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How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

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Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#81

Post by chdir »

resu_nimda wrote: post #31
drivingmenuts wrote: post #10

This is an example of one of the major problems of crowd-sourcing: trust. There is no way to verify that the integrity of the submitter, who could be giving wrong information due to malice, incompetence, or as a prank. There's entirely too much trust in crowdsourcing.

I don't think it's a major problem. This is one old guy who didn't even understand that his restaurant was listed on Google. As soon as a tech-savvy person stepped in it was cleared up in a few minutes. The damage may have already been done, but that's another story (some are saying the restaurant was already in decline). Sure, it's unfortunate, and these kind of "crowd-sourcing casualties" are going to happen here a…

I've heard so many horror stories of businesses trying to remove fake reviews from competitors. Even a tech savvy can't do much if your nemesis are bent upon destroying your online reputation. A company like Google doesn't offer an easy way to alleviate that. Your best bet is that you hope to stay lucky.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#82

Post by wutbrodo »

pmontra wrote: post #29
benihana wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you read the article? This isn't a case of the owner not caring; he didn't know that google maps was incorrectly reporting his hours. It took a phone call from a customer. And that's the problem - why would he ever think that people weren't coming to his restaurant because a map service messed up his hours? As is clear from this article, that was very low on his checklist of things that might be killing my busine…

Yes, and more than that: he didn't know what Google Map is. He is 74 and can be excused for that. Fast forward ourselves into our 70+: how many new things we won't know or care about then?

I think everyone here is sympathetic to the idea that a 74 year-old shouldn't have to keep up with every new technology, but you seem to be forgetting the fact that he's running a business. Not knowing what Maps is is fine for a random consumer, but excusing a restaurant owner for not knowing about online map services is basically saying that he's no longer competent to run the restaurant.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#83

Post by wutbrodo »

vinceguidry wrote: post #79
cratermoon wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to be a copy editor, back in the day when newspapers had copy editors. One of the jobs of a copy editor back then was to write the headline, and write an accurate one. My chief editor was tough on me, too, and it was hard to come up with a good headline that fit the space and was accurate. She often changed just one word or tense and cleared things up, but now and then she'd can my headline entirely and rewrit…

The only reason I look at a headline anymore for is to see what the topic is. They're not useless for that.

Isn't the topic in this case supposedly "How Google Maps can Destroy a Business at Will"? A topic that isn't supported by the article content (as discussed upthread)? That seems pretty "useless" to me.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#84

Post by BSousa »

tedunangst wrote: post #45
chdir wrote: post #18

If you are running a popular place, whether you like it or not, you'll end up on Google controlled listings. Unfortunately, there's little help for a non-tech savvy business owner to fix problems with listings or fake reviews or even removal of genuine reviews. This is an area where they need to be held accountable. If you are wielding so much power, you need to handle it responsibly and error in favor of business ow…

If it's your email, can't you just send a password reset?

Not with facebook last time I tried.

Had the same problem, someone used my email to create a facebook account and now I can't get it back without going through various loops that I honestly don't care about. I just put anything that is related to facebook to be automatically deleted and my friends know I hate FB and I'm not there, so if someone 'friends' them thinking it's me, I think only 2-3 people I know wouldn't suspect it.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#85

Post by mcguire »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #38
southflorida wrote: post #37

if google is going to take it upon themselves to list a business they should be held accountable and the information should be accurate. google listed the business without his consent and it was incorrect information. i hope he wins... google listing a business that is closed on weekends could have been detrimental in this case. the business owner doesnt need to change because technology has evolved beyond his unders…

> the business owner doesnt need to change because technology has evolved beyond his understanding I agree with the general sentiment of your comment, but I disagree with that line in particular. If you disagree, please sent your reply via the Pony Express to the Harlem Public House; I shall check with the barman therein to see if your letter arrives every other Sunday.

Note: IIRC, the pony express was a transport mechanism for the US mail service, which has the same API today. And if you do send a letter to someone C/O the Harlem Public House, said establishment still exists and is willing to hold mail, and you do check it periodically, you will very likely get the letter.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#86

Post by nnnnni »

wutbrodo wrote: post #73
nnnnni wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've also got to love how the menu is always done in flash, so you most likely can't view it on a phone...

Tangent: You can still view Flash on most phones sold, no? I think as long as you're using something other than Chrome (like FF).

There are ways to do it, but I'm pretty sure that it was dropped even for Android a year or so ago.

Regardless, it's a pain to navigate flash restaurant menus. Just give me a plain list!

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#88

Post by josephschmoe »

_wp3r wrote: post #71

If you have ever used mapmaker, and attempted to update/modify POI and roads, then you will be aware of the strange and unvalidated process of accepting and denying changes to Gmaps. There are more than a couple bad actors that are Approved Google map moderators. I am not sure if their collective actions for denying and modifying changes are a net good or net positive. It has always seemed strange that someone from W…

I tried to do this for my apartment complex. I kept getting fed up when people would approve my road additions, but not subtractions - and how difficult it was to change structure shapes and roads.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#89

Post by vinceguidry »

wutbrodo wrote: post #83
vinceguidry wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only reason I look at a headline anymore for is to see what the topic is. They're not useless for that.

Isn't the topic in this case supposedly "How Google Maps can Destroy a Business at Will"? A topic that isn't supported by the article content (as discussed upthread)? That seems pretty "useless" to me.

The topic is how local business is affected by Internet technologies. The given title conveys that perfectly well, at least to me.

Re: How Google Map Hackers Can Destroy a Business at Will

#90

Post by wl »

Semaphor wrote: post #28

The yelp review paint a picture of 2010: Great food, great service 2011: Good to great food, horrible service 2012: Horrible food, horrible service I usually don't trust yelp, but the decline is way too visible here.

If this restaurant was targeted by a competitor on Google Maps, it's not inconceivable that they also put fake reviews on Yelp.
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