I grow so tired of articles like these claiming that Google may be looking at stiff competition because Facebook is so innovative. Please, give me a break. Let me point out why I totally think this is complete nonsense.

1) Both Google and Facebook are terrible with privacy. No secret there. And neither has really done much to correct the problem, except offer band-aid solutions after people complain.

2) This “newfound,” all knowing power everyone is going on about is exactly why most people I know work overtime to opt-out of just about everything Facebook throws at us. Share this, in real time, as you’re doing it? Yeah, that sounds a lot like what happened with Google Buzz. No thanks, Facebook.

3) Consumer insights are fine when they are semi-anonymous. Basic demographic info and limited cookie use? Fine. But the areas that Facebook wants to dive into will make phishing schemes feel like a back-rub once the consumer groups dig into this.

4) People come to Facebook to sell, buy, relax, communicate, and play. They do not come there to have their privacy trampled. Anyone who allows Facebook to do this is asking for problems.

5) Insights vs. relevant results. Using Facebook for searching is a lot like playing ping-pong with a live grenade. It’ll work all right, until you accidentally share those anniversary plans with your wife. Flowers, check. Fancy reservations at the resort from a fan page, check. Your wife watching all of this unfold in your profile… priceless.

[awsbullet:Aldous Huxley Brave New World]