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Google Street View No Longer Fun

Google has announced plans to blur all the human faces in its "Street View" service, which allows you to take a virtual photographic tour of interesting places like Manhattan so that you never have to leave your dank apartment in real life. This is, in all likelihood, to prevent you from seeing any inadvertently captured interesting moments, like drug deals or people crashing their bikes. Google says ""The purpose of Street View isn't looking at people, it's looking at buildings and locations." Whatever. Somewhere on there is a picture of a Google programmer flagging down a hooker. Occam's Razor, people. [AFP]

11:19 AM on Thu May 15 2008
By Hamilton Nolan
2,787 views
13 comments

Comments

hamburgerhotdog at 11:25 AM on 05/15/08
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I'm sure there are pervs a'plenty watching midtown subway grates for that gust of wind that sends ladies' skirts a-flying. At least my face will be blurred out to obscure the fact I wasn't wearing cute underwear.
JudgeFudge at 11:26 AM on 05/15/08
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I heard they're just replacing the real people with carachters from GTA IV.
SarahHeartburn at 11:28 AM on 05/15/08
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I think this is compatible with everyday social behavior. The faces of most of my exes have been blurred from my memory, due to trauma or good taste or ethanol.
IndianSlipper at 11:28 AM on 05/15/08
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@hamburgerhotdog: Just say no to granny panties!
valarmorghulis at 11:31 AM on 05/15/08
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@SarahHeartburn: So this will actually make them easier to identify?
In Other News... at 11:33 AM on 05/15/08
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Dear Google: please blur my face in that photo showing me in the shrubbery outside of that house on Smith Street. I'm the one with the red hair and funky glasses? The other people, I don't know who they are. Thanks.
AuntPeniston at 11:36 AM on 05/15/08
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@hamburgerhotdog: Didn't your mother warn you about that? Mine was always telling me, "Be sure to always wear cute underwear in case a stranger is able to see them via a digital medium." At least, I think that's how it went.
Mike_Jahn at 12:21 PM on 05/15/08
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You mean it's safe to go back to mooning yuppies pushing strollers?!
Scooter34 at 12:28 PM on 05/15/08
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My parents used to take us to Detroit to see Tiger Stadium, the Ren-Cen, and the Hudsons Building, but all we were interested in were the hookers.

Now, I can relive that bonding moment with my own kids from the comfort and safety of my own home. Thanks, Internet!
BK_KT at 12:35 PM on 05/15/08
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That guy falling off his bike gets me everytime.
ouiserboudreaux at 01:24 PM on 05/15/08
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The street view of our house has my child on her bike in the driveway with a friend. Completely freaked me out eventho you can't see her face.
kookla at 01:53 PM on 05/15/08
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I hear they're going to change the name of Google Street View to 1st Life.
famousauthor at 02:48 PM on 05/15/08
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The number of viewers will immediately drop when they blur the faces.