WTF Google?
More Google Fudgery
Trina L.C. Sonnenberg
A while back Google came out with their little thing called Auto Link, where they could insert links to other web sites within the text of your site, without your knowledge or permission. I wrote about that one: 'Google's AutoLink Stinks'
Well now they've come up with another invasive addition to their tool bar, called Sidewiki. I read about it this morning in the Icop Business Trade Journal.
Since J.L Scot did such a fine job of explaining the whole goofy thing, I thought I'd share her version with you. Click through to read more.
Trina L.C. Sonnenberg
A while back Google came out with their little thing called Auto Link, where they could insert links to other web sites within the text of your site, without your knowledge or permission. I wrote about that one: 'Google's AutoLink Stinks'
Well now they've come up with another invasive addition to their tool bar, called Sidewiki. I read about it this morning in the Icop Business Trade Journal.
Since J.L Scot did such a fine job of explaining the whole goofy thing, I thought I'd share her version with you. Click through to read more.
... Here Comes Google's Sidewiki!
Sidewiki was suddenly all over Twitter. (Twitter does ' without a doubt ' keep you up on things in the online world.) Seems Sidewiki had most folks up in arms.
Didn't take me long to join them at least temporarily! Then, I got to work and did what I could to handle the situation, rather than giving in to my first knee-jerk reaction. (If you can believe THAT.)
Google has developed a program, as part of their toolbar, which allows users to open a window on the left side of YOUR website. There, they can post and read comments regarding YOUR site!
You, as the site owner have NO way to stop anyone using the Google tool bar from writing whatever they please on YOUR website. You, as the site owner, have NO capability to edit or remove these comments. Only Google can do that.
Why? Because the actual graffiti is sitting on Google's servers, not yours!
My first comment on it was that Google is high-jacking our websites. How is it they can put ANYTHING on my sites without MY permission?
Although we only 'rent' our domain names, we do pay our web hosting companies. It's our real estate! We design the site and determine what we show the world. We own the copy.
That website belongs to us, and no one has the right to add, or delete, anything from it unless it's illegal, i.e. copyright violations, etc.
In fact, when Sidewiki opens, it completely destroys the design of two of my sites! At least iCop escaped THAT little problem. (The damn thing takes up almost a THIRD of the width!)
(The problem it caused came from me having used a percentage, rather than a specific pixel size, on the width of the main table.)
Remember when we fought the battle of folks using predatory advertising? Predatory advertising being any method that creates or changes links or banners on web sites without the expressed permission of that web site owner.
The active word in that last sentence is "creates." With Sidewiki, visitors CAN put THEIR links in their comments. On YOUR page! Even Google's 'What's This?' link will take YOUR visitors right away from YOUR website!
You may recall, at the time, we called predatory advertising, 'Scumware.' It was unethical and a low-life thing to do.
Well, Google apparently thinks differently. Now, these geniuses have created yet another way for the lunatics in today's society to spread their vitriol.
Have you SEEN the crap on the blogs, today? I'm talking about the comments. Just the language makes mine look like it comes from a Sunday School teacher!
Blog comments go off topic and discuss whatever they wish. The rage and insanity blooming all over the Web is already spreading like wildfire.
But, the blogs weren't enough! Let's do it on every freakin' website on the Web. The entire idea is lunacy in itself!
I Can NOT Imagine What Google's "Powers That Be" are Thinking!
Sure, it would be nice to provide a way for every website to collect nice comments. It would even be helpful for scam websites to show comments from those they scammed.
But, WHO is to decide what's a scam and what isn't? Who decides the truth-tellers from the lunatics? Even a rave could just as easily come from a friend - so what good is it?
I'm sure I've pissed off enough people in 10 years to get some mighty nasty comments. Of course, most of you know, MY way is simply to respond - and not pull any punches. But I'd prefer to keep that crap in the newsletter where it belongs - not on the iCop home page.
How about you? Made any enemies since being in business? Surely, I couldn't be the ONLY one! Smile
For me, that isn't really the point. I can take care of idiot management. What I object to is having my property usurped - and having to suck it up unless I want to live without Google.
Maybe I could live without Google. But, at this point - I'm not sure!
I don't know where Google falls on the chart of big business, but I'm sure it's up there. Since the rest of big business creates murder (and, do not doubt, this could kill your business) and mayhem in this country, why shouldn't Google?
Here Are a Few of the Things We Don't Know
Will the comments affect our site indexing? Don't know.
How long will comments remain on the pages? Don't know.
How will we monitor every page of our websites for comments? Will we be notified? Don't know.
Google says they will remove inappropriate remarks. Who decides what's inappropriate? They do.
Do we have recourse? Don't know.
How long will it take for removal? Don't know.
Someone wrote, 'Presumably Google is now responsible for inaccuracies written with Sidewiki.' Don't know.
I doubt it. I'm sure Google's butt is covered. It isn't as if they don't have plenty of legal advice. It may be tested in the courts, of course, but that will take years.
Currently, they have given us no opt-out. Will they remedy that? Don't know.
They may yet provide an opt-out, (God forbid they provide opt-IN) but it could be a bit of extortion. If you opt-out, you may find yourself out of their index. Remains to be seen.
So, What Do We Do, Now?
As bad as this irked me, I 'claimed' my web sites. My OWN blasted websites! I followed the directions in this article:
tinyurl.com/y9altsu
In short, it tells you how to write your OWN comments at the top of your page as the owner of the website. It was very simple and only stole about half a day of my time to do the home pages, and a couple of others, of three websites.
Google will always leave the site owner's comments on top. But, remember, folks can comment on ANY PAGE THEY WISH! How many total pages do you have on your websites?
It takes about four or five short paragraphs to fill the space down to the 'fold' of the page. If anyone writes trash on your site, at least it will require scrolling to be seen. And, if someone writes something lovely, you can always bring it up by shortening your own.
You can see an example by looking at iCop's home page. You'll need the Google tool bar with the Sidewiki application on it. Just click over to iCop, then, click the Sidewiki icon in the tool bar.
(Sorry, this newsletter is one of the sites it screws up and I haven't fixed it yet. That, in itself, is going to be a giant PITA!)
www.i-Cop.org
If you don't have the Google tool bar, I strongly suggest you get it. It only works in IE6+ and Firefox2+, but, there's no other way to monitor this! And, the huge majority of people DO use one of those browsers - so they CAN use it. All they need is the Google tool bar.
www.toolbar.google.com
You can read Google's policies on writing comments at the URL below. But, they're a JOKE!
tinyurl.com/yg8ytbe
AND, you can see how it's already being abused by certain gurus here (Scroll down):
www.quickly-make-money-online.com/blog/
Now, I know some will ask if I'm going to start a war over this. The answer is ... I'm not inclined to do that, at this point.
I also know many of you remember how I fought "pay to send" commercial email - tooth and nail - and lost. It was inevitable, and I had to roll over for it. Sidewiki may also turn out to be simply another sign of the times.
I suggest - if it really does have staying power, we use our collective marketing sense and figure out to use it to our benefit.
Any ideas? jlscott@i-cop.org
The Whole Lousy Situation DOES Have its Funny Side
Since BIG business runs the USA, it's possible they'll make Sidewiki go away pretty quickly. Just think of the implications for the pharmaceutical, insurance, health and legal industries' websites! Smile
But, for now, Google has, indeed, high-jacked the Web.
Have a fabulous week and ... keep on keepin' on!
Smile jl
Excerpt from iCop's Online Business Trade Journal Copyright 2009 jl scott, ph.d., Director International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the express written consent of the publisher or contributors.
Copyright © 2009
The Trii-Zine Ezine
About the Author:
Trina L.C. Sonnenberg
Publisher - The Trii-Zine Ezine - Your Trusted Source for Internet Business and Marketing Information. EST 2001. ISSN# 1555-2276
Author of: My Journey A Lifetime of Verse, ISBN: 978-0-61516405-2
Sidewiki was suddenly all over Twitter. (Twitter does ' without a doubt ' keep you up on things in the online world.) Seems Sidewiki had most folks up in arms.
Didn't take me long to join them at least temporarily! Then, I got to work and did what I could to handle the situation, rather than giving in to my first knee-jerk reaction. (If you can believe THAT.)
Google has developed a program, as part of their toolbar, which allows users to open a window on the left side of YOUR website. There, they can post and read comments regarding YOUR site!
You, as the site owner have NO way to stop anyone using the Google tool bar from writing whatever they please on YOUR website. You, as the site owner, have NO capability to edit or remove these comments. Only Google can do that.
Why? Because the actual graffiti is sitting on Google's servers, not yours!
My first comment on it was that Google is high-jacking our websites. How is it they can put ANYTHING on my sites without MY permission?
Although we only 'rent' our domain names, we do pay our web hosting companies. It's our real estate! We design the site and determine what we show the world. We own the copy.
That website belongs to us, and no one has the right to add, or delete, anything from it unless it's illegal, i.e. copyright violations, etc.
In fact, when Sidewiki opens, it completely destroys the design of two of my sites! At least iCop escaped THAT little problem. (The damn thing takes up almost a THIRD of the width!)
(The problem it caused came from me having used a percentage, rather than a specific pixel size, on the width of the main table.)
Remember when we fought the battle of folks using predatory advertising? Predatory advertising being any method that creates or changes links or banners on web sites without the expressed permission of that web site owner.
The active word in that last sentence is "creates." With Sidewiki, visitors CAN put THEIR links in their comments. On YOUR page! Even Google's 'What's This?' link will take YOUR visitors right away from YOUR website!
You may recall, at the time, we called predatory advertising, 'Scumware.' It was unethical and a low-life thing to do.
Well, Google apparently thinks differently. Now, these geniuses have created yet another way for the lunatics in today's society to spread their vitriol.
Have you SEEN the crap on the blogs, today? I'm talking about the comments. Just the language makes mine look like it comes from a Sunday School teacher!
Blog comments go off topic and discuss whatever they wish. The rage and insanity blooming all over the Web is already spreading like wildfire.
But, the blogs weren't enough! Let's do it on every freakin' website on the Web. The entire idea is lunacy in itself!
I Can NOT Imagine What Google's "Powers That Be" are Thinking!
Sure, it would be nice to provide a way for every website to collect nice comments. It would even be helpful for scam websites to show comments from those they scammed.
But, WHO is to decide what's a scam and what isn't? Who decides the truth-tellers from the lunatics? Even a rave could just as easily come from a friend - so what good is it?
I'm sure I've pissed off enough people in 10 years to get some mighty nasty comments. Of course, most of you know, MY way is simply to respond - and not pull any punches. But I'd prefer to keep that crap in the newsletter where it belongs - not on the iCop home page.
How about you? Made any enemies since being in business? Surely, I couldn't be the ONLY one! Smile
For me, that isn't really the point. I can take care of idiot management. What I object to is having my property usurped - and having to suck it up unless I want to live without Google.
Maybe I could live without Google. But, at this point - I'm not sure!
I don't know where Google falls on the chart of big business, but I'm sure it's up there. Since the rest of big business creates murder (and, do not doubt, this could kill your business) and mayhem in this country, why shouldn't Google?
Here Are a Few of the Things We Don't Know
Will the comments affect our site indexing? Don't know.
How long will comments remain on the pages? Don't know.
How will we monitor every page of our websites for comments? Will we be notified? Don't know.
Google says they will remove inappropriate remarks. Who decides what's inappropriate? They do.
Do we have recourse? Don't know.
How long will it take for removal? Don't know.
Someone wrote, 'Presumably Google is now responsible for inaccuracies written with Sidewiki.' Don't know.
I doubt it. I'm sure Google's butt is covered. It isn't as if they don't have plenty of legal advice. It may be tested in the courts, of course, but that will take years.
Currently, they have given us no opt-out. Will they remedy that? Don't know.
They may yet provide an opt-out, (God forbid they provide opt-IN) but it could be a bit of extortion. If you opt-out, you may find yourself out of their index. Remains to be seen.
So, What Do We Do, Now?
As bad as this irked me, I 'claimed' my web sites. My OWN blasted websites! I followed the directions in this article:
tinyurl.com/y9altsu
In short, it tells you how to write your OWN comments at the top of your page as the owner of the website. It was very simple and only stole about half a day of my time to do the home pages, and a couple of others, of three websites.
Google will always leave the site owner's comments on top. But, remember, folks can comment on ANY PAGE THEY WISH! How many total pages do you have on your websites?
It takes about four or five short paragraphs to fill the space down to the 'fold' of the page. If anyone writes trash on your site, at least it will require scrolling to be seen. And, if someone writes something lovely, you can always bring it up by shortening your own.
You can see an example by looking at iCop's home page. You'll need the Google tool bar with the Sidewiki application on it. Just click over to iCop, then, click the Sidewiki icon in the tool bar.
(Sorry, this newsletter is one of the sites it screws up and I haven't fixed it yet. That, in itself, is going to be a giant PITA!)
www.i-Cop.org
If you don't have the Google tool bar, I strongly suggest you get it. It only works in IE6+ and Firefox2+, but, there's no other way to monitor this! And, the huge majority of people DO use one of those browsers - so they CAN use it. All they need is the Google tool bar.
www.toolbar.google.com
You can read Google's policies on writing comments at the URL below. But, they're a JOKE!
tinyurl.com/yg8ytbe
AND, you can see how it's already being abused by certain gurus here (Scroll down):
www.quickly-make-money-online.com/blog/
Now, I know some will ask if I'm going to start a war over this. The answer is ... I'm not inclined to do that, at this point.
I also know many of you remember how I fought "pay to send" commercial email - tooth and nail - and lost. It was inevitable, and I had to roll over for it. Sidewiki may also turn out to be simply another sign of the times.
I suggest - if it really does have staying power, we use our collective marketing sense and figure out to use it to our benefit.
Any ideas? jlscott@i-cop.org
The Whole Lousy Situation DOES Have its Funny Side
Since BIG business runs the USA, it's possible they'll make Sidewiki go away pretty quickly. Just think of the implications for the pharmaceutical, insurance, health and legal industries' websites! Smile
But, for now, Google has, indeed, high-jacked the Web.
Have a fabulous week and ... keep on keepin' on!
Smile jl
Excerpt from iCop's Online Business Trade Journal Copyright 2009 jl scott, ph.d., Director International Council of Online Professionals (iCop) All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the express written consent of the publisher or contributors.
Copyright © 2009
The Trii-Zine Ezine
About the Author:
Trina L.C. Sonnenberg
Publisher - The Trii-Zine Ezine - Your Trusted Source for Internet Business and Marketing Information. EST 2001. ISSN# 1555-2276
Author of: My Journey A Lifetime of Verse, ISBN: 978-0-61516405-2
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