When the word "Salem" pops into a conversation, one of two things usually spring to mind:  cigarettes and witch trials.  Neither are really pleasant topics of conversation.  Both end up killing people.  But I couldn't help but think of the Salem Witch Trials this morning.

I was reading the topics of conversation at Search Engine Roundtable this morning and ran across an article about Google reinclusion requests.

According to the conversations there and at WebmasterWorld, Google requires an admission of guilt before they'll process a reinclusion request.  You heard me.  If you've been booted out of Google, and want to get back in, you have to check a box beside a statement that reads:

I believe this site has violated Google's quality guidelines in the past.

But what if you don't actually believe that?  What if there was a misunderstanding of some kind?  What if Google was wrong?  I know that's a shocking thing to think about.  But hey… it could happen.

Remember your history lessons?  During the Salem Witch Trials the only thing that could save your life was an admission of guilt.  Even if you were innocent.  If you denied the charges of witchcraft you were executed.  If you admitted guilt, you were spared.

So I guess Google has taken a page from the history books when it comes to reinclusion.

Why even bother including such a clause in the reinclusion request?  Really.  What's the point?  If you've been kicked out, you've been kicked out.  Period.  End of story.  Does it really matter if you confess to wrong doing?

Maybe Google is trying to validate their decision to boot someone by forcing them to acknowledge they did something wrong.  Maybe they just like playing the daddy role.  Or maybe they just like making people feel stupid.

Whatever the reason behind it, I think the forced admission of guilt is ridiculous and serves no useful purpose.