Google wants me to hate them. Because they do not view me as a human being. But as an entity to be marketed to and nothing more.

Search. Gmail. Maps. Turn-by-turn directions. Youtube, free voice, free video.

How is it that Google can give me all this good stuff, for free, no strings attached, and I can still feel such animosity toward them?

Cause they're strings attached. Lots and lots of strings. Which they proudly tell, no to their end users, but their customers.

"All of you should aspire to be direct marketers."

"Tracking individual customers."

"We're starting to understand what to listen for."
"Target with more precision."
"Channels." "Verticals." "Brand." "Figuring out where they're going."
Google is not on your side. That's all you need to know. "Zero moment of truth," indeed.