Is Santorum's "Google Problem" a Google Problem?

theodp writes "Fortune contributor Dan Mitchell argues that GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum's 'Google problem' isn't Google's problem at all. 'The fact that searching for 'santorum' puts the profane, anti-Rick Santorum site SpreadingSantorum.com (NSFW) at the top of Google's search results,' insists Mitchell, 'is not an example of a "Google bomb," despite the widespread use of that term to describe the result.' In the same camp is Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan, who also says that Santorum has a search engine problem, not a Google problem. 'It's just that everyone fixates on Google,' Sullivan adds. Which is perhaps to be expected, since Google is the King of Search and also has ties to SpreadingSantorum creator Dan Savage, having featured the sex-advice columnist in Google's The-web-is-what-you-make-of-it Chrome ad campaign (for Savage's admirable It Gets Better Project, not SpreadingSantorum). So, considering Google's vaunted search quality guidelines, is some kind of change in order? Sullivan, while making it clear he opposes Santorum's views, nonetheless suggests Google is long overdue to implement a disclaimer for the 'Santorum' search results. 'They are going to confuse some people,' he explains, 'who will assume Google's trying to advance a political agenda with its search results.'"

Sounds like

[eternaldoctorwho]

the [spectator.org] Santorum [thestatecolumn.com] is [thehill.com] surging [therightscoop.com].

Re:Cyberbullying

[JAlexoi]

Yeah... One outspoken person mounted a successful campaign against another outspoken person :-D
If you think this is cyberbullying, then you are the bully in your school/work/social surroundings.

Political agenda?

[ThreeGigs]

"Sullivan, while making it clear he opposes Santorum's views, nonetheless suggests Google is long overdue to implement a disclaimer for the 'Santorum' search results. 'They are going to confuse some people,' he explains, 'who will assume Google's trying to advance a political agenda with its search results.'""

If Google _were_ to include a disclaimer, it would be pushing a political agenda. Unless the disclaimer was something like: "The search results below may indicate that the candidate of your choice is so hopelessly clueless about the web that they are unable to grab the top search result for their own name." Unless of course the Luddites now have a political party....

Re:Cyberbullying

[TWX]

I see one bully here and the top google result is what I would term "blowback". If I felt sorry for anyone, it would be for his children and anyone else with that name who has nothing to do with it.

When I first read that, I thought you had written "brokeback".

Of course, given proper context...

Re:Savage is anti-bullying?

[XxtraLarGe]

Tolerance of bigotry is counterproductive.

I too believe in tolerance, except for tolerating things I disagree with.

its a Santorum problem

[andydread]

I dunno, I think the problem is a Rick Santorum's [spreadingsantorum.com] Problem. It's because of Rick Santorum's [spreadingsantorum.com] obsession with gay people and banning gay sex. Maybe Rick Santorum [spreadingsantorum.com] should get off his soap box. And since Rick Santorum [spreadingsantorum.com] is against gay marriage obviously those people are going to be active against him along with others that fear is rise to power.

Re:Cyberbullying

[Anonymous Coward]

You sound boring.

Re:Savage is anti-bullying?

[Anonymous Coward]

Can we amend or possibly construct a corollary to Godwin's Law about usage of the word "Taliban"

Why, are you a Nazi?

Re:Sounds like

[SteveFoerster]

Even better: Santorum surges from behind in Iowa [philly.com]

Re:Cyberbullying

[Hognoxious]

Clearly the "vile and childish" site is more popular than Santorum's own.

Are you implying that the genuine article isn't vile and childish?

Re:Cyberbullying

[Hognoxious]

Or maybe it's just the google algorithm at work.

...or an AlGoreithm.

Re:Maybe...

[MagusSlurpy]

Actually, that sounds like a really good excuse for a high schooler to use! "I just googled Santorum and this page came up! Why is that donkey wrestling that man?"

Re:Santorum's problem is a Santorum problem

[Nimey]

I think you mean "vicious". Santorum shouldn't be viscous, and if it is you probably need to change your diet.

Re:Sounds like

[Nimey]

"Santorum tops Romney", or before the recount "Romney squeezes out Santorum".

Re:Maybe...

[StikyPad]

Good idea. They should remove the link from search results for "santorum", and replace it instead with a disambiguation link. "Did you mean: the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex"

Re:Maybe...

[DickBreath]

> santorum the frothy mixture of blood, semen and feces

I hate to be the one to point this out. Your recipe for making santorum is wrong. Blood is not an ingredient at all. Nor is semen. Both of those ingredients should be replaced by lube. No specific brand is suggested on the website, so you can choose your favorite.

I will assume this error is not deliberate nor due to political bias.

(Now I duck, cover my head, and run away before something is thrown at me.)

Re:Maybe...

[PopeRatzo]

I hate to be the one to point this out. Your recipe for making santorum is wrong. Blood is not an ingredient at all.

It is if you're doing it right. You make santorum your way, and I'll make it my way.

That's why this is such a great country.