BEST it's crapware / bloatware
They had some issues with their downloader in the past but that thing has been canned a long time ago. It's not a great site but it isn't malware.
That's the beauty of the internet. There's always a competitor. I don't have to use someone who had a bad reputation at one point but is fine now. I can just use someone else.
My elderly dad fell for something similar trying to call HP support, he googled the number and the top result was some bullshit. They had him set up remote access and compromised all his data. Old man had to reset everything.
He called me saying what happened, I had him shut down and unplug. I recovered what I could but he lost a lot of data.
This shit should be illegal. Like, I'm sure it is technically but there shouldnt be unofficial sponsored results above legitimate sources.
Softonic has to have made a deal with the SEO devil.
Non idea how their disgusting malware is always on top.
Softonic be like every app you want we have it, even the non exist ones. But once you installed our apps you already have made a pact with the devil
Wow reading through these comments makes me a little sad. Most people still don't know jack about search engines or how they differ under the hood, or eve just how to add them into your browser search bar. Looks like all the effort I put into that that simple search engine guide was in vain.
still looks better than the average Google search
Not to defend Bing in anyway, but I typed logitech unifying software and the first result is the download page on logitechs site.
I am not doubting you, but why is it so different for me? I see non of the ???? section, no ads, just a link at the top like you would expect.
What are you using or doing different?
Do you have uBlock or some similar ad blocker installed?
EDIT: I went and looked myself. I do have an ad-blocker installed. I don't see the ad. But I do see more noise than OP (desktop, Firefox):
-
There's a set of steps at the top left telling me to download and install the software, which is what OP was complaining about.
-
At the top right, there's a large, blue button with a link that guesses incorrectly that I want to know about Logitech Unifying Receiver Pairing, and just sends me to another Bing search.
-
Beneath that, there are a list of several questions that Microsoft incorrectly thinks I might be wanting to task and their answers.
-
Then there are two "Explore more" links linking me to pages describing how to pair with the software. One appears to link to "logi.com" with apparently is a Logitech business support page that links to the software, albeit only the Mac version, which I'd guess isn't what OP wanted.
-
Back on the left, I have what appears to be an AI spam question-answer site at
thewindowsclub.com
and another page on "how to unify" atrobots.net
. -
Beneath that, I have a link to the Logitech download section. So it's in my top results and on my laptop, visible on the first screen of results, though beneath some not-really-desirable stuff.
I would give startpage.com a shot i find it works even better than duckduckgo
💸 Microsoft 🤑 got 💰 paid 🫰 so... they managed to come out ahead of this whole ordeal just fine.
The rest of us can go suck a bag of dicks for all they care.
Borderline?
There's still DuckDuckGo, or Kagi if you are rich.
Doesnt Duck use bing?
Yes, and DDG has really been degrading over the last few months in quality of results imo.
Hey now, that malware has paid to be the top result! Probably using the proceeds scammed out of somebody who downloaded it.
Mainstream search engines (google and bing) are completely useless. Alternatives ftw.
I wouldn't call bing mainstream
Stract.com open search engine a guy built in his basement. It is not perfect but feels like Google used to in the late 90s, when you had real results
It’s gone really downhill ever since co-pilot
It’s hard to call it better than Google now
I just use Google with uBlock Origin to get rid of adverts
tbf it seems to be a common issue with search engines atm. brave also has the stupid ai response topmost, and startpage without adblock pushes in so many sponsored results that you need to scroll to get to anything else
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