# Oh oh, is that an \*AD\* I see on Google? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338 "2002-05-22T17:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beastal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Beastal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastal)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/1 "2002-05-22T17:26:23Z")
Yes, yes I believe it is. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/2 "2002-05-22T17:28:49Z")
Where? ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/3 "2002-05-22T17:30:31Z")
Are you refering to the dilbert cartoon? ---
**Author:** ![Beastal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Beastal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beastal)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/4 "2002-05-22T17:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pezpunk \* > \*\*Are you refering to the dilbert cartoon? \*\* Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/5 "2002-05-22T17:44:27Z")
How is it an advert? It’s a cartoon. If you click through, you can buy a mug where the proceeds are donated to charity. ---
**Author:** ![MachV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@MachV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachV)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/6 "2002-05-22T18:48:08Z")
Nope, not really an ad. Besides, the “sponsored links” have always been there after you search, right? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/7 "2002-05-22T19:21:18Z")
If it _was_ an ad, what would it be advertising, anyway? Scott Adams? United Feature Syndicate? Your local newspaper? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/8 "2002-05-22T22:44:59Z")
It’s part of a “Redesign the Google Logo” contest. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/9 "2002-05-23T01:17:08Z")
What’s wrong with the logo? It’s fine the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/10 "2002-05-23T01:37:13Z")
Since Google paid for it to be there (in T shirts and a mug) instead of being paid to put it there, it isn’t an ad. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/11 "2002-05-23T05:27:28Z")
Google shows ads all the time. They’re just not so obnoxiously in-your-face. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-oh-is-that-an-ad-i-see-on-google/110338/12 "2002-05-23T05:53:38Z")
Google shows ads in discreet boxes to the side of the actual results, and in obviously sponsored ‘special’ results in bold above the real results. The results themselves are untainted by advertising. This is simple common sense: Google knows that it is trusted, and that any revenue it gets is because people trust it enough to use it. It knows that geeks use it, forsaking all others, and that geeks have a low tolerance for BS. Especially if that BS ruins a good tool. Google knows it is replaceable. Being replaceable tends to sharpen the senses, focus one on the task at hand. For Google, this is providing quality search results. So, yes, that _is_ an ad you see. But it is not a distraction or a blemish or a disruption of the service.