"""

The website you've just visited has tried to provide you with search results from Google. Unfortunately, the site violates our terms of service so your search could not be completed. If you would like to continue with your search, please click the link below, which will take you directly to Google and the results you've requested. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to conduct future searches directly from google.com or through the Google Toolbar, which can be downloaded for free from this address: http://toolbar.google.com.

Click here to continue your search on Google.

"""

Whats going on?

I've the same error. Obviously I don't know what's going on, but I can at least confirm what you're saying and that you're not the only one.

It's possible that Google has altered how the searches are ran from other sites.
I did a search at www.google.com for "stryder site:www.sciforums.com" and a response was delivered with no problems however I got the 403 you guys suffered by using the Google form on sciforums with "stryder" omitted.

Either the form needs a re-tweak or removal if you intend to search via google.

What can I say, Google's "do no evil" mantra is a crock of shit. We've been tossed out of their advertising program and they haven't even the courtesy to explain why. It's quite lovely really - you're judged and executed without even being told what your crime was.

Because of this, I may shut the site down permanently. Blame Google.

So THAT'S the reason there aren't any ads these days.

Termination; Cancellation. Subject to any third party agreements You may have with other Google customers (e.g., Your Web hosting company), You may stop displaying Ads, Links, and/or Search Boxes on any Site in the Program with or without cause at any time by removing the Google JavaScript or similar programming from Your Sites. You may terminate this Agreement with or without cause at any time by sending written notice of your desire to cancel Your participation in the Program to adsense-support@google.com. This Agreement will be deemed terminated within ten (10) business days of Google's receipt of Your notice. Google may investigate any activity that may violate this Agreement. Google may at any time, in its sole discretion, terminate all or part of the Program, terminate this Agreement, or suspend or terminate the participation of any Site in all or part of the Program for any reason. In addition, Google reserves the right to terminate without notice any account that has not generated a sufficient number of valid clicks on Ads (as measured by Google) for a period of two (2) months or more. Upon termination of participation of any Site in the Program or termination of this Agreement for any reason, Sections 3, 6 through 10, and 14 through 17 shall survive termination.

https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms

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Were we not generating enough clicks?

will it help if I click?

Porf, I agree. Since the IPO they've begun to resemble 3.1 era windows when B Gates was a hero.

There are alternative programs though.

Can't we have the 'search' button to take us to URL like :

http://www.google.co.in/search?as_q="INPUT TEXT"&as_sitesearch=www.sciforums.com

replacing "INPUT TEXT" with what is entered in the relevant space here?

What can I say, Google's "do no evil" mantra is a crock of shit. We've been tossed out of their advertising program and they haven't even the courtesy to explain why. It's quite lovely really - you're judged and executed without even being told what your crime was.

Because of this, I may shut the site down permanently. Blame Google.

Nooooooo!!!!!!
There are new ads... Will this make up the difference?
If not, make a call for support.
Offer the site to someone else.
JUST DON'T SHUT IT DOWN!!!!
There's far too many valuable and irreplaceable threads here.

What's the status of this?

Google should go fucking hang!!
The bastards. So your click rate was poor for a fucking month? Whoopdee fucking shit! Who cares? Why should they fucking give you the boot for that? They pay by the click, right?
And how are you supposed to get back into their good graces?

Perhaps an email drive is in order.
Everyone get together and let Google know that they fucked up big time here.

Blame Google?
You bet.

Look: whimit.com is a huuuuge site. They have a lot of ads though. But we won't mind it, I swear.
Besides, you can ask members to contribute. Not all of us are poor college students.

I posted this on the other site and couldn't find a place for it here, so...

"Dave doesn't give a shit" - anonymous

Obviously he cares to some extent, or the site wouldn't be up now.

And people have stated the same on sci and not been banned.

I understand that it's tough when it goes down, having all your gems... a part of your mind hijacked by technicalities. It sucks ass.

It is obvious that his motivation is waning. The issue is, how do we motivate him to care again, or hand it off to somone who will? I'm not sure we can motivate him.

After dicking around with a pain in the ass project for a LONG time, like sci... maintaining it can be a tedious mofo. Consider that and the fact that people's self-interest in access to their gems creates hostility towards the very hand that is maintaining those gems. Would you be able to bear it after 6 years of dicking with it? Would you just throw your hands up at some point and say "fuck it"? I think we can see that's where he is now, or at least close and we should try to go easy on the dude, as he's asked little in return for access to our gems for this long.

Thankless bastards.