TheMadScientist - 7:53 pm on Jun 2, 2010 (gmt 0)

@ steerpikegg

1.) I've learned more from the heated debates I've had here than from any others and I really appreciate differing opinions, but I'll try my best to not 'argue' so to speak.

2.) I'm trying to get people to deal with reality and not point a finger, when to me it's fairly obvious:

A.) Google has undated their SERPs for years on end with no warning.
B.) Whether we like it or not they are not obligated to give warning, and while it may be 'nice' to let the 'white hat webmaster' know if they are unannounced they do not give the spammers and black hatters a formal: Make sure you watch real close so you can continue to game our results notice.
C.) Knowing A above, shouldn't people be prepared for it and form a better business plan before they move forward?

3.) C above continued. It's been said here by quite a few of us, and many, many, many, right after the Florida Update, which was the update right before I started building sites: Do Not Count On Free Traffic for Your Income!

It's not whether I like or dislike Google's position (I really wish Bing had about 25% market share right now) but the reality of it is IMO people are complaining because they have a bad business model and they want a scape-goat or someone to hold their hand when if they do their research and homework, like they should before depending on any revenue stream or starting any type of business, it should be obvious to anyone running a business online if they depend on free Google traffic for their livelihood and their family: Google Updates Without Warning.

Like it, Love it, Hate it, Take it, Leave it, doesn't matter.
Google Updates Without Warning is Reality.
If you run a website as a business be ready for it. Period.

Everyone should know:
1.) Google Updates Without Warning

2.) You Should Not Base Your Livelihood On Free Traffic From Google, Because Google Updates Without Warning & It Might Not Be There Tomorrow.

3.) If you start making enough off a site from free traffic to quit your day job or start living above the means of your day job and you don't do your homework to know Google Updates Without Warning and has for years, then it's your fault for NOT DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE before you start a business and realizing Google Updates Without Warning.

My perspective is reality, and yes, it would be nice for them to let people know an update is coming, but it would be better IMO if people did their due diligence before they started or relied on a 'free traffic' business, because they can read through update threads here for years on end and see the same advice: DO NOT RELY ON FREE TRAFFIC as your only source of income... Find other traffic sources and count the free traffic SEs send as a bonus, but unfortunately, people don't listen, don't do their due diligence, put themselves, families and loved ones in a place where a another business they have no control over is in control of their livelihood and that business can disappear without notice, because Google Updates Without Warning.

An analogy for you: It's like looking at 'flash flood area' on a sign in the desert and walking down the bottom of a gully for weeks at a time... Sometimes people make it and might be able to do it for a lifetime, but it only takes one rain cloud you didn't see 3 days ago or 200 miles away to change everything, and the problem isn't the water or the gully... The problem is people ignoring the warnings.