# Google! What the hell did you do to Google Docs? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263 "2012-01-31T03:03:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/21 "2012-01-31T21:23:03Z")
I haven’t noticed this behavior either. I should perhaps mention that I don’t use Google Docs. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/22 "2012-01-31T21:41:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No. But I would be happier. Eh. Google: “Look at all these nice services we have. If you let us have unfettered access to all of your data, which we’ll use it to broadcast targeted advertising toward you, we’ll let you use these services.” User: “Okay, cool. I’ll spend all the time necessary to learn to use your products, to upload my documents, and all that jazz. You can have all of my documents and all of my data; I hope it’s useful!” Google: “Awesome. I see you’re using our product, 28 year old male software engineer from Colorado who primarily uses Google Docs to manage fantasy football and family birthdays, who hasn’t told his fiancée about his online flirtations, who pretends that his enjoyment of professional wrestling is ironic, and who spent an inordinate amount of time in college painting tiny figurines. Here’s some stuff you might like (such as a set of professional wrestling figurines). User: “Cool. Hey, there’s a bug here that’s giving me a hard time —“ Google Fans: “SHUT THE FUCK UP GOD DAMN IT YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN IF YOU DIDN’T PAY FOR IT YOU STUPID FREELOADING COCKSUCKER JUST GO HOME AND CRY TO YOUR MOMMY, ASSHOLE” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/23 "2012-01-31T21:50:21Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Google Fans: “SHUT THE FUCK UP GOD DAMN IT YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN IF YOU DIDN’T PAY FOR IT YOU STUPID FREELOADING COCKSUCKER JUST GO HOME AND CRY TO YOUR MOMMY, ASSHOLE” Once again, it’s about time people began to realize this. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/24 "2012-01-31T21:54:59Z")
I figure if you’re (ostensibly) seeing their ads everywhere, you’re kind of paying for it. If NBC started broadcasting their signal upside-down, I might complain. Although probably not here. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/25 "2012-01-31T22:00:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Once again, it’s about time people began to realize this. So I’m being trolled? Genuinely curious, since I can’t imagine why paying for a service with something besides cash (e.g. time; lock-in; data) renders any form of complaint inappropriate. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/26 "2012-01-31T22:31:16Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > So I’m being trolled? Genuinely curious, since I can’t imagine why paying for a service with something besides cash (e.g. time; lock-in; data) renders any form of complaint inappropriate. It’s like complaining about a broadcast TV show. And you should realize now that you get what you pay for. Pay cash for. When I looked at Google Docs some years back, there did not seem to be a genuine barter agreement. If you have a real barter agreement with Google, that would cover problems in using the app, then I will retract all, and then taunt the OP for being a fool and trusting them in the first place. I am trollish. I was born under a bridge, so I can’t help it. But in this case I am a computer professional, and I am tired of people complaining about things they don’t pay for, or when they expect more quality and service than the amount paid would indicate. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/27 "2012-01-31T22:36:04Z")
Even cattle deserve a clean pen. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/28 "2012-01-31T22:37:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Listen you steaming pusillanimous pile of shit, I’m going to ride your picayune pipsqueak ass in the pit. I’m amazed an asshole of your size can still manage to retain anything. There’s nothing worse than cretinoid collection of rotting cells who thinks he is anything but a dimwitted mentally masturbating sloth. If you want to call me out have the guts to start your own pit thread instead of slinging stones from the safety of a crowd that has to hold their noses in your presence. Go crawl back into the dysenterious toilet you crawled out of and flush on the way down. Just for the record, include me among those who see nothing wrong in complaining about free products. I won’t waste time trying to explain the reason to **TriPolar**. He might have the intelligence to understand an explanation, but it’s clear that his pompous self-important little ass would have no interest in hearing from anyone who disagrees with him. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/29 "2012-01-31T22:39:40Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > fungdark Is this copyrighted? I’ve been contemplating a username change… ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/30 "2012-01-31T22:39:50Z")
I don’t pay for the sun, but I’d be mighty pissed if it started only appearing on Wednesdays… People are free to complain about whatever they like, even things they don’t pay for. It’s not as though the only way people can experience suffering or irritation is through monetary loss. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/31 "2012-01-31T22:42:37Z")
I see nothing wrong with complaining about free products, especially when you are a product yourself, getting a free widget in exchange for marketing demographics that the company can use to make dollars. I think it’s stupid, however, that when free products are involved, if something goes wrong it always seems to be “GAH, GOOGLE, WTF HAVE YOU DONE NOW” rather than “Well gee, my google docs seems to be playing up, I should check to see if this is an issue others are complaining about, and if not perhaps look at my computer to see if there’s a problem there”. I dunno, maybe it’s just me, but usually when something starts going mental on me in my browser, I check my computer first, I do a search to see if the problem is known and then if it seems that the issue is not on my end but actually is related to something they’ve changed, \*then \*maybe I get all het up and start with the “OMG RAGE” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/32 "2012-01-31T22:46:51Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I won’t waste time trying to explain the reason to **TriPolar**. He might have the intelligence to understand an explanation, but it’s clear that his pompous self-important little ass would have no interest in hearing from anyone who disagrees with him. I beg your pardon! My ass is enormous. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/33 "2012-01-31T22:49:31Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Is this copyrighted? I’ve been contemplating a username change… I’m afraid it is, and I’m also afraid that I cannot even take any credit for inventing it, as it is from a 30 Rock episode in which Liz Lemon gets called a cunt by Lutz and tries to come up with at least as terrible a word that she can call him back. This is what she comes up with. I am committed to embiggening the parlance of our times by introducing ‘fungdark’, as I find it quite cromulent. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/34 "2012-01-31T22:53:54Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > I’m afraid it is, and I’m also afraid that I cannot even take any credit for inventing it, as it is from a 30 Rock episode in which Liz Lemon gets called a cunt by Lutz and tries to come up with at least as terrible a word that she can call him back. This is what she comes up with. I am committed to embiggening the parlance of our times by introducing ‘fungdark’, as I find it quite cromulent. It occurs to be that my current choice of username already voices my opinion about copyright. fungdark is on my short list now, and I thank you for your hobnostical defosticulations in expanding the integritude of our mother tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/35 "2012-01-31T22:59:03Z")
You’re welcome. Incidentally, watching _Princess Bride_ recently for the first time, I finally understood the origin of your username, which I’d been aware of for much longer, and I must commend you for it, for it is an excellent one. Are you thinking of changing it because you have finally met your sixfingered nemesis? ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/36 "2012-02-01T03:56:41Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s like complaining about a broadcast TV show. And you should realize now that you get what you pay for. Pay cash for. When I looked at Google Docs some years back, there did not seem to be a genuine barter agreement. If you have a real barter agreement with Google, that would cover problems in using the app, then I will retract all, Ah. The belief that no one should ever complain (or presumably feel bad at all) except when the victim of breech of contract is sufficiently extreme, and so utterly silly, that I can’t imagine you’re expressing yourself in good faith. If you’re not merely trying to get a rise out of others, then I hope you’ll reflect on the implications of that rather idiosyncratic conviction. (“My boyfriend is cheating on me, what a jerk!” “Not really. After all, did he sign a non-compete agreement with you prior to the commencement of the messing-around? Then his romantic subterfuge does not constitute failure to hold up his end of your implicit bargain. So stop crying.”) > [@](#): > > But in this case I am a computer professional, and I am tired of people complaining about things they don’t pay for I contend that allowing Google to make money from me by entrusting it with my very private data is a form of payment. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/37 "2012-02-01T03:59:33Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Ah. The belief that no one should ever complain (or presumably feel bad at all) except when the victim of breech of contract is sufficiently extreme, and so utterly silly, that I can’t imagine you’re expressing yourself in good faith. If you’re not merely trying to get a rise out of others, then I hope you’ll reflect on the implications of that rather idiosyncratic conviction. (“My boyfriend is cheating on me, what a jerk!” “Not really. After all, did he sign a non-compete agreement with you prior to the commencement of the messing-around? Then his romantic subterfuge does not constitute failure to hold up his end of your implicit bargain. So stop crying.”) Nice try. It’s the belief that when you have been given a gift, you shouldn’t complain about it. > [@](#): > > I contend that allowing Google to make money from me by entrusting it with my very private data is a form of payment. YMMV. Then why don’t they treat you like you’ve paid for it. ETA: This is turning into a serious hijack. Somebody just start another thread if you want to argue this point. I’ve got this one right, so I have nothing to argue. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/38 "2012-02-01T04:11:11Z")
Well, except for the fact that people clearly can complain about free services and even get results from them. Google has every reason in the world to keep the people using their services happy and no reason to change things up just because an executive at Google HQ got bored. However, I am a little amused at the thread title apparently calling out google on a completely unaffiliated board. It’s like someone having a beef with a politician in the pit. “Newt! What the fucks wrog with you, dude?!” ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/39 "2012-02-01T11:37:29Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Then why don’t they treat you like you’ve paid for it. I wonder. It seems like something worthy of complaining about. If Google Docs is a free “gift” provided out of the goodness of Google’s heart, then the universe works much differently from how I’ve always supposed. Anyway, it seems rich to complain about your own hijack, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263/40 "2012-02-01T16:04:14Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > ETA: This is turning into a serious hijack. Somebody just start another thread if you want to argue this point. I’ve got this one right, so I have nothing to argue. The thread would not have been hijacked if you had not shat all over it right in the first post after the OP. You should heed my advice, which is to SHUT THE FUCK UP, ASSCLOWN! You’re a miserable little git that deserves to be unhappy for the rest of his life. You deserve to always have a screaming baby in all of the seats adjacent to you whenever you take a flight somewhere, and you deserve to always have your shoelaces untie on you causing you to fall and bang your head. May all of your beer be off, all of your coffee cold and weak, and all of your meals undercooked. And may you never have sexual intercourse again! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-what-the-hell-did-you-do-to-google-docs/611263.md?page=3)