I’m sorry, I never write about anything but Thailand but this has me pissed off to no end and Google is getting my foot up their arse today.
It’s bad enough that the presidential race in America has taken over everything for the past few months, now the religious bigots of our fine nation are taking stage front and center on every blog that runs adsense!
If you look closely at any blogs running adsense you’ll see non targeted ads for vote yes on proposition 8 which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Google purposely took money from these people to run their bigoted ads and then turned their backs on their publishers by purposely running these non targeted ads on every blog that uses adsense. Worse yet these ads look to be public service announcements so even if some bigoted individual were to click on it the publisher likely will be paid nothing.
Google and it’s people are always saying how they as a company are always doing the right thing and they are full of shit! By accepting this ad they are saying loud and clear that they are against gay marriage as well as telling every one of their publishers that they care about nothing but Googles bottom line!
Google owes every publisher a massive apology and they should turn every penny that this ad has generated for them over to charity…but you can bet they won’t.
On the eve of a historic election in America it’s nice to know that this kind of bigotry is still accepted and large companies such as Google support it…there is something else I’ve never done on my blog before but today just for Google I will relent.
FUCK YOU GOOGLE!
If you live in California please show these bigots including Google the big middle finger and vote NO on proposition 8!
Just a little more on this: I have set the ad manager to filter out this crap and we’ll see if Google complies but another thing just came to mind…Google has violated it’s own terms of service in running political ads and these ads are not targeted to Californians they are everywhere for anyone to see on every blog. Nice job Google give yourself a hand.
Anyone recognize this line in Google’s Terms of Service for Adsense:
Sites displaying Google ads may not include Violent content, racial intolerance, or advocacy against any individual, group, or organization.
Update: Google is pointing publishers to this little bit about political ads:
Political advertising is allowed.
We permit political advertisements regardless of the political views they represent. Stating disagreement with or campaigning against a candidate for public office, a political party, or public administration is generally permissible.
However, political ads must not include accusations or attacks relating to an individual’s personal life, nor can they advocate against a protected group.
Which leads us back to :
Don’t promote violence or advocate against a protected group.
Ad text advocating against any organization, person, or group of people is not permitted.
Advertisements and associated websites may not promote violence or advocate against a protected group. A protected group is distinguished by their:
- Race or ethnic origin
- Color
- National origin
- Religion
- Disability
- Sex
- Age
- Veteran status
- Sexual orientation/Gender identity
Google got it wrong and they tried to hide it but their rules are in black and white right above for all to see. They violated their own rules of advertising and broke the trust with their publishers.
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It won’t be long… Soon Google might start showing us dooms day ads all over the internet and take over the world! Remember Umbrella Corporation of Resident Evil?
HaPPi Like a HiPPos last blog post..Video clip of Somchai?
Yeah, Google has gotten a little too big for their own good.
They say one thing as a company and then go against what they say and think it’s fine.
Maybe it’s time we all spread the love to some other companies in the industry to let Google know they might not be as good as they thought they were.
Talen, I think if it needs saying you should say it and as a US citizen I can understand your angst.
As a Brit it also angers me when giant corporations appear to make the rules up as they go along. All of us US & Brits alike fought long and hard for equality of opportunity which of course includes not discriminating against one particular group in society.
Purely from a blogging perspective: I think going off topic occasionally is fine but I am pleased you have avoided a certain election that is taking place in a large Republic!
Mikes last blog post..Its Not Over Till the Fat Lady Sings.
I for one will be so glad when this election is over as I am sure the rest of the world will be too…
Actually, I think quite recently Google spoke out for gay marriage.
The Terms of Service can be interpreted in different ways too. What constitutes “advocating against” a particular group? Anyway, I’m not surprised with this. Look at their practices in China… or look at all the Scientology ads Google is throwing all over the web…
Bas – Istanbul Expats last blog post..Republic Day Fireworks (Video)
One of Google’s co-founders did come out against prop 8 and even gave 140 thousand dollars. Google itself made millions from advertising vote yes on prop 8 and used it’s publishers in the mean time.
I admire your courage to write something like this…
ha-ha
+1 Google Sucks
Great post, Talen, and I am in complete agreement.
And, I too am happy, thrilled, relieved, freakin’ ecstatic to see the end of this campaign!
nicoles last blog post..Election Day 2008
FYI, Talen, on who is funding Prop 8 — “The Mormons’ donations are well known, and are a source of outrage among the church’s more moderate elements. But little attention has been focused on two of the proposition’s biggest individual donors: Elsa Broekhuizen, the mother of Blackwater founder Erik Prince, and Howard F. Ahmanson Jr., the reclusive theocratic millionaire who inherited $300 million from his philanthropist father at age 18.”
I know who is behind prop 8 but that’s not where my problem lies on this issue. If someone wants to believe that a marriage is only between a man and a woman that is fine with me…I believe differently.
my problem is twofold. Firstly I don’t care for any religious backed organization using legislation to discriminate against anyone…and that’s what prop 8 is, pure and simple discrimination based on religious grounds.
My second problem is with Google. They went against their own TOS and broke trust with all of their advertisers. This vote yes on prop 8 ad has been run on every blog using adsense. This ad is not targeted to the theme of my blog and many others and should never have run. I also have a problem with any company such as Google running political ads for any side especially when it is to the detriment of their publishers who for the most part wish to stay out of the political fray.
A long time ago the black people of this country couldn’t get married either as well as the fact they couldn’t vote. Women were denied the vote too. Should we go back to that time?
I agree with you wholeheartedly. I’ve noticed these ads the past couple of days and it really angers me especially when I see them on my own blogs. It is very disturbing. I already voted no on prop 8 and from what I hear so far it is ahead in the polls.
jodapoets last blog post..History Being Made
At Least Forbes gave us a choice! Google did not! Hooray for you in expressing your true feelings about prop 8!
Lindas last blog post..A Terrific Safety Suggestion!
Where’d my comment go?
Anyway, here’s Google’s position on Prop8.
Bas – Istanbul Expats last blog post..Funny Facebook Announcement
Askimet probably ate the comment due to a long url.
As far as Google’s blog position I say actions speak louder than words. Google’s co founders gave $140,000 to no on prop 8. Google profited by millions running the ad for yes on prop 8. Hypocritical to say the least.
They also went out of their way to make sure it showed on every blog running adsense. They didn’t target content and most assuredly didn’t target California.
And strangely with all the uproar from publishers they are still silent.