Of all the issues I've had with Google, this could be the icing on the cake. I'm not happy with Google Buzz. I hate getting emails from Google Buzz with my Tweets. What put me over the edge?
I went to my Google profile (I had my personal URL ported there so that when anyone looked for MarshaCollier.com, they'd get my profile). When I opened the profile I saw that Google Buzz had invaded the entire page! There was another tab that's now entitled ABOUT ME as a secondary option. The About Me tab revealed my original Google profile. Now seriously? Who cares about going to that page and seeing my Google Buzz?
It's a PROFILE, Google, get it? Not my new social media arm. It looks as bad a Friendfeed! I clicked to edit my profile in the hopes that I could change the default. To have the About Me page appear when the prolfile was opened. No such luck. There was no such option.
There was an option to disable Google Buzz. Luckily I read it before I clicked "This will disable Google Buzz integration in Gmail and delete your Google profile and Buzz posts. It will also disconnect any connected sites and unfollow you from anyone you are following."
Seriously? If I don't like Google Buzz you'll take a away my profile? Not cool. Not cool at all.
I totally agree with you Marsha. Any news on this?
ReplyDeleteDon't mess with Papa Google... He knows all and sees all... I'm not a big fan of Google Buzz and was getting ready to delete it. Maybe I'll just let it be for now so I can keep my Google Profile. Wacky tactic on their part.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 100%. Many people don't know this, but if you use Google Apps to handle your email, you can have a new profile. The advantage? No Google Buzz anywhere in site. About a year ago, on my old blog, I created a few videos to show you how to do that (not a product, nor affiliate link) http://www.thelazyvoiceover.com/2009/03/18/transferring-your-email-to-googlemail/
ReplyDeleteHope that helps.
Wow. I had no idea. Thanks, Marsha! I hated Buzz but I actually liked my Google Profile--until now. I might actually delete it now. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I'd give it a little time. The Google Profile is a valuable little piece of real estate - for many reasons. Perhaps we can make enough noise for Google to reevaluate it's policy.
ReplyDeleteI think that you misunderstood. There's an option to delete both your profile and Buzz, but you need not do so if all you want to do is just stop using Buzz. I turned off Buzz last week yet my profile is alive and well at http://www.google.com/profiles/steven.rothberg.
ReplyDeleteIf you just want to turn off Buzz, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page when you're looking at the Buzz messages and you'll see the option to inactivate Buzz. Click that.
Steven, I merely copied and pasted (verbatim) what it said was on my Profile editing page. I don't dare risk it until it reads differently. I'm glad you were able to make that change.
ReplyDeleteSteven? I just went to your Google profile at the link you gave: http://www.google.com/profiles/steven.rothberg and Google Buzz is ALL I see!
ReplyDeleteSeems like the Buzz tab in Gmail Settings might allow you to address both issues by clicking on:
ReplyDelete- Do not show these lists on my public Google profile.
- Do not show Google Buzz in Gmail
This will only hide the Buzz tab in Gmail. You'll still be able to use Buzz on your phone. Your connected sites will continue to create new posts in Google Buzz.
Anon: Do not show lists removes the list of the people you follow and your followers from public view. As you say about Google Buzz is Gmail - but neither affect your profile or disable Google buzz. See Steve's issue above
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. My profile is complete gone. It doesn't even allow you to reactivate it, all my data is gone.
ReplyDeleteAri, I've done that. thanks for jumping in and explaining it to everyone. I would just like them to stop. LOL
ReplyDeleteClaudia, I am so sad to hear that.
ReplyDeleteMarsha, I got here via Chris Brogan's post. I have no intention of disabling Buzz at the moment, but thanks for alerting us to what could potentially happen if we did.
ReplyDeleteEmpoprises, I'm with you on not disabling. My issue is the taking over of my Google profile. Let's hope they adjust this
ReplyDeleteHi - I've disabled Google Buzz within Gmail, but my account is still active - http://www.google.co.uk/profiles/simon.kendrick
ReplyDeleteA difference between disabling and deleting?
I don`t like neither Google Buzz . nor Google profile...
ReplyDeleteBoy, am I glad I chose to wait and see on the Google Buzz...
ReplyDeleteI didnt like the fact it did state that everything would be going to my gmail .. I have enough to wade through there without all tweets etc invading it!
Please, Keep us posted on this!
Jeeeeez what a mess! Is Google still "not evil?"
ReplyDeleteI have just deleted the google buzz and i also lost my profile :(
ReplyDeletethis is intriguing to me because my complaint is exactly the inverse: i would love to use buzz, but i can't -- i absolutely, categorically refuse to have a public profile on the internet, open to google search. my only option is to mark everything i buzz private and vigilantly monitor my settings. which is exhausting & a hassle -- seriously doubt if it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteI'm really annoyed about this. It's along the lines of the "buy our crap or we will shoot this kitten" school of marketing.
ReplyDeleteThis only happens if you use the "Delete Profile" option on your profile page. If you turn off Buzz from within Gmail, which I did, it has no effect on your public profile. Really. Notice that the option you are looking at is under the heading "Delete Profile,'' not "Turn off Buzz.''
ReplyDeleteI had a security issue so had to turn things off and it blew away my Google profile. It had taken me half a day to get it into decent shape. Hlfe a day down the tubes. I did see the Will Delete notice but that it a total strong arm tactic.
ReplyDeleteGAH! Marsha ... this is so aggravating. I, too, got here via Chris (though I'd have found you anyway). For me, the whole Buzz experiment, thus far, has been one giant BUST.
ReplyDeleteGiven that I am under NDA with many of my clients, I disabled Buzz, because I was concerned about privacy issues (not to mention the fact that I was finding all of the notifications of Tweets, etc. decidedly annoying). Now, after reading your post, I went to check my profile and see that I am eligible to have it found in search results, so long as I use Buzz AND Latitude.
I use Google Apps for everything and have always been a great defender of Google and its products. But this is just ridiculous. 100%, flat-out, PATENTLY ridiculous. NOT. HAPPY.
If you don't want to integrate your Tweets or receive emails, then take away Twitter as a connected site. As far as getting emails in your inbox, there is an easy fix: simply create a filter and filter everything out to a folder (they will never show up in your inbox)
ReplyDeleteI do agree that it is annoying for Google to disable your Google profile if you disable Buzz, but you can just de-connect all your sites and not follow anyone. Buzz will never bother you again and you will still have your Google Profile
I find it interesting that you wanted your .com to redirect to your google page in the first place.
ReplyDeletePretty much, when it comes to Google, you have to Get Down or Lay Down. They're making up the ride, so it's merely a selection between being in the game or not.
All of the majors (Facebook, Twitter, etc) are aiming at collecting and monetizing the exact same user data, so we can very well expect for Google and everyone else to do whatever they can to convince us to type into their system instead of someone else's.
Another thing I find annoying about Google Profiles is that they want your Credit Card or SSN in order to verify who you are. :/
Interesting post, Marsha.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't the first time that Google's overstepped its bounds, although Google proselytizers will argue that you're not paying anything for their products and they can do what they want.
I reviewed Ken Auletta's book about Google recently on my site:
http://www.philsimonsystems.com/2009/12/book-review-googled/
He made some of the same points.
Hi Marsha Collier.Here is my solution.
ReplyDeleteFirst goto your gmail and click on turnoff google buzz.there you will get an option to turn off buzz only in gmail.but it appears in profile.and you can also create a public profile without any buzz..
I am sorry, if i misunderstood you.
Marsha, you copied and pasted that sentence from the section titled "Delete profile"! This in turn deletes Buzz completely. Not the other way around. (At least thats what it says in my Edit Profile section today, maybe when you tried, it had the label "Delete Buzz" ?) Also, you can add #about to the very end of your profile URL and port your .com to that. (You can also get the url by clicking on your About Me tab and copying it from the address bar) Not the easiest way, and certainly not the way it should be, but since you are using your .com it won't be noticeable to the public eye and they will go directly to the profile you want them to.
ReplyDeleteInteresting... I disabled Buzz a couple days after it launched, and I did not get that message when I did it. However, I did decide to reinstate it, and at the time there were no issues with my profile... it is still there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you though... and I am not a fan of the Buzz. Someday I may change my mind, but I do not think I will anytime soon.
Buzz seemed to be very rushed in my eyes, and I wonder if Google really played with it in house like they do many of their other products?
Doc
To make your About section the first thing people see when they get to your Google profile, simply append #about to the profile URL.
ReplyDeleteSo, you will need to modify MarshaCollier.com to point to the profile URL plus #about at the end of it.
Dewald, That would be a great idea, but the purpose of porting marshacollier.com to the profile was that when I appear on television or a conference, I can just give the URL.
ReplyDeleteI don't think "please go to marshacollier dot com slash hashmark about" works as efficiently LOL
I don't want to delete Google Buzz due to the SEO repercussions.
ReplyDeleteSimon, I'm not sure. I just wanted it off my profile. NOt disable totally.
Bill: I love your quote: "buy our crap or we will shoot this kitten"
Anonymous: If you can find that "Turn off Buzz" button, I'd love to know where it is
Melissa: I'm cautious of Google Apps for security issues (after the Google books debacle that include my books). I use Microsoft Office Live docs (same thing but I think more secure - who knew Microsoft would be more trusted than Google)!
Bill ROFL!
ReplyDeleteI know. Was hoping for a good solution. Keep us posted. Enjoyed reading the great comments as well.
Sudie: I was contacted by Google Buzz Communications. Just posted the results
ReplyDeleteI was able to disable my Google Buzz without getting that message. Is there a link to Sudie's result?
ReplyDeleteOk... I've got a match, who brought the torches?
ReplyDelete