NazaretH - 5:58 pm on Jul 28, 2005 (gmt 0)

As I already posted in other threads, our site with a directory has also been banned.

On the other hand we have a few other sites with directories, but they are not banned. What I think is the following:

1. Google gone mad with "scrapers"
2. They decided to ban sites where directory is the majority of site content pages, assuming that such site would be a scraper
3. They don't care much about casualties, because they are big, kind Google that brings traffic in your home for free and you have to be happy.

On the other hand of the story:

1. Lots of real scrapers are still in, and its totally irrelevant to try to determine them automatically or basing on reports of possible competitors.
2. Simple case (ours actually) - site offers 'widgets' and has normal 10-20 pages devoded to widgets, plus forum, and secured area. Additionally the site has a small directory - 5-10K sites - also devoded to 'widgetry, widget components and supplementary services'. The directory would have MUCH more pages than the main site.
3. Once the site get booted with no way back, no clue, no chance and NO PRIOR WINK that anything it does is against any TOS, lots of people may suffer dramatically, and Google IS responsible, just as when you're happened to become a dominant internet power, you should care about the internet and people who are part of it.