jwc2349 - 11:14 pm on Oct 17, 2006 (gmt 0)

"...I really do wish Google would provide better webmaster relations on such things. Such a heavy handed approach needs to be used very delicately or it can ruin what people have worked very hard to create..."

That is exactly the point. Many of us webmasters have worked for years to build the "trust factor" with Google only to be nailed with a penalty and we have no idea what triggered it. Yet Google keeps saying that they are trying to open up lines of communication with legitimate webmasters, notifying them of reasons for penalties. Well I have been waiting for 10 months to hear from that higher authority and not one tidbit. I certainly have tried to communicate with them but they have not reciprocated.

It seems to me that Google can easily identify legitimate websites that have incurred a penalty and then communicate with them. For example, a website that 1) is at least 5 years old, 2) that never before was assessed a penalty, 3) with a true PR5 or higher and 3) an presently-assessed penalty would be an ideal candidate for communication from Google. That would screen out all the whiners and provide a tremendous service to the webmaster.

If the webmaster then did not remove the reasons for the penalty within a time certain, then they shouldn't just be penalized, they should be banned.

Seems easy and fair to me. I certainly volunteer to be the guinea pif.