Another April 1st Conspiracy Theory

I was looking into a Google issue that has grown since Sept 2004, where a page will inexplicably lose its cache, title, and description. Why would this happen?

1. Some sort of possible Google penalty.
2. Some sort of possible Google bug or limitation.
3. An elaborate plan to track and dismantle the COOP [insert maniacal G engineer laugh].

Now, #1 and #2 are far more likely, but it is Friday night, and I'm in a sci-fi mood. Since the COOP uses the Google API to look at cached pages, auto-fluctuating which pages improve and decline based on caches, Google could theoretically keep a close eye on the COOP and add something into the algo in order to negate its effectiveness for sites than improve or decline too quickly in correlation to cache weirdness [sound like some of that patent yet?].

Yeah, I know...kinda far-fetched. Plus, I realize it'd be easier to track the passthru.php or ad_network based on the code, or even look for the digitalpoint image...but like I said before, I'm in a sci-fi mood.

I do wonder the exact reason for the disappearing cache, as it does affect one of the sites I manage within the COOP, though I'd be both surprised and impressed with Google for doing something like this. Until then, I'll keep polishing the tinfoil hat.

Cygnus

 

Naw, nothing is wrong. I use the API from more then one site. My results seem to be real flakey the past 24 hours. First no indexed pages, not no back links. The bot has been on my forum about 3 days however. I'd like to think something good is happening.

My other site is stabil.

 

I didn't describe the insantiy elaborately enough...

In the crazy theory that I purported, using the API has nothing to do with the random cache fluxes. Instead, since the COOP is reliant upon the API, by randomly fluxing caches of all sites, Google could more or less figure out those sites using the COOP to directly benefit a site...the indirect help is a bit more difficult -- if a site declines due to another site's cache fluxing, it would be very difficult to correlate, given A) the number of sites in the COOP and B) the number of iterations of the fluxing necessary to root it out.

As I said before, this is just a fantasy / sci-fi / completely fictional event. I actually believe the loss of cache/title/description has to do with a data storage issue for lower PR pages -- although I can't prove that one either, it is still a simpler answer...a razor comes to mind.

Cygnus

 

That's actually the title of my next book: "Google Hacking: Why one should avoid Google witches that sprinkle gofer dust."

The truth in that one has more to do with a scenario of a portly kid, a magnifying glass, and an ant hill.

 

You're not a witch, are you?

I had goofer dust sprinkled on me a long time ago according to my wife.

I can't explain any of it. I'm shooting from the hip.

Oh yeah, and drinkin' beer too.

BrB, I'm going to town for more beer and bullets.

 

Is it "gofer" or "goofer" dust?

I've got a large supply of chicken bones and root powder that I'd be willing to swap for some.

-jay