Google Video: Rabbis and Lesbians, Back-to-Back
Google has issued an update to Google Video’s interface, and if they don’t fix it fast, they’re going to have some problems.
First, the changes:
- Tabs are gone
- There are now six JavaScript switches, displaying the playlist/related videos, video details, send to a friend, embed in your site/blog, more videos from this creator, and related videos.
- Continuous playback is on by default
That last one is the problem. As Philipp points out, when you link to a Google Video, when it is done playing, another one will begin playing automatically. If you don’t want it to happen, you must click “OFF” before it does, but this is a per-user setting, so anyone you sent the links to will have this problem.
Don’t think this is a problem?
I clicked on this video, listed on Google’s homepage in the Popular section:
Now, follow my link and tell me what you see. If your experience is anything like mine, then the next video in the automatically generated playlist is this one:
The first video is called “Rabbis in da Shul”. Jewish rapper 50 Shekel (a biblical monetary unit, get the joke) make a parody of 50 Cent’s “In Da Club”, and this video has the song, played to a backdrop of Hassidic rabbis dancing.
Slightly humorous, the type of thing you might send to an Orthodox Jewish friend, or even your local rabbi. Problem is, while you think you are scoring points entertaining the rabbi, as soon as it is done, what starts playing (with no warning)?
“We Are Lesbians”
A video of lesbian gimmick duet t.a.T.u. performing, with a new audio track making fun of the fact that they are, indeed, lesbians. The song includes all sorts of lyrics your rabbi might not appreciate:
- I just licked your toungue
- If I didn’t have tits
- … and I don’t like the cock
- Touch me there again
- Did I mention we have sex like every day
- You are such a slut
Oh, that’ll go over real well.
Google, if this stuff is going to happen, just turn the feature off by default! It accomplishes nothing, provides no needed value, and can cause a lot of embaressment. It isn’t worth. This happened the very first time I tried the new interface, off a link on the front page. How many people are going to run into the same bad situation?
What if this video came up? Or this? Or this? None of those links are terrible, as I couldn’t find any straight-up porn, but I doubt you want them popping up in your cubicle, and I doubt you want to accidentally send them to your grandmother.
I posted this issue in Google Video groups, which the google video team usually keep an eye on. Nobody in the groups like this. Even the most loyal google video lovers hate this. They need to fix it fast!
I understand what they were getting at. It seems they were trying to create a search result effect. The next video related to your search or video comes up. The problem is they are forcing you to see the next search result; they need to let users choose.
Comment by or | March 29, 2006
I’m seriously wondering who the hell is in charge of G Video? I hope it’s not the same people that are helping with the “next big thing” from google, if that be GooOS, Google Grid, GBrowser, G PC, whatever. Because these changes are just terrible with no hint that they are connected to the customer’s needs at all.
I don’t see how youtube got public sharing video so right on their first try, and Google, with infinately more resources, continues to get it so wrong….
Comment by joe | March 29, 2006
This could become really embarrassing! Who is in charge of this enormous blunder? Google isn’t winning prizes with this one!
Comment by FreeBee | March 29, 2006
wassup on clik fraud
http://thepyramidsofgoogle.blogspot.com/
Comment by enndot | March 30, 2006
Thank you for this post, Nathan.
And thanks “or” too, I’m going on Google Groups for protest now
Comment by TOMHTML | March 30, 2006
They shoud just follow what msn video does: put a “add to playlist” link to each result for a search and for the related videos. So only the videos selected by the user will play automatically.
Comment by Ionut Alex. Chitu | March 30, 2006
Google Video: Rabinos y lesbianas
Los cambios reién introducidos en Google Video pueden dar lugar a situaciones incomodas. Ahora, al acabar un video empieza otro al azar, pero cuando el que estas viendo va de rabinos, y el que empieza detrás automáticamente va de lesbianas…
Trackback by meneame.net | March 30, 2006
[…] Nathan over at InsideGoogle points out the problems in the newest update to Google Video which includes continuous playback on by default: Problem is, while you think you are scoring points entertaining the rabbi, as soon as it is done, what starts playing (with no warning)? […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » To be continued, and continued, Google Video oops | March 30, 2006
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Pingback by » New GoogleVideo glitch connects Rabbis and Lesbians… | March 31, 2006
Thanks! I’m sending this to my lesbian Rabbi, right now! She’ll love it!
Comment by Jenni Olson | March 31, 2006
Damn! I hadn’t even considered lesbian rabbis! Maybe this isn’t such a bad feature after all…
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | March 31, 2006
What do you get when you mix rabbis, lesbians, and Google Video?
Goog-Filta Fish
Comment by Anonymous | April 4, 2006
I mmust be missing something, since I don’t see the lesbian reference in the joke…
Hmm…
Is there a non-insulting nickname for a lesbian…
Goog-Saph-ilta Fish?
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | April 4, 2006
guess you’re not perverted enough…fish refers to a certain…um…aroma…poor innocent boy
Comment by Anonymous | April 5, 2006
Damn. And I thought I was perverted. Guess I’m not playing at a high enough level.
Comment by Nathan Weinberg | April 5, 2006
I’d say if your rabbi Doesn’t enjoy the beer.com videos you should suggest he join the Catholic Church.
Comment by Jim | April 6, 2006
I posted a spiritual video and went to show my friends, and a stupid video called Best Porn or something came up in the playlist. What are these Googles thinking? My satsang and their kids should not have to see this next to the spiritual video.
Comment by Jesse Arana | May 26, 2006