Google Under Siege - Fair or Unfair?

[Brett_Tabke]

The Gmail outcry is huge. The Local search outcry is growing. The number of negative Google stories out there is a surprise.

It seems Google can't please anyone these days.

What is the root of it all?

a) The Florida update?
b) Big - just plain bigness (everyone loves to pick on the big guy)?
c) Poor management?
d) Public relations dept screw up?
e) Competitors planting seeds of division?
f) All of the above?

[Brett_Tabke]

lets try to stay on topic. I know they tend to wander in big threads like this, but the scope of the subject is still pretty clear. No, the type of underwear Larry Page wears does not apply...

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I visited an Internet Archive site that I know to remind myself what Google used to look like and what they stood for. Here is a statement from "Why use Google" of five years ago.

Google Brings Order to the Web
Google is designed to impose order on information chaos. It's what a search service should be; not an edited, limited directory or a list of results that have been auctioned to the highest bidder, but a thoughtful method of organizing the Internet according to its own structure.

Oh how I yearn for those halcyon days on the Internet!

[shailesh]

i think it is 'b'

google does not force you to use it's services. remebering the old adage that 'there is no such thing as a free lunch', it would be unwise to expect google to allow such a whopping mail space without anything in return.

[HarryM]

I have been away for a few days so have only just caught up with this thread. I don't want to add to the Europe-US divide, but there is a point worth making.

Europeans are already suffering from a vast increase in email spam, most of which originates from the US where there appears to be little action taken to stop it. Not just porn, but insurance, stock offers, and all the rest of the junk I have no interest in - and all priced in $s. I am wary that the same trend could happen with search results where serps become filled with small time US-based commercial operators, especially affiliates.

Google has an uphill task in presenting serps that please all. If they pleased me, I am sure that there would be lots of people squealing.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Harry, this may be off topic but you touched a nerve with me. What effect (if any) will this have on Spam? Until recently I was in the habit of doing a Whois on all spam received and formally raising a complaint to the ISPs.

I stopped this when I received a reply from a fairly well known, US based provider saying that they had passed my complaint to the offender and if it happened again they would take action.

If the spammer had the knowhow and had been so inclined he could have wreaked untold damage on my business. I have stopped reporting most spam as a result.

I am totally peed off with indiscriminate spam from the USA offering to sell me tube stock, sure thing investments, "guaranteed number one" placements and property in Nowheresville.

[SyntheticUpper]

Just delete them.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I do now, although I make a point of forwarding the fraud attempts to the Metropolitan Police.

[scareduck]

For what it's worth:

Growing companies often get to a point where they feel they can either safely disregard or carelessly ignore the negative consequences their actions have upon their customers. Microsoft crossed that threshold a long time ago. Google is at that nexus now.

[dataguy]

Wow, great information!

I just spent an hour reading this thread, starting to reply several times then deciding to read on before replying. I had no idea I'd get a lesson in Euro/American sociology and instructions for reporting spammers before the conclusion. A little off track, but good information none-the-less.

Back to the "G" issue... Maybe it's a little on the shallow American side (I'm feeling pretty self-conscious right now) but I think it can be explained with the saying "All politics is local".

Google has hurt a lot of people in a place that is very near and dear to us, right in the wallet. (I think this applies globally, not just here in America where we fund 95% of all research and development World-wide.)

For the record, I'm making more money today because of Google than I was last year without Google. Also, I've got over 150 email addresses but I'd still love to have a Gmail account as well, ads and all.

Keep up the good dialogue!

[HarryM]

we fund 95% of all research and development World-wide

I'd love to know where that figure came from... Oh, I forgot. It's election year.