So, looks like the truth experiment is holding it's own at #19 (we were at #18 yesterday). This despite a whole series of strange happenings that seem to converge around what we're trying to do here.
For starters, a few days ago, Google finally demonstrated that it had tweaked its search algorithm to deal with google bombing.
After just over two years, Google has finally defused the "Google Bomb" that has returned US President George W. Bush at the top of its results in a search on "miserable failure." The move wasn't a post-State Of The Union Address gift for Bush. Instead, it's part of an overall algorithm change designed to stop such mass link pranks from working. (Search Engine Land)
Yikes! Fortunately, it didn't seem to have an effect here, with our ranking holding on at around #20 at that point in time.
Then, last night, I noted some strange activity going on over at wikipedia (note: it's back to normal now), with respect to their definition of truth (which ranks at #2 by the way). Anyway, it was actually kind of funny and is presented as follows:
04:42, 30 January 2007
"Common dictionary definitions of truth mention some form of accord with fact or reality, which has become a commodity. There is no single definition of truth about which the majority of scholars agree, and numerous theories of truth continue to be widely debated. There are many differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth, how to define and identify truth, what roles do revealed and acquired knowledge play, and whether truth is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute. This article introduces the various perspectives and claims throughout history." (and etc... long long article)
and then...
04:43, 30 January 2007
"Truth comes from your gut, not your head!"
...followed by the likes of...
04:44, 30 January 2007
"Truth is only what Stephen Colbert says is true."
04:46, 30 January 2007
"Truth is a piece of cheese that slightly resembles aged cheddar."
04:46, 30 January 2007
"You can't handle the truth."
04:47, 30 January 2007
"Truth has become a commodity."
...to the point, where I stumbled upon it and it read:
04:50, 30 January 2007
"Truth has become a commodity.
Also, the population of African elephants has tripled in the last 6 months.
Freem."
But regardless, I have a feeling the last 19 spots or so are gonna be the toughest. Keep playing, and note that we have an editing process. Yessiree, we do....
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I'm not sure if my google settings are screwing this up or what, but when I search for "truth" on Google the SCQ page doesn't come up anywhere within the first 5 pages.
And by "first 5 pages", I mean the top 50 hits.
And, fortunately, there are still over 1.5 million web pages linking 'miserable failure' to Bush - try Googling it now...
The story has become the story (of the story).
Hi Davis,
I've got #19 with my google.com, and seem to have that rank with a variety of settings. I know that a browser's google page can default to a particular area, but I'm not sure if that is more to do with a country, rather than a part of a country. i.e. I know in the Canadian google (google.ca), we actually rank #7 since the SCQ is based in Vancouver.
On the search I just did, you came up in position #54.
David,
I wonder how much google localizes based on, say, IP address then. I looked a little more thoroughly, and found the SCQ link as #63 when I do the search. I tried to search at google.ca, and did indeed find it at #7. Odd.
Ah. The mysteries of google... Hmmm... this kind of complicates things.
Huh. For Dutch Google the rank looks to be 35, which is pretty cool actually. Perhaps you could take an average ranking across multiple Googles?