Google Related - Anyone see a problem with this?

[bmiller011]

Ok, so you obviously see no issues with this and are only concerned about how it works not whether it is ethical.

[HTMLBasicTutor]

I had to turn it on in the toolbar options to get it.

In reality, how many Joe/Joesy average surfers are going to have the Google Toobar installed? Not many IMHO.

[deepsand]

I don't think you are understanding my point here.

Ok, so you obviously see no issues with this and are only concerned about how it works not whether it is ethical.

Actually, I understand full well. What is puzzling me is why you and I see different results for the same pages. Without understanding what's happening, it's difficult to know if it's substantial problem.

On the bright side, if the default is still that such are turned off at installation, I suspect that it is a minority of users who have the GTB enhanced features turned on.

[bmiller011]

I had to turn it on in the toolbar options to get it.

In reality, how many Joe/Joesy average surfers are going to have the Google Toobar installed? Not many IMHO.

Actually more than you might think. I would bet 50% of the computers that come in to my shop have IE set as the default browser and GTB installed. I haven't actually documented it but I think I will for a week just to see. I will be sure to have the guys check to see if the enhanced features are enabled if it is installed.

Here is the text a user is prompted with upon installation. They do talk a bit about privacy but talk more IMO about the great features:



Small No Thanks Button - Big Enable Button

[deepsand]

I would bet 50% of the computers that come in to my shop have IE set as the default browser and GTB installed.

Given that the likes of Adobe, Sun, etc. have loaded their updates with tag-along installations for various tool bars, selected by default, this comes as no surprise.

[HHI_Golf_Guy]

Google appears to be ignoring complaints from webmasters regarding Google related. In the past this feature could be disabled with CSS or javascript, but Google got wise to this and changed their coding method.

Perhaps if enough complaints are made to the Federal Trade Commission there will be an inquiry. If Google wants to continue to use this feature I'm fine with that - as long as they provide code for webmasters to disable this feature.

[bmiller011]

Google appears to be ignoring complaints from webmasters regarding Google related. In the past this feature could be disabled with CSS or javascript, but Google got wise to this and changed their coding method.

Perhaps if enough complaints are made to the Federal Trade Commission there will be an inquiry. If Google wants to continue to use this feature I'm fine with that - as long as they provide code for webmasters to disable this feature.

I couldn't agree more. I tired all the fixes that I could find and none would disable it.

[Katt]

I just installed the toolbar to IE and checked my sites - some of them are doing the same thing - showing "related" competitors on top of my site!

I don't care that it only happens with the toolbar installed - lots of people use this toolbar and this is the default setup (yeah I clicked the BIG button, not the small one)

I spend 8-10K a month on Adwords - and they're putting my competitors ON TOP OF MY WEBSITE? Google is about to get a nastygram from me.

[bmiller011]

IMO I think we all should do something about this. I normally don't blog myself but I felt this deserved it. Unfortunately, if I would have continued my You Need To Listen project that I thought of three years ago the site I posted it on would probably be ranked a lot higher than it is now. But it is listed in Google, interested to see if it disappears.

[Clint1]

Google appears to be ignoring complaints from webmasters regarding Google related. In the past this feature could be disabled with CSS or javascript, but Google got wise to this and changed their coding method.

Perhaps if enough complaints are made to the Federal Trade Commission there will be an inquiry. If Google wants to continue to use this feature I'm fine with that - as long as they provide code for webmasters to disable this feature.

When have they ever listed to complaints? This is just yet another way that G is irresponsible. It's long overdue that site owners sue them (for any # of irresponsible BS actions).