Google is the Absolute Pits

Here are some suggestions for Google's parent/holding company (Alphabet, since 2015):  [Their new motto is  "Do the right thing."; following are some right things that need to be done...ASAP.]

1.  Implement a helpful, decent, effective Customer Service system.  Right now you essentially have none at all.  You seem to think we users have time to screw around with your discussion "Forum", or to decipher what some guy with a heavy accent IN INDIA is trying to say in English.  At the very least, get a Customer Service email address...you know, like most companies have done.  Yes, that means you'll have to hire more people;  try to do that in the USA.

2.  Stop making us re-sign-in to everything Google just because we use a different device once in a blue moon.

3.  Understand that some of us out here in the real world don't have a cell phone.  So, when you ask us to give a phone number during your "Security Check-Up", all you're going to get is a landline.  Then you, living in the Land of Assumptions, try to send us some "6-digit verification code" by text that we're supposed to enter online in the "Security Check-Up".  Ooops...it's a no-go.  Or, you ask us to supply a "recovery email"...different from our normal email.  Sorry, I only have one email...can barely keep up with that.  Don't want two.

4.  Tell your East Indian CSRs it's really not professional of them to hang up on a caller seeking help...especially when that caller has been polite & civil.  I called a "Technical Help" number, explained the problem (# 3. above), and was told at the end, "Well, you have to talk to the Technicians."; then he hung up.

5.  Take whatever steps necessary to dispel the reputation you Tech companies are getting amongst those of us who are not Tech Whiz Kids.  That reputation is as follows:  you don't seem to care one whit about everyday users; you only seem to care about advertisers.  If it weren't for us users, you wouldn't have any advertisers.  Hello.

6.  Insert some common sense into your approach to "security".  Anyone with at least half a brain knows that nothing on the Internet is "secure", no matter what you say; therefore, none of us with any sense at all reveal any sensitive info on the Web.  Give us a choice regarding all this supposed "security". 

How do I know that nothing on the Web is secure?  Headlines for the last 20 years have proven that's so.  Major companies, even banks, government agencies, and even the Pentagon have all been hacked.  And you're worried about my email?  Really?  Here's a clue:  I'm not...because there's nothing in my email account worth stealing.  There's no sensitive info there at all.  And, after all, it's my email, not yours.  Also, this computer belongs to me, not you; if I don't want your "email security" for my email on my computer, that should be my business, not yours.  Hello, again.  I suspect that all this supposed "security" somehow benefits you and your advertisers, not me.
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It's definitely unfortunate that the Internet is not considered a Public Utility by the Corporatist Republicans and Corporatist Democrats in DC.  Anyone with any common sense knows that the Web is a Public Utility.  Too bad that neoliberal privatization has been the flavor of the day for decades.  When the recent trashing of net neutrality by the current Administration kicks in, we'll all be disadvantaged.  The Elites win again.
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Yes, this essay is a rant; ranting helps prevent ulcers.  😊

p.s.  I'll bet most users are wondering:  where is the "security" protecting us from intrusion by private Tech companies???  That security doesn't exist.
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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Internet, Tech, Whiz Kid Employees are Crazy, Part II

Just recently, Hotmail (Outlook/Microsoft) blocked my email account.  They said it was because of "unusual activity", and so they were blocking it to "protect me".  [My question is: who is protecting me from them?]  They wanted me to send them a "mobile number" so they could "verify" my account by texting me some code or another.  Here's a clue, Whiz Kids:  I no longer have a mobile number...can't afford anything but the internet and a landline phone.  [Out here in the boonies, the one & only phone company requires a landline with the purchase of internet...even though the net is fiber-optic cable.]  They're so smart that they never thought of that possibility.  No other method of verification was offered...again, no common sense on their part.

I send a lot of emails, primarily to family and friends.  In the esoteric universe of Tech Whiz Kids, apparently that's "unusual activity".  I sent scathing Feedback to them, explaining the situation...four times.  No reply, and the account still is blocked.  I also asked them exactly from what are they "protecting" me.  Only a fool or someone naive beyond belief would reveal things such as one's bank account number, or SS number, or driver's license number, or PIN number, or anything similar in an email.  I don't know about your email account, but in mine there is nothing to "protect".  Everyone knows, or should know by now, emails are not secure in any sense of the word.  The NSA has an elite hacking unit (T.A.O.) that can install spyware/malware into any computer using a Windows Operating System.  Other hackers abound all over the place.  In my opinion, nothing on the internet is "secure"...no matter what the Whiz Kids say.  Treat the Web with that in mind and you won't have any "security" problems.  The whole security thing is a farce...it's job security for Techs, that's all.

Microsoft, based on how they treat customers (like livestock), has to be one of the most arrogant companies in existence.  Plus, based on all their constant "fixes", they must be one of the most incompetent companies in the tech world.  It amazes me that they ever rose to such a commanding height in the industry.  If I weren't such an old dog (with no energy for new tricks), I'd dump Windows in a heartbeat and go to Mac or Linux.  Admittedly, though I've been using these machines since the mid-'80s, I know almost nothing about computers.  But here's an interesting tidbit:  I've turned off my "automatic updates" for Windows.  I did allow an update about a year ago, but other than that, they've been "off" for years.  I don't trust them...and my computer seems to be working OK.

The trouble with Whiz Kids (from my perspective) is that they appear to have little common sense.  They're almost constantly making unwarranted assumptions... especially about customers.  Example:  Hotmail was changed to Outlook, the clunkiest, most customer-unfriendly email venue I've ever seen.  I suspect Microsoft has received an overwhelming amount of negative Feedback on Outlook...but I see no movement toward correcting the situation.  They seem to think that we love it, and prefer it to Hotmail.  Another Example:  email venues in general load up their sites with garbage piled on garbage...all to supposedly make emailing "easier".  It's nothing but clutter...and almost always makes things more difficult.  My guess is that the Whiz Kids (and the policy makers) love unneeded clutter because it means job security for them.  To hell with the customer.

As a result of this entire fiasco, once again I'm forced to open another email "account".  I'm keeping the Hotmail venue for the time being...trying to get data transferred to my new email.  So for those who know me, or anyone else, my new email address is:  abstractcowboy@gmail.com .  [Oh my god, Whiz Kids, I'm publishing my email address... I must need "protection"... help me, "protect me", obviously I don't know what I'm doing...be my nanny... please, please, please... on second thought, mind your own damned business.]  :)

Just my opinion.  p.s.  God save us from Tech Whiz Kid employees... especially those of Microsoft.

Google Flaws

This is my second rant regarding Corporatocracy computer tech whiz kids.  In this case, here are some pointed questions/comments for the Google folks [I would have emailed these to them, but they don't allow a customer to do that.]---
1.  Why do you have 89,000,000 [:)] "accounts" for ONE person?...a separate YouTube acct., a separate Blogspot acct., a separate Chrome acct., etc., ad nauseum.
Here's a thought---one person can have one account that's good for all the Google stuff.  At the very least, you could allow us to have one User Name & password for all these separate accounts.  Oh, I know---"security" issues.  You let me worry about my security on all these innocuous websites of yours.  There's nothing to secure!
2.  Speaking of  "security", stop telling me that I MUST choose another password because the strength of my choice is weak.  Mind your own business.  I should be able to use any password that I please.
3.  Why do you insist on continuing to use a defunct, nonexistent email address for my Blogspot sign-in...& refuse to let me update it?
4.  Do you purposely make creating an "account" difficult & incredibly convoluted?  Do you have any common sense at all?  I tried to set up an AdSense "account"; after an hour, I gave up.
5.  Do you really believe that your "Help" pages are speaking to the lay person?  Here's a clue:  I have a Master's Degree, & half the time you may as well be speaking Greek to me.  Have mercy...wake up.  Not all of us are tech geeks.
6.  Stop being so cheap---hire a bunch more people so you then can permit us to email you.  The fact is, it appears as though you don't really care what problems your customers are having with your convoluted procedures.  Just remember, we're the reason you're able to make money from your advertisers.

Now, sign out of this account, sign in to your Google account to get your verification number, then click on "Help", scroll down to "Numbers", take note of the Number in the red brackets, then sign out of your Google account, check your email, follow the link given in the email, then sign in to your XXXXXX account, scroll down to "Add Account", click on that, then sign out of that account, sign back in to your Google account, look for "Add Account, Step 2", then click on that, then sign in to your YYYYY account, look for the box that says, "Step 3", click on that, go to your email, click on the link, then look for "Step 4", then verify your ID by supplying a new password, then type in the code letters (that no one can read half the time), click on "Submit", then sign in to your Google account, scroll down, and then...

Hey, Whiz Kids---  creating an "account" should be a one-page, one-click process.  Why are they "accounts" at all?---they're all free of charge.  Oh, forgive me, I forgot--- you're tracking all of us and our interests, and then selling that info to advertisers.  Are you selling or giving the info to anyone else?