"Dangerous Cult," Google Bombing and Scientology
Google bombing, also known as search bombing, is a practice of internet users to manipulate Google search results. The process is very simple, based on Google's algorithm, but requires many users to be involved. Google's algorithm searches the internet for links that used the text you searched for. So, for example, if you search in Google for "Scientology," Google will go out and find links that use "Scientology" as an anchor text. Pages that are linked to more often will appear higher in the search results.
With Google bombing, an internet user will tell other users to link to a website using a specific anchor text. In this instance, Anonymous has asked other internet users to link to Scientology.org using the anchor text, "dangerous cult." This new Google bomb has succeeded. If you go to Google and search "dangerous cult," Scientology.org is the first thing that appears.
"Dangerous cult" is not the first time Scientology has been involved in a Google bomb. Another Google bomb attempted to link the term "Scientology" to Operation Clambake, a site that criticizes Scientology. A search for "Scientology" on Google yields Operation Clambake at number three.
Many other Google bombs have been politically motivated. Perhaps the most notable political Google bomb was the linking of the search term, "miserable failure" to the White House's biography of George W. Bush. Nobody is entirely certain who started the "miserable failure" Google bomb, but a later Google bomb, started by a law school student at Duquesne university, attacked John Kerry. He encouraged people to use "waffles" to link to John Kerry's official site. While the "waffles" Google bomb was not as successful, the "miserable failure" Google bomb extended past Google. A "miserable failure" search in Google images returns pictures of Bush and Google maps returns the US Executive Mansion.
Another political Google bomb linked "Santorum" to a lewd sexual practice after US Senator Rick Santorum made controversial statements about homosexuality.
Originally, Google itself took a very hands-off approach to Google bombs, opting not to manipulate the algorithm manually. That position changed in early 2007, and Google programs reset several Google bombs, such as "miserable failure," to link searchers to information about Google bombing itself.
So far, Google has not altered the "dangerous cult" Google bomb, though it is possible they may choose to relatively soon.
Published by Mark L.
Currently residing on Staten Island, NY, and writing for Long Island Blitz (liblitz.com), covering high school football on Long Island. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentWell jerald,
Freedom of speech doesnt mean to harm it by lies.
Seeing "both sides" to decide truth is a false premise.
Seeing FACTS to decide truth is.
Alot of anti-scientology sites have nothing to do with fact unfortunately.
Yep, I agree that Operation Clambake isn't a google bomb. It makes perfect sense that Clambake should show up because their site is directly related to Scientology. Google bombs link to random terms -- "Miserable failure" and "waffle" are perfect examples. Its also worth pointing out that Google Bombs often have unintentional results. For instance, "failure" used to drive more traffic to the White House Web site than anything else, giving even more exposure to the President.
Well said Jerald!
wordsleuth, sketcham, mireynolds, kate, nicole2007, markl, you guys!!!
The Operation Clambake site ( xenu.net ) isn't a google bomb. It's ranked number 3 only due to the visitor's that come to the site. Operation Clambake has made it very clear they are against the google bombing of scientology sites. Most critic's of scientology are against this kind of google bombing. We may not agree with the evil action's of scientology, but we do belive they have the right to their sites. We want the readers to see the xenu sties (xenu.net and xenutv.com ) then we want them to visit the scientolog.org site to compare the facts. As the xenu sites have hundrends of court and public records and video's of the members of scientology acting badly it won't be hard to see who is telling the truth. But if you stop one side from having its say how can anyone compare the issues and decide what the truth is?