Comments on: Ach, so http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/ by Jeff Jarvis Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:55:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Andy Freeman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28877 Andy Freeman Wed, 08 Feb 2006 14:15:05 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28877 > And with a whole industry of seo now operating, i’l bet the lines in google’s rules aren’t necessarily clear to all. The existence of a seo industry does not imply or even suggest that google's rules are not clear. However, that's not relevant in this case. BMW Germany's site gave different content to Google's indexer than it gave to users. If a site is designed so Google's indexer doesn't have the content that the site will show to users, what should Google do? Does the answer really depend on whether the company is legitimate? If so, what definition of "legitimate" are we using and why should legitimate companies get special privs to deceive search engines and (indirectly) users? > And with a whole industry of seo now operating, i’l bet the lines in google’s rules aren’t necessarily clear to all.

The existence of a seo industry does not imply or even suggest that google’s rules are not clear.

However, that’s not relevant in this case.

BMW Germany’s site gave different content to Google’s indexer than it gave to users. If a site is designed so Google’s indexer doesn’t have the content that the site will show to users, what should Google do?

Does the answer really depend on whether the company is legitimate? If so, what definition of “legitimate” are we using and why should legitimate companies get special privs to deceive search engines and (indirectly) users?

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28863 Jeff Jarvis Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:31:29 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28863 Michael, It is Google's index and Google's rules. It may feel like a public utility but it's not yet. But if Google is going to get tough on this, with legitimate companies, I wish they would get tough on the sploggers and others who are gaming the system to illegitimate means. And with a whole industry of seo now operating, i'l bet the lines in google's rules aren't necessarily clear to all. Michael,
It is Google’s index and Google’s rules. It may feel like a public utility but it’s not yet. But if Google is going to get tough on this, with legitimate companies, I wish they would get tough on the sploggers and others who are gaming the system to illegitimate means. And with a whole industry of seo now operating, i’l bet the lines in google’s rules aren’t necessarily clear to all.

]]> By: Chris http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28842 Chris Wed, 08 Feb 2006 03:05:46 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28842 It's googles index, they make the rules; follow them or be left out. It's their right to do so. It’s googles index, they make the rules; follow them or be left out. It’s their right to do so.

]]> By: Andy Freeman http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28841 Andy Freeman Wed, 08 Feb 2006 03:01:32 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28841 > Do you feel Google has the right to decide who is listed in their index, or do all sites have the right to be indexed? The site in question was designed so it couldn't be indexed by googlebot.; it served different content to googlebot than it served to browsers. What should google do when the content that it's allowed to index isn't the content that other users will see? > Do you feel Google has the right to decide who is listed in their index, or do all sites have the right to be indexed?

The site in question was designed so it couldn’t be indexed by googlebot.; it served different content to googlebot than it served to browsers.

What should google do when the content that it’s allowed to index isn’t the content that other users will see?

]]> By: Michael Zimmer http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28839 Michael Zimmer Wed, 08 Feb 2006 02:52:28 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28839 What is your position on this, Jeff? Do you feel Google has the right to decide who is listed in their index, or do all sites have the right to be indexed? Are search engiens gateways, or gatekeepers? What is your position on this, Jeff? Do you feel Google has the right to decide who is listed in their index, or do all sites have the right to be indexed? Are search engiens gateways, or gatekeepers?

]]> By: Angelos http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28835 Angelos Wed, 08 Feb 2006 01:46:59 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28835 Do no evil? Google can do whatever it wants, and I can always pick another engine. Usually I do. They set up a system. Someone tries to game the system. Always have, always will. So, what now? BMW doesn't exist? Do no evil?

Google can do whatever it wants, and I can always pick another engine. Usually I do.

They set up a system. Someone tries to game the system. Always have, always will.

So, what now? BMW doesn’t exist?

]]> By: Jeff Jarvis http://www.buzzmachine.com/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28832 Jeff Jarvis Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:50:38 +0000 http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2006/02/07/ach-so/#comment-28832 Nevermind the man behind the curtain. I'm testing CoComment. Nevermind the man behind the curtain. I’m testing CoComment.

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