Ask HN: Is there a search engine which excludes the world's biggest websites?

Article summary

The article asks if there is a search engine that excludes the world's biggest websites, making it difficult to discover unknown paths of the web with traditional search engines like Google. The author is looking for a way to search the internet without getting results from top websites. This would allow for more diverse and lesser-known content to be discovered. The article sparks a discussion about the limitations of current search engines and the desire for alternative search methods.

Main themes

• alternative search engines
• search engine limitations
• virus and disease naming conventions
• online content discovery
• search query modification
• SEO and website dominance

What commenters say

• Some users suggest using search engine extensions or modifying search queries to exclude certain websites, but this may not be a comprehensive solution.
• A search engine called Millionshort is mentioned as an option that excludes the top million websites, but its effectiveness is debated.
• The discussion highlights the difficulty of discovering niche or obscure content online due to the dominance of large websites and search engine optimization.
• The importance of distinguishing between a virus and the disease it causes is emphasized, using the example of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2.
• The naming conventions used by authorities to describe viruses and diseases can be confusing and misleading.
• Some commenters argue that the current naming conventions are inadequate and should be improved for clarity and accuracy.
• The use of alternative names or abbreviations, such as 'covid', is proposed for efficiency and simplicity.