My _Guardian_ column on Real Sex And The Google Search
"Google should learn the difference between
real sex and spam"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/22/google-censorship
"If humans argue so much about distinguishing between erotica and pornography, imagine the difficulty search algorithms have"
I can live with the title, but I suggested per above "Real Sex And The Google Search" - the idea was to make a pun on the search [real sex] discussed in the article, and real sex in reference to the sex-bloggers rather than commercial material aimed at purely prurient interest.
Amusingly (and self-referentially), right now the article is ranking at position #4 for a Google search for [real sex].
By Seth Finkelstein | posted in censorware , google , press | on January 21, 2009 09:36 PM (Infothought permalink)
Thanks for the article, Seth; both for mentioning us, and for giving the issues we face a little more profile. I don't expect it will make much difference, but it's nice to know where not the only people who think it's important.
My commentary on your commentary on my commentary here is up on my blog. Do you think that will be meta/post-modern enough for the Googlebot? ;-)
Yours,
TC
Great article. I wish I had something to contribute besides, "I agree, you rock."
maybe the heads over at the porn industry should try to include their losses your article ranking is taking over their website into their request for a bailout. It may sustain a little more sympathy on those giving out the money since your content seems to be crushing their years of hard work. all puns intended. I love this article.