|
|
| Author |
Message |
janc
|
|
Search Engines
| 
Jun 6 18:41 UTC 2000 |
Currently Grex is configured in such a way to discourage search engines
from indexing our conferences. It seems to be working - I've turned up
any Grex Backtalk pages on any search engine.
Theoretically this could be changed. If I worked at it, I could
probably convince search engines like Google and Altavista to index the
Grex conferences. It is likely that I could convince them to index only
certain conferences - I could possibly even get the control down to the
level of indexing only selected items.
What I'm wondering would be if this is a good idea?
If we allowed indexing, people would feel that these forums are "less
private" and would be more reluctant to post personal information.
But if we want to attract lots of people into our conferencing system,
having the search engines index our conferences would be a great way to
do it - search for some subject, find Grexers discussing it, join in.
I don't know where I stand on this. I think making some conferences
searchable (like "coop") but not others might be worth discussing.
|
| 123 responses total. |
janc
|
|
response 1 of 123:
|
Jun 6 18:42 UTC 2000 |
Correction: "I've never turned up any Grex Backtalk pages on any search
engine."
|
remmers
|
|
response 2 of 123:
|
Jun 6 22:54 UTC 2000 |
I like the idea of making conferences searchable. Not only could it
attract new users, but it would be useful to established Grex users
such as myself in searching for old stuff.
|
other
|
|
response 3 of 123:
|
Jun 6 23:40 UTC 2000 |
What would be the impact on our net connection of the indexing process?
|
gypsi
|
|
response 4 of 123:
|
Jun 7 02:19 UTC 2000 |
I like this idea, especially when we have discussions regarding political
viewpoints or childbirth. Some of this information is wonderfully
informative.
|
krj
|
|
response 5 of 123:
|
Jun 7 02:25 UTC 2000 |
Of course, people who have posted personal information in years past
will be screwed, because it will come up in new searches.
|
cmcgee
|
|
response 6 of 123:
|
Jun 7 02:34 UTC 2000 |
Ick.
I think I may be against this. While I supported the anonymous reading from
the web, I'm not sure I would support indexing anything unless posters knew
from the start that their response might become searchable on the web. In
fact, part of my willingness to post on Grex has been premised on the idea
that no one could find my thoughts unless they found Grex first and also were
interested enough to join a conference.
Perhaps only indexing future Agoras? Or newly-started conferences? I'd be
willing to restart Small Business so that it could be indexed, but only if
there was a line on the entry screen that said that was being done.
|
scg
|
|
response 7 of 123:
|
Jun 7 03:44 UTC 2000 |
I supported anonymous reading too, but I don't support having the conferences
indexable by search engines. Once somebody has stumbled on Grex's
conferences, I'm happy to have them reading these items in context. I feel
very differently about having some random Grex item or set of Grex items be
what pops up on a search engine when somebody does a search for my name.
|