What if DU flexed a muscle? A DU experiment that just needs you to click your mouse once :0)

[DonRedwood]

During the whole Santorum thing-a-ma-jig I must admit I loved what happened when you googled santorum's name.

And getting something to the top of the google listings has got to have some effect. Why are there so many businesses named A-1 Something-Or-Other? Because the first thing people see makes an impression. A-1 Plumbing is the first plumber you see. You might see 100 more, but A-1 is #1.

So I am wondering, if, in the course of the day, the number of clicks generated by DU can help move a story up the google list. The power behind this can be huge.

Right now I love two things in Politics: TalkingPointsMemo's political map (so much blue!!) and the guy running against Claire McAskill, TODD AKIN. Why would I love Tood Akin? A Tea Party Senate Candidate? Because he just was so stupid as to say women don't get pregnant from rape so there should be no abortions. He just gave Claire a big huge present in my mind.

So, I googled "Todd Akin" and on page two was a link to TPM and their story about Todd Akin. OK DU, here is the experiment. Click on the link or go on google and look up Todd Akin and the TPM link. Let's see if a day worth of DUers clicking a link can move it up the google listing. I picked TPM because they don't really update much on the weekend and probably get less traffic because of that. Their link is also on the second page of results so if we see movement to page one we'll know the article is getting some legs. Are you guys game? Let us know if you do it so we know how many DU clicks the article gets.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/todd-akin-legitimate-rape.php

If we know our clicks can make a difference on google listings then it gives us a tool to help spread important information. Who knows, in the future just clicking the links might be the biggest political message we can send.

[flamingdem]

1. Post anything on DU and it gets indexed within an hour I've noticed

But it's hard to second guess the algorithms.. for instance I might see it on page one because Google knows I'm always on DU!! Try it to see your results on different posts and check post counts for effect on ranking.

One thing for sure the right wing blogs are ranking highly lately, so this is a good idea you have

[DonRedwood]

7. I hadn't thought of the algorithms. Someone smarter than me should have got this going

but I am really curious. Being on the first page of results has got to matter or so many people wouldn't be paying to get their ads/messages on the front page.

[DonRedwood]

9. if romney is buying twit fans they have probably figured out how to work the google system as well

[flamingdem]

10. Skinner seems to have the DU at the top thing down

so my suggestion is to have all of us click a lot when it's an issue that needs to rise.

I'm not sure Skinner would want to participate on that, but we can test ourselves if it works.

This is different than clicking on another site, but DU is well indexed I'm pretty sure.

[PearliePoo2]

2. Just did a Google search for Todd Akin....

This story is page ONE already!

[Lucy Goosey]

3. It was on the first page of Google for me. n/t

[gollygee]

4. I did it

there were 3 stories about this quote on the front page, this beign one of them.

[Webster Green]

5. If you just google "Todd", the story comes up as the #3 result.

I think it is trending.

[DonRedwood]

8. ah...hmmmm...maybe we try again with something nobody is looking at

some noodle recipe or something....just to see if we can cause movement.

OR--someone who knows how all this stuff works figures out a way to make this work. Some of the stories in here get 5,000 + clicks. Imagine focusing those clicks to get our message out.

[Curmudgeoness]

28. Some noodle recipe....

Too funny, but you are right. THIS would prove something.

[LeftofObama]

6. What a freakin' nut ball that guy is!

I clicked on your link. Here's hoping your theory works!

[turtlerescue1]

11. Kept clicking

from Goggle to AP to CNN's Political Ticker and next tab is on to: Ticker on Twitter:
@PoliticalTicker.

Good enough??

[DonRedwood]

12. A+ for hard work and extra credit for rescuing turtles :0)

[Curmudgeoness]

30. Do you really rescue turtles?

What kind? What area? I have "headstarted" hatchling Eastern Box Turtles. Gotta love turtles!

[turtlerescue1]

50. Its not as dramatic as it may sound.

The same time I came on DU, well the same week two different friends had soundly thrashed me for pulling over, stopping and jumping out to get turtles out of the mountain roads around here. That's two different times in the same week by two different friends, so it became my name here, cause how vicious is turtle. Though the last one really was in no mood, usually they just go "quiet", not that one. The guy in the car behind me was laughing at me. Old fat broad, in the road, flashers going on the vehicle, and the turtle is anything but calm.

Live in Northcentral Arkansas. What kind of turtles? Mostly red-eared. I do have one maybe two who seem to be roomates on the parcel of land. Am a good stone's throw from a rain-fed creek that goes down to the big cove.

HOW did you get started? AND what do you mean "headstarted"?

Yep I do love turtles. They can move a lot quicker than one would think possible.

[madmom]

53. When I was young and lived back east, my parents always laughed at me because

I demanded they stop the car so I could help the turtle cross the road. They always did and said later they should have known then I would be a "bleeding heart liberal"

[turtlerescue1]

54. I understand.

Someone HAS to be that "bleeding heart liberal"

[Curmudgeoness]

55. How did I get started???

I was doing a lot of wildlife and environmental work as well as just graduating with a degree in Biology, and heard about this research project where they were trying to find a way to get the population of Eastern Box Turtles back in our area. They had started by taking in rescued turtles that were rehabbed and monitoring them at a sanctuary. Then they determined if they could raise hatchlings to a size that was safe from predators, they could increase the population. So we would raise the hatchlings for two years and they would get to the size of a five year old with the process we used. Then they have a transmissor put on them and were released at the sanctuary and are monitored. The study is almost 20 years old now and still going.

This is the website for the project, Eastern Box Turtle Conservation Trust....it is a very informative site if you really want to know about boxies. Lots of links to research too.

http://ebtct.org/

[cr8tvlde]

13. Todd Akin Wants Sharia Law for Women and Girls

"What is the functional difference between Sharia law and Rapin' Akin's plans for American women? Young girls must be forced to marry their rapists and bear their children to protect their embarassed families says Islamic law. Young girls must be forced to bear their rapists babies because life is sacred and abortion is wrong says Rapin' Tod Akin."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/11/1118966/-Rapin-Akin-brings-Sharia-Law-to-Missouri

[DonRedwood]

14. No wonder Mcaskill wanted this guy to win

imagine the debate when she gets to say, "women get pregnant from rape" and then she can tell a few stories about pregnant rape victims.

[cr8tvlde]

17. We can hope ... Dems tend to tread too softly sometimes. n/t

[xmas74]

47. Supposedly this was the plan the entire time.

Her camp actively campaigned against the other Repubs in the primary, throwing out all their dirty laundry. The only thing they said about Akin was that he was "too conservative for the state". The too conservative comment coming from Claire won him the primary.

Smart, smart move from her camp. They chose their own opponent.

[Mutt22]

15. It's actually on the first page of results

when I search. 7th result after his regular websites and the news sites talking about his big blunder.

[DonRedwood]

24. The Pro Akin websites are quickly disappearing

But this is a popular story. Kpete posted it in breaking news and 2200 or so peeps have linked to it from there.

I think a real saavy poster like Kpete should try this experiment--a lot of people follow his posts.

[RKP5637]

16. Did it. Wow, Akin must be a product "no" sex ed class. What does he think, only god can make women

pregnant. This is way beyond ignorant. I strongly believe mental evaluation needs to somehow be a requirement for running for office.

[renie408]

21. That's what I said! You can tell that sex ed isn't a priority in Missouri. n/t

[Phentex]

18. Top story when I googled Todd Akin...

but it's the LA Times.

[cr8tvlde]

19. Doin' my best..

this site pops up on the first page...which links to TPM http://firedupmissouri.com/category/topics/todd-akin

There another link to a website http://www.didtoddakinsaysomethingstupidtoday.com/ on Fired Up Missouri site

I won't spoil it, but it's kinda cute.

[longship]

20. Done. Hope it helps.

This douche bag needs to be defeated in Nov.

[Joey Liberal]

22. Did it! Hope it helps! nt

[Care Acutely]

23. Done. Does it matter if we click on it several times?

I can do that. I've got some spare time today.


edit to add ?

[wilsonbooks]

25. also google todd akin idiot

that should come up first in google searches

[Gin]

26. Done

Hes #1 on the google.......

[Bette Noir]

35. When I typed in "Todd Akin I..." Google filled in the "diot."

And there were a lot of links. Apparently, this is a popular search today.

[summerschild]

41. Same happened for me.....

[chloes1]

27. done n/t

[klook]

29. Done - #9 in results (n/t)

[alterfurz]

31. done!

[Bette Noir]

32. Most of the links I saw on Twitter a couple of hours ago are also to TPM,

so it's presence on the first page of Google results may not be solely due to DU.

[Cha]

33. Todd Akin stepped in some deep

shite with his own mouth and is now trying to say he "misspoke".

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/08/19/todd-akin-gop-senate-candidate-legitimate-rape-rarely-causes-pregnancy/

[DonRedwood]

46. amazing how fast this one traveled!

[Ineeda]

34. Clicked. n/t

[chazzio]

36. TPM STORY

DONE!

[panader0]

37. L A Times covering "legitimate rape" now at the top of Google search.

TPM on the first page too.

[Curmudgeoness]

38. What a tool!

I suppose that translates to "any woman who gets pregnant from a rape is a whore" or "she really liked it and won't admit it" or some such bullshit. It is incredible that someone who wants to represent so many people and steer laws of this country can be so stupid.

This was still on the front page of a google search of Todd Akin, 10th down.

[archiemo]

39. Done. TPM story second from the top!

[Oilwellian]

40. Here's something to further encourage you to click the TPM link

Just look at his freaking smarmy, arrogant face. Who wants to look at that in our Senate for 6 years? What a schmuck.

One thing I noted, when I first went to the TPM page, I noticed 14 thousand had liked it on Facebook. When I went back 5 mins later to capture the photo, it had 15 thousand likes. Looks like the article is getting hot!

[summerschild]

42. Daily Kos has put up a Facebook Page - calling for a "rout"

and asking folks to LIKE the page. Gee, this is getting fun!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/19/1121921/-I-Don-t-Always-Create-Facebook-Pages-but-When-I-Do-It-s-Because-of-Idiots-Like-Todd-Akin

When I read about Todd Akin's ignorant comments about how "legitimate rape" doesn't lead to pregnancy, I went ballistic. First, I wrote about it on my local blog, but that didn't feel like enough. So I did something that I only rarely do in life: I created a new Facebook page. I invite you, if you indulge in Facebook, to like it.
snip-
We need to make this horrific, telling blunder memorable. We need to put the GOP Senate candidates on the spot, so they can in turn put Rep. Akin on the spot, so that no one ever does this particular foolish thing again. Like my page and start contacting people listed below -- especially the one in your state.
Let's turn this into a rout. Until Rep. Akin ends up feeling like Wile E. Coyote, I won't feel satisfied.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

43. Clicks don't effect Google's indexing algorithm

Unless it's clicks from one of their search pages, and even then, clicks are negligible in the algorithm because it's too easy to manipulate a variable like that.

Google uses a system they call PageRank that ranks sites based in large part on links back to it from distinct domains. So, you placing a link to the TPM page with the story helps a bit, and a link from Twitter helps a bit, and a link from DailyKos helps a bit. The more PageRank the linking page has, the more "link juice" is sent to the recipient's page. The exact details are a trade secret, and they're tweaked regularly to provide more consistent results and to remove PageRank cheats or hacks (like the Dubya Miserable Failure gambit from a few years ago).

[Care Acutely]

45. Interesting! Thanks for the info! nt

[demwing]

44. While you're there, give it a FB "Like"

that'll also drive it's numbers

[XemaSab]

48. It's on the first page now

[veness]

49. Done! n/t

[lastlib]

51. I just google Todd Akin...

...and the top link was titled, "What Is Legitimate Rape?"

[Sheepshank]

52. I had put this very same link on a post on 'another' discussion board.

Everyone (reps and dems) have been clicking, commenting and provding excerpts. So, many are clicking multiple times

[sarcasmo]

56. Rapekin would be a good one to google bomb.