Sphinn - Does Google Have Anything to Fear from the Blogosphere?

35
Sphinn It!

Does Google Have Anything to Fear from the Blogosphere?

Went Hot: October 16, 2007 - 10:07 am
Posted By: DoshDosh 629 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://www.yackyack.co.uk)
Category: Google Other

Maybe some at Google have read too much B F Skinner and decided that a positive reinforcement of the negatives inside the box that is the blogosphere might be one particular way to slay this threat to their income stream...The thing is though, what, if anything can or will the blogosphere do about it? Will everyone just roll over?

8 Comments

Who Desphunn This (0)

Comments

from PocketSEO 629 days ago #

Votes: 0 | Vote:

+ -

I like the "boycott Google for a day" idea.

from Lyndon 629 days ago #

Votes: 2 | Vote:

+ -

So let me get this clear, you are going to refuse to let google spider your sites that day, you are going to block all of the free traffic google sends you, you are going to block all emails sent via gmail?

I have to say I respect the people who are proposing this and like a lot of other stuff they have written, but this is just plain daft.

I make money by getting people to go to websites. That is what I do, that is what I am interested in. Google is a player in the space which I use to facilitate this. If Google makes it harder for me to do this because they want to improve their search or gasp, want to make more money then fine. I will adapt.

If people want to do a boycott, then I respect that. But what will it achieve and wouldn't your energies be better spent eleswhere.

from robwatts 629 days ago #

Votes: 2 | Vote:

+ -

Lyndon, who said anything about refusing to let Google spider your site? Or blocking traffic, or emails?

>I make money by getting people to go to websites. That is what I do, that is what I am interested in. Google is a player in the space which I use to facilitate this. If Google makes it harder for me to do this because they want to improve their search or gasp, want to make more money then fine. I will adapt.

We all do the same, you aren't doing anything that most of the rest of us are doing. We all have our borgesque tendencies.

The article asks the question, 'does google have anything to fear from the blogosphere' it looks at the issues as to why google is on on the receiving end of negativite posts and what the blogsphere could actually do about it. A boycott of a form, was one question that arose and seemed apt to ask. Google might well feel that it has nothing to fear at all. Why else would it just walk roughshod and enagage in the recent actions it has.

I respect your pov old boy but to comment in the way you have without reading what I wrote is just plain daft.

from Lyndon 629 days ago #

Votes: 1 | Vote:

+ -

I was commenting on the whole idea of a boycot of Google and not necessarily in reaction to the words you wrote on your blog Rob.

It's also in reply to a lot of what is being said about Google these days, a continuation of the conversation that is knocking around the blogosphere these days. I had read your article and sorry I didn't make it more clear I was not referring directly too it. More on the general attitude at the moment.

from bwelford 629 days ago #

Votes: 2 | Vote:

+ -

In the 'old days' the news media that were respected made a clear distinction between the editorial side and the advertising side. I fear Google has not realized why that was so important and is beginning to allow the bottom line to determine decisions in all areas. It isn't what they said they would do.

from Lyndon 629 days ago #

Votes: 2 | Vote:

+ -

Actually, I read back my comment and it is misleading, this morning was mad and that's my defence.

I didn't address your article at all Rob, I was thinking of something else when I wrote it, which is all the daft comments about Google going round at the moment.

I think I read your article yesterday.

OK, I'm going to lie down in a darkened room with Leonard Cohen playing.

from robwatts 629 days ago #

Votes: 2 | Vote:

+ -

No worries Lyndon, Leonard Cohen is good, message me when you awake :D

I'm sure I'm not alone when I venture to suggest that healthy dissent is a good thing.

The whole search engine - webmaster - user - advertiser relationship has always been a carefully measured stepped affair of concillatory moves and tacit acceptances that some things are just a quid pro quo aspect of doing business on the web. People like Danny and Jill and Brett and other Industry well knowns helped bridge those debates and gave a platform for all parties to get in there and express their views. Heck, who was it who bigged up Google in the early days? Who were the adopters, who were the people going out and spreading the word with their badges and search boxes and general love to the Goog. Us! That's who, yet now if we happen to take a route that doesnt abide by some imposed view that helps an already powerful goliath become that little bit moreso, then we'll find ourselves crushed and bereft of any of the collective love that the google index bestows. Cos lets face it, without the websites that it indexes it is nothing.

I cant help but feel that the uneasy truce has been somewhat breached and we are into different territory here.Lines are drawn and erased and repositioned practically at will, that can't be healthy.Where is the voice of we the stakeholders? Aren't we entitled to express a view and be heard? What can we do about it? Blah blah blah etc etc

from iBrian 628 days ago #

Votes: 0 | Vote:

+ -

Google has nothing to fear from the blogosphere - but the blogosphere has everyting to fear Google, or what it may do.

Frankly, SEO's should fear the paid link "debate" remaining so high profile - all it can do is spur Google harder into implementing Florida II.