That was probably many people's thoughts when reading the OP that it was just a scam to get people to pay $50 fee. But again no-one can prove that so it's not worth going down that road, beside, phpld is made in such a way that it's not just the backlink in the 'powered by' that gives phpld directories away, they are very easy to detect without even going down that route. I'm going to wait on the proof if it ever comes that they are even being targetted, I fancy I'll grow a long grey beard by the time that happens.
You will indeed grow a long beard, I told the OP after my last post that I would not respond to your jibes in this thread as he requested and allow him his thread back for proper discussion.
Just to be clear - I NEVER suggested ANYTHING was a scam by ANYONE. I only stated that if, in fact, Google did admit to using the footer link to target directories, David and Co. could stand to benefit.
I never said you was, neither did I suggest that phpld would deliberately orchestrate a thread like this as bait for people to buy the footer removal for $50 just in case google do target it, I wouldn't dare unless I could prove it which I can't. All I said was that it was probably many people's thoughts on the subject. I agree with you that Google would never admit they target footers, they don't need to as I said, there's a load of ways to go about identifying them. All in all though I'll continue my stance that unless proven otherwise people should regard this as not being the case and carry on working hard at their directories instead of worrying about something that is unlikely to ever happen.
Just my 2 cents, but... Wouldn't the logical thinker think 'Hey, wait a minute, if Google doesn't like phpLD...I won't spend $50 on removing the link, I'll go elsewhere..'. Then it'd be Jamie who'd be reaping the rewards PS. Google will never admit this, if it is even remotely true. There's more chance of me spotting aliens blogging using my new wordpress theme...on the moon.... PPS. Y'all love what I just did with the aliens+wordpress theme comment
I've never noticed any flagging on my directory's, and all have the copyright link.. 1000's and 1000's of really legit small directories use phpld, this would mean google would penalize them as well ?? I doubt it.
LOL; I do like a good read when I get up in the morning. Food for thought on that one, mind you I still say we need evidence to at the very least to support such scaremongering.
They won't they don't. The only evidence of flagging is with wordpress themes, until there is any definitive evidence to the contrary just consider this rumour as scaremongering by people who are probably plugging for people to pay to remove the footer attribute which is completely uneccessary. My theory is that if, and it's a gigantic if, google did ever flag phpld it would be because of the behaviour of some of the people who use this script who have in the past clearly broken all the rules in the book. Guilt by association I thinkt the term is. If you don't do anything wrong trust me, no matter what script you use, you are not going to get penalized.