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joanpeterson
Forums Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 150
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#1 · Posted: 30 Sep 2009 13:33
I have not yet seen this addressed on this forum and this is crucial info for anyone that has their own website.
Google has created Sidewiki which allows anyone to post a comment on a bar that can be viewed when someone goes to your website.
Anyone can post whatever they want, including posting links or negative comments and you do not have the option of deleting them.
You can check out the chatter at warrior forums about it and I suggest that you let Google know that you are NOT happy with Sidewiki. It is very intrusive for any website owner.
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krazyladyplz
Forums Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2009
Posts: 50
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#2 · Posted: 30 Sep 2009 22:21
Thanks for the info.
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Andy3568
Forums Member
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Posts: 60
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#3 · Posted: 1 Oct 2009 16:03
There is a way to claim your website via Google webmaster tools. You have to insert a meta tag or upload a file to the server where your website resides so that Google can verify that you're the owner, but once you have it verified, you can enter owner comments in Sidewiki that are highlighted in green and always appear at the top. It won't stop attacks, but it will make them less effective, especially if your owner comments are long.
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joanpeterson
Forums Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 150
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#4 · Posted: 12 Oct 2009 17:04
I read where leaving long owner comments may be negated by Google making your comment shorter (though you can see it all by clicking on it.) But how many lines they will leave before you have to click to see the rest is unknown right now.
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BobFirestone
Forums Member
Joined: 1 Jul 2009
Posts: 144
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#5 · Posted: 12 Oct 2009 20:34
I am usually pretty indifferent to most of what google does but this is beyond comprehension. Not giving the owners of the website a way to opt out entirely inappropriate.
My website is my property and the sidewiki is trespassing.
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joanpeterson
Forums Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 150
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#6 · Posted: 12 Oct 2009 20:53
I agree. I saw someone on another board saying they were taking legal action against Google - but that is something that may be very expensive to do.
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bzimm
Forums Member
Joined: 1 Sep 2008
Posts: 23
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#7 · Posted: 12 Oct 2009 21:48
This is the worst thing google could have done. What do you think is going to happen when other marketers create a bot that will do nothing but leave negative comments on competitors sites. Stupid stupid stupid idea. I really don't think they thought of what WILL happen.
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Offer Tsuriel
Forums Member
Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 72
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#8 · Posted: 13 Oct 2009 04:09
I agree with bzimm,
google coldn't think about something worse then that. The abuse potential of this is more then anyone can think. This tool is best for closing scores with your competitors.
Not for me!
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Newbie Shield
Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 2231
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#9 · Posted: 15 Oct 2009 14:03
Hi Joan,
Though my first reaction was, yuck - please don't, I'm willing to give it a chance because I have a lot of faith in most of what Google does.
Though hostile competitors, those in a bad mood, and nutcases will all be able to make their not-so-desirable mark via Sidewiki, it may be helpful to those who are disgusted to take a few things into consideration.
1. It's like a comment section of a blog, a rating system such as those found on Amazon, or like adding a Web 2.0 capability.
2. If a site is truly good, it will shine even more with this mod.
3. Usually Google does what is best for the community often breaks new ground in a good way. Give it a chance and you may find that you either no longer care about it or - God forbid - that you actually find yourself using it regularly.
It doesn't seem all that different from a lot of Web 2.0 stuff out there. Perhaps it'll be a good thing after all. At least the crappy and sleazy sites will finally get some of their long overdue, just dessert.
~Newbie Shield~
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BobFirestone
Forums Member
Joined: 1 Jul 2009
Posts: 144
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#10 · Posted: 15 Oct 2009 14:51 · Edited by: BobFirestone
Newbie Shield: 1. It's like a comment section of a blog, a rating system such as those found on Amazon, or like adding a Web 2.0 capability.
NO! The comment section on my blog is like the comment section on a blog. This takes the decision oh how people interact with the site and editorial control away from the owner and puts it in the hands of google.
Newbie Shield: 2. If a site is truly good, it will shine even more with this mod.
NO! The example I can think of is Seth Godin's blog. He refuses to open it up for comments. I read his site for his insight not to see a bunch of other peoples comments.
Newbie Shield: 3. Usually Google does what is best for the community often breaks new ground in a good way. Give it a chance and you may find that you either no longer care about it or - God forbid - that you actually find yourself using it regularly.
NO! Google does what's best for google. If the community was any consideration this would be an opt-in, not a we are going to rape your content and consume the most valuable screen space like it or not.
The only rational for this being for the community is to give people one login for multiple sites. Well if you think that is important to your sites visitors then install a disqus integration. One login and the owner still has full editorial control.
The other issue is the content in sidewiki is content I have not approved is being accessed by typing the domain I paid for into a web browser. This is what makes someone badmouthing you via sidewiki different from any website. I have no expectation of control on digg or any domain I don't own.
In my opinion the only way google can do sidewiki with out owner opt-in is to make it a web interface not a browser plugin. Where the site being commentated on against the owners will is displayed in a frame. But google would never do this because no one would ever use it.
I think it is just a matter of time before the lawsuits start to fly.
That is unless google does the non-evil thing and kills it first.
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BobFirestone
Forums Member
Joined: 1 Jul 2009
Posts: 144
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#11 · Posted: 15 Oct 2009 15:01
Another fun thought about sidewiki...
What happens when google starts running ads in sidewiki?
Do they have to share with the site owner?
What about if the site owner has had their google adssense account shutdown?
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Offer Tsuriel
Forums Member
Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 72
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#12 · Posted: 16 Oct 2009 05:36
BobFirestone,
Google usually don't start anything without profit.
I think, eventually, they will use this new feature to put their ads in there and sell products.
We will have to get use to it and learn to ignore it when possible.
It's not like them not dominating the search-engine market. They can do whatever they want.
Keep us updated!
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