I Hate Google

Yesterday, I decided that I finally should get a gmail account. I was having all sorts of problems trying to register for GenCon and part of the problem was due to my host tagging their emails as spam. And I figured I needed a backup email address that wasn't tied to my ISP (like my sbcglobal addresses).

I created a new Google account based on the new gmail account and everything went fine. I was able to send an email to my sinsterthings.com account. I transferred my Google Reader subscriptions very easily. I was even able to access it from work, which is something I can't do with my sinisterthings.com address. I sent a test email from gmail to both work and sinisterthings.com today, but it never arrived.

I came home and tried to access my brand-spanking-new account--an account that has sent a total of 2 emails, mind you, and I found that I have been blocked for TOS violations. This is not the first time that Google has thought I was a bloody spammer. Even now, with this post, I have to fill in a captcha to prove to Blogger (owned by Google) that I'm not a robot. This has been going on for months and months. Every time I log in, I am greeted by the message:

Using that last link as repeatedly proven to be futile. It's one of the reasons I don't update as often as I'd like. Well, it's an excuse, anyway. Now, back to the story.

To fix my gmail problems, I had to have Google send me a code via text message. I didn't want to do this because I don't have a texting plan. So I tried to get them to send the confirmation to my sinisterthings.com account. That didn't work, so I finally broke down and used my phone. Which worked. For now. Until Google decides that I'm still breaking their Terms of Service. To them, my using their service violates their Terms of Service.