Google Folds - but why?

25 replies
From a "just in" news announcement:

Has anyone read anything about this - first I'd heard of it.

Google gave in to a UK organization that was suing Big G for "religious discrimination" because google prohibited pro-life ads. Result: Google will now allow ads for religious and pro-life sites.

Already a couple ads using the term "pro life" are showing - nothing for pro-choice so wonder if that will also be allowed.

Google says they retain "editorial" rights and I can't help but wonder if they didn't create a monster in giving in so easily. Sounds like an editing nightmare as sites advertised must not contain any information not totally supported by fact, not be inflammatory and have no graphic images that might be offensive.

It's unlikely any court would tell a business that does not receive any public funds what ads it may sell - and it's curious that Google gave in so easily.

What's next for increasing revenue from Adwords - free speech argument for porn ads?

kay
#folds #google
  • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
    Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

    What's next for increasing revenue from Adwords - free speech argument for porn ads?
    If I owned Google, I'd allow porn ads and even sites to use adsense them. I'd atually allow anything legal. If you don't search for it, it wont be shown. As long as you keep an eye on the KWs and not let people bid on certain words/phrases that aren't always related to porn.
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  • Profile picture of the author bsmith
    It looks like Google was busted for bigotry. In short, they were allowing pro-abortion ads but disallowing pro-life ads from a religious group.

    From BBC NEWS | UK | Google climbdown on abortion ads

    It means when the word "abortion" is typed into the search engine, internet users will no longer just see adverts with details of abortion clinics and support groups, but could also find links to religious groups which may oppose abortion.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris_King
      Originally Posted by bsmith View Post

      It looks like Google was busted for bigotry. In short, they were allowing pro-abortion ads but disallowing pro-life ads from a religious group.

      From BBC NEWS | UK | Google climbdown on abortion ads
      Nobody is pro-abortion my friend.
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      • Profile picture of the author Stallion
        Nobody is pro-abortion my friend.
        I don't know about that. I hate children.
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        • Profile picture of the author GarrieWilson
          Originally Posted by Stallion View Post

          I don't know about that. I hate children.
          I know another marketer who hates kids too. He thinks everyone should be sterilized for the next 50 years.
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      • Profile picture of the author bsmith
        Originally Posted by Chris_King View Post

        Nobody is pro-abortion my friend.
        Then it might be the only right that *nobody* is in favor of...

        I think *somebody* must be pro-abortion, LOL!
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        • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
          I am!

          It's nobody elses business if a mother decides to have an abortion. It's never been a problem, why do people have to be so anal about it these days...damn stupid world.

          What happened to freedom of choice.

          Ok OK I've calmed down.


          Originally Posted by bsmith View Post

          Then it might be the only right that *nobody* is in favor of...

          I think *somebody* must be pro-abortion, LOL!
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          • Profile picture of the author Thomas
            Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

            It's nobody elses business if a mother decides to have an abortion. It's never been a problem, why do people have to be so anal about it these days...damn stupid world.

            What happened to freedom of choice.
            Here, an unborn child has the same constitutionally-protected right to life as everyone who now lives outside of their mother's womb... making it the State's business, and claiming freedom of choice won't save you from murder charges.

            I would call that a problem.
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          • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

            I am!

            It's nobody elses business if a mother decides to have an abortion. It's never been a problem, why do people have to be so anal about it these days...damn stupid world.

            What happened to freedom of choice.

            Ok OK I've calmed down.
            What happened to common sense? Freedom of choice isn't a license to kill simply because your life is being inconvenienced. Should I be able to kill you if I want? Freedom of choice, right?

            I bet you're against the death penalty though, lol.

            Yeah, it is a stupid world. Your post leaves no doubt about that.
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            • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
              LOL good one.

              The baby isnt even born and cant feel the pain. It's the mothers body/baby she should be able to decide what she wants to do. We are just animals in the end.

              ..and for your information I am FOR the death penalty...

              Your just anther one of those who have no mind of their own and follow the media.

              EDIT - Oh and by the way, the difference is I am giving people a choice, while you are forcing your belief as the only choice.. and attacking me in the process, so you get what you give mate.

              Originally Posted by blackhatcat View Post

              What happened to common sense? Freedom of choice isn't a license to kill simply because your life is being inconvenienced. Should I be able to kill you if I want? Freedom of choice, right?

              I bet you're against the death penalty though, lol.

              Yeah, it is a stupid world. Your post leaves no doubt about that.
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              • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
                Originally Posted by blackhatcat View Post

                What happened to common sense? Freedom of choice isn't a license to kill simply because your life is being inconvenienced. Should I be able to kill you if I want? Freedom of choice, right?

                I bet you're against the death penalty though, lol.

                Yeah, it is a stupid world. Your post leaves no doubt about that.
                Very well saidl

                Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

                LOL good one.

                The baby isnt even born and cant feel the pain..
                The baby can feel pain at the stages some mothers abort

                It's one thing to be pro-choice, but it's another to take it too far


                Of course there is no agreeing on this debate, but it does help to have the facts

                As I sit here typing with my beautiful, sleeping child in my lap I just can't imagine
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          • Profile picture of the author JD Jens
            Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

            I am!

            It's nobody elses business if a mother decides to have an abortion.
            I'd say it is the father's business as well as the mother's. It takes two to tango.
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            • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
              The "pro-choice/pro-life" argument has no place here. Regardless of which side you're on, this is not the forum for it.

              Allen has made it clear in the past that religious and political discussions are not to be held in this section. Not only that, there is next to zero chance you're going to convert anyone who believes differently than you on this issue.

              The only thing this discussion will do is make enemies.


              Paul
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              • Profile picture of the author Justin Jordan
                Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                The "pro-choice/pro-life" argument has no place here. Regardless of which side you're on, this is not the forum for it.

                Allen has made it clear in the past that religious and political discussions are not to be held in this section. Not only that, there is next to zero chance you're going to convert anyone who believes differently than you on this issue.

                The only thing this discussion will do is make enemies.


                Paul
                Thank god someone said it.

                Google's ad choices are fair game - talking about whether abortion is ethical belongs in the off topic forum, at best, and ideally nowhere on this forum.
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              • Profile picture of the author Sean Donahoe
                Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                The "pro-choice/pro-life" argument has no place here. Regardless of which side you're on, this is not the forum for it.

                Allen has made it clear in the past that religious and political discussions are not to be held in this section. Not only that, there is next to zero chance you're going to convert anyone who believes differently than you on this issue.

                The only thing this discussion will do is make enemies.


                Paul
                Well said that man!
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      • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Chris_King View Post

        Nobody is pro-abortion my friend.
        Whatever it takes to get you through the day I guess.
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        • Profile picture of the author timpears
          You call it a problem that a defenseless unborn baby has similar rights to one that has been born already? I fail to see what kind of problem that is. I take no position on abortion as I am a man and therefore will never have one. I try not to get involved in someone eases choices on the matter. But I do find it a little hard to accept the ending of life of an unborn child, specially just prior to birth.

          I would love for someone to explain to me how they justify ending that life. You chose to engage in the procreation act when you had sex, and you knew the outcome of that COULD BE A LIFE. You made that choice, so you are not pro choice, you are opposed to the consequences of the choice you made.

          Who started this damn thread anyway. Sorry, this political stuff always gets me going. I don't even believe in God so it has nothing to do with that. I try to treat everyone with the same respect I expect to be treated with. Even unborn children.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    Kay, to get back to your question, it looks like Google did this to avoid getting tangled in a UK law known as the Equality Act 2006.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    I never meant that abortion is a good idea or that it's an easy choice to make without careful thought, but I just hate being FORCED to do something, we are all equal and should be able to make our own choices, especially personal ones like having a child - no place for the government to impose rules (IMO)

    That's all I'm saying....it's a touchy subject of course.
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    • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
      Originally Posted by Ernie Lonardo View Post

      I never meant that abortion is a good idea or that it's an easy choice to make without careful thought, but I just hate being FORCED to do something, we are all equal and should be able to make our own choices, especially personal ones like having a child - no place for the government to impose rules (IMO)

      That's all I'm saying....it's a touchy subject of course.
      Definitely


      As for the original post, I read that article and it really only seems fair. If support groups and clinics are allowed to show up as relevant I think those who oppose abortion should get the same treatment.

      I agree with whoever said that there isn't any reason for Google to ban things so long as they are legal and not opposing on anyone's rights (in this case people can click on the ad that's relevant to them).

      They should just ban ad language that might offend
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        The question was about google - not a discussion on pro life vs pro choice!
        My interest is what google was thinking on this and what impact it might have on google going forward.

        There are groups labeling themselves "Pro Life" and some "Pro Choice" - that's all that we need to know about it here. The pro/con arguments have no bearing on the question - it would be the same with any controversial, previously disallowed ads on google.

        I think overseeing the websites being advertised (with the restrictions placed by google) could be time consuming.

        In the UK, according to that law, would google be likely to lose do you think? Would the court there tell a company they could not set their own editorial guidelines to that extent?

        kay
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        • Profile picture of the author Wakunahum
          Something to consider is that not all pro-life websites are about banning abortions.

          Granting the baby a life is the other part of having a choice.

          Giving a women information about how maybe she could take that baby to life promotes choice. Consider that many who are searching for terms on abortion are probably in a state of confusion and are wanting to find some answers to make their choice.
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  • Profile picture of the author deannatroupe
    If I was Google, I would let anyone that could pay use adwords. No one is going to find the ad but people that are already looking for it anyway so it won't really hurt anything. Just my two cents. I'm not even going anywhere near the other one since it's off topic and belongs in the off topic forum...
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

    What's next for increasing revenue from Adwords - free speech argument for porn ads?

    kay
    Lol...Talk to me dirty girl!

    Kay, There is no telling what will happen next. The big G has so many things going on and there are so many other things happening in the market right now that it's nearly impossible to figure it all out.

    Heck Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac and AIG were all saved by the US Government. I think the big G is just trying to hold on to some of it's revenue just in case everything hits the fan.

    Just my .02
    Have a Great Day!
    Michael

    Hey, You look just as good in your avatar now as you did the first time I saw it... What's your secret?...lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
      Woooo!

      I must have fell a sleep and missed all that, Wow!

      ***No Comment***

      Gotta Goooo...............Bye

      Michael
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