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uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

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Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#261

Post by weavie »

lostlogin wrote: post #200
jart wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every time I accidentally click a Quora search result it makes me so unhappy. I must have missed the memo about Pinterest though. I always liked that site but haven't been on there in a while. I'm reading up on what's wrong and it sounds like a few years ago it started drowning in ads. Then this year they pushed an update that caused half their users to stop using the platform. Is that accurate?

If you want to feel Pinterest pain, try an image search for something you are tying to make or create, particularly something craft or art related. Every hit will take you somewhere bad in Pinterest land, and somehow not provide the image you want.

I'm not seeing it: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=crochet+ducks&iax=images&ia...

Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#263

Post by BoppreH »

AltruisticGapHN wrote: post #245
ThinkBeat wrote: post #240

I miss the days when this was a feature built into Google. It could do all the removal server side. I love uBlacklist. However, when I started to "block" scam sites I became acutely aware of just how many there are. It is like playing endless whack a mole. I recently have had the need download some Windows software and all the top links from Google are scam sites. By that I mean they pretend to look like the legitima…

> I miss the days when this was a feature built into Google. It could do all the removal server side. Seriously was this ever possible? On Twitch we can block a channel or category. I believe on Twitter you can say "not interested" although it is more obscure what it does. Google really should have a way of saying "not interested in this website, ever". Plus, wouldn't that be useful data for them?

> Seriously was this ever possible?

Yes. Many years ago the "..." menu on each search result had a "Block this domain" button, and you could manage your blocklist from your profile.

I can't find much information about it online, but this page from 2012[1] mentions it was already disabled:

  Google also offers a web dashboard for manually blocking spam websites, one URL at a time. You can add up to 500 different websites to your blocked list and Google won’t show pages from any of the included sites provided you are signed in with your Google account. That’s the promise but unfortunately, this solution doesn’t seem to work anymore.
[1] https://www.labnol.org/internet/block-websites-from-google-s...

Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#264

Post by dspillett »

chongli wrote: post #119
jquery wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who says they haven't? As to why they haven't totally blocked Pinterest, that would be pretty controversial given Pinterest paints inside the lines. edit: oh, I see the confusion. People misunderstand what Google image search is, how it works, and are blaming Pinterest for Google's ineptitude.

People will correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the practice of showing an image in search results and then hiding that image behind a login wall when users click the link would qualify as cloaking [1], a practice Google specifically prohibits [2]. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaking [2] https://developers.google.com/search/docs/advanced/guideline...

Unfortunately this and similar rules are not well enforced. The only high-profile case I can remember was when they delisted BMW for a short while for blatant keyword stuffing.

Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#265

Post by GhettoComputers »

forgotpwd16 wrote: post #260
GhettoComputers wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its just like reddit with no threading, more annoying site with unblockable ads. >much better than mindlessly watching videos on Instagram or TikTok (which I don't do at all). How can you definitively say that? If I said this thing I never tried is worst than what I do, wouldn't you at least suggest I try it? Good stuff you might really like exists too: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/programmerhumor?lang=en

>Its just like reddit It most definitely isn't like reddit which, similar to HN, is about topical discussions rather answers by "experts". Frequently I add "reddit" as keyword in my searches but I'ld gladly nuke Quora out of the results.

The fact you quoted “experts” is why it’s just like those two sites. The answers are just as dubious.

Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#266

Post by AussieWog93 »

type0 wrote: post #98
bigmattystyles wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Extend this to map search - If only I could exclude all starbucks, 7/11, even Denny's from my map searches for 'coffee shop'. No hate to those who like the coffee from there, but I want a proper coffee shop and if I could filter out certain chains, I would do it in a caffeinated heartbeat. This applies to not just Google maps though.

Maybe Google will make you to be able to exclude white men owned businesses in your map searches but excluding brands is not something they seem willing to do https://www.google.com/business/identity-attributes/ "You can now help your business stand out on Google Maps and Search by displaying the Black-owned attribute, in addition to the Women-Led..." btw, I don't see a big distinction here if I actually would like t…

>You can now help your business stand out on Google Maps and Search by displaying the Black-owned attribute, in addition to the Women-Led

Wow, that's insane. I've always assumed this stuff is made up by conspiracy nuts (like the "War on Christmas"), but there it is right on their page!

Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#267

Post by dspillett »

Otek wrote: post #248
dopa42365 wrote: post #55

Some basic filters for stuff that pops up all the time and is never what I'm looking for: /. pinterest. \.. / /. torrent. \.. / /. spankbang. \.. / /. mp3. \.. / /. proxy. \.. / /. block. \.. / /. addiction. \.. / /. recovery. \.. / /. detox. \.. / /. clinic. \.. / /. rehab. \.. / /. rarbg. \.. / /. hydra. \.. / /. 123. \.. / /. stock. \.. / /. linkedin. \.. / /. subtitle. \.. / /. shopify. \.. / /. dreamstime. \.. /…

This "recommended" TLD list would block my bank site, government tax service and most of news sited since my country TLD is blocked here. Hilarious.

It is only a suggested list. Edit as needed depending on locality. I don't expect it would inconvenience you if it blocked my local bank or government tax service.

Always review blocklists rather than applying them automatically as your needs may vary from their creators'. No one list is going to be right for everyone, so criticising one for not being right for you is a bit "me me me me".

Re: uBlacklist: Blocks specific sites from appearing in Google search results

#269

Post by dspillett »

fennecfoxen wrote: post #64
dopa42365 wrote: post #55

Some basic filters for stuff that pops up all the time and is never what I'm looking for: /. pinterest. \.. / /. torrent. \.. / /. spankbang. \.. / /. mp3. \.. / /. proxy. \.. / /. block. \.. / /. addiction. \.. / /. recovery. \.. / /. detox. \.. / /. clinic. \.. / /. rehab. \.. / /. rarbg. \.. / /. hydra. \.. / /. 123. \.. / /. stock. \.. / /. linkedin. \.. / /. subtitle. \.. / /. shopify. \.. / /. dreamstime. \.. /…

dot NYC is full of spam? A pity. Hard to get voting or ferry info here without it. :)

Then edit the list instead of blindly using it? And surely you know the local addresses for such things, or do you search for them using Google every single time you need to travel or vote?
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