Google Requires Proof of Google+ Activity to Attend SFPD's Bike Theft Workshop

Google+ is ruining Google's products like a virus. All mega-successful google products such as gmail, search and android didn't need much selling to the consumer. With g+, they are literally shoving it in their users' faces no matter if they dislike it. Why are the Google employees actually building solid products putting up with this?

At least a half dozen times I have clicked on a public google+ post only to be coerced into attaching my google account with a google+ account. Screw being able to read said PUBLIC posts. My solution has been to logout and read it. But I'm sure plenty of people fill up that form mostly out of disdain and google gets to count them as a new user.

Really, getting new users by uber trickery is bad not just for the user but as much for Google Inc because it isn't a signal for a quality product(in this case, the exact opposite).

This may be perilously close to (mis)using a public service for private gain. I kind of hope it ends up in court, so that we can find out.

Google should just stop it, and behavior like this. 1) The Google+ control-freak obsession mania; 2) Self-serving "public service" attempts.

Mind you, Google has done and does a lot of good and generous public service. (Even when and as it is good PR and perhaps also promotes their interests -- on an optional, "opt-in" basis.)

But tying a public service to a self-serving promotion? Doesn't pass the smell test.

I hope the few fake reviews they got out of this was worth the bad PR. Whoever decided this was a good idea should be relieved of these kinds of decisions.

I've been increasingly dissatisfied with Google products lately, and stuff like this is a big part of that. Once a company gets pushy and in your face trying to get you to use their stuff, it can really backfire.

It seems like we're a long way from the original Google model of just providing a good, unobtrusive product (one that I choose to use, voluntarily) and otherwise getting out of the way.

This is pretty crass on Google's part, and horrific PR.

Looks like it has been fixed (the checkboxes in question have been removed from the signup form). There's still a field for G+ info, but it's not mandatory.

Not very classy. I've usually come to expect better from Google, but it seems like they really want to shove Google+ down everyone's throats despite people being very clear about not wanting to take part of it.

Gmail used to be the easiest way to set up a spamcatcher email account for simple anonymity. Now their user authentication and real name policies have made that harder.

It's easy to throwaway an old single-purpose Gmail account. But it's very very hard to walk away from your social network account that has all of your friends and followers connected to it.

Targeted ads were small potatoes, I believe the top social networks are seeking to be society's future arbiters of identity.

But do they have a good plan to monetize this identity provider business? That, I don't know.

Whatever next, burglars using social media to work out who can attend based upon reviews and profiles and posts so they can target houses of people who wont be in at a certain time. Worrying thought and not totaly impossible sadly at this time of year.

From Googles perspective this is perhaps logical in that it generates revenue potentual from those that do reviews and yet this has nothing to do with wanting to attend a Bike theft workshop.

If anything it is comparable to collect 5 can ring pulls for free ticket to an event, which is what happens marketing wise for many events/products out there all the time and nobody complains. So I can understand googles approach and how it does not fall into the evil pile. But it does seem a little bit lacking in synergy for that warm comfort feeling.

Sad part is there will be many people do half-haearted reviews at the detrement of buisness's in the area and from that worrying factor alone I would have to say that Google have perhaps not thought this thru on many levels.

Maybe it is some new marketing guru with a background in soft drinks that has yet to adapt to the digital World in there marketing approach on promotional synergy. That is what I'm wondering given this approach.

How about bikes with internal gears built into the frame? These bikes would also have a small low power device with a radio receiver. When a key fob is close enough, the device would unlock the internal gears, otherwise the pedals spin free. Also, if the device doesn't receive a signal from the fob within 6 hours, the device starts waking up and listening for a cell signal. If it receives the right token, it self destructs, taking the gearbox with it.

Look at the screenshot... it's not a required field.

They're giving priority to those who have used Google Local. It may still be uncouth but the headline is baity.

>But, Friedman made clear, "If you RSVP you will definitely get a spot."

>He told The Appeal that an RSVP is necessary for security and catering reasons. "Everyone who goes needs a [security] badge to get in," he said. The space where the event is being held has a capacity of 200 people, he said.

>It's worth nothing, however, that at the same event last year only 25 people showed up, reports the Weekly.

etc.

Post five honest reviews of Google+ on the Place pages for local offices. Problem solved.