Found some evidence that major news outlets are tailoring news to individuals

[MNBrant]

I noticed this story on the front page of CBS news online for 3 months. I finally read it and posted on it and it immediately disappeared. I am wondering if news is being tailored to individual interests online much like advertising is.

Here's the article and my postings

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...20051960.shtml

by mnbrant June 21, 2011 12:50 AM EDT
Maybe CBS is trying to make some free speech statement. I think the point is that the guy is a pervert but he hasn't molested any kids as far as anybody knows. I kind have to wonder at the publisher who thought that anybody would have a burning desire to find out what pedopiles think. I imagine that if there even drawings of semi-clothed kids in the book he would have gotten more than probabtion.
Reply to this comment .by mnbrant June 21, 2011 12:46 AM EDT
Wow, has this article really been on the front page for 3 months or did it come back? Anybody else notice?


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...#ixzz1PwuvukLK

It really was on the front page of cbs news online on my computer for 3 months. I finally got irritated enough to read it. When I posted, poof. I know they recycle news but this seems deeper than that.

[shandyjan]

It just sounds to me that your link to the page got stuck on old news. The minute you posted...it brought you up to date. It happens!

[Skeptic Ginger]

Your Google searches are being tailored to your Net surfing history. It irks me because sometimes when I want to find new stuff about something and the Google search gives me nothing but what I already have seen.

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by shandyjan

It just sounds to me that your link to the page got stuck on old news. The minute you posted...it brought you up to date. It happens!

except I don't link, I google. Does google keep a link? This is not a search. This is the actual site. I have seen it before on politico and others where articles seem to be there a real long time but 3 months is ridiculous. Maybe they forgot and everybody was seeing it.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Google search help

Quote:

Google sometimes customizes your search results based on your past search activity on Google. This customization includes searches you've done and results you've clicked. Since personalized search treats signed-in and signed-out users differently, the instructions for turning off search history personalization are a little different in each case.

Signed in searches
To disable history-based search customizations while signed in, you'll need to remove Web History from your Google Account. You can also choose to remove individual items. Note that removing this service deletes all your old searches from Web History.

Signed out searches
If you aren't signed in to a Google Account, your search experience will be customized based on past search information linked to a cookie on your browser. To disable these types of customizations, follow these steps:

In the top right corner of the search results page, click the gear icon, then select Web History.
On the resulting page, click Disable customizations based on search activity.(Because this preference is stored in a cookie, it'll affect anyone else who uses the same browser and computer as you).
Or, if you'd rather just delete the current cookie storing searches from your browser and start fresh, clear your browser's cookies.

Note: If you've disabled search customizations, you'll need to disable it again after clearing your browser cookies; clearing your Google cookie turns on history-based customizations.

It would not surprise me given ads are directed to your individual computer that news agencies would start adopting the same tactics.


Sigh. Of course trying to follow this is a fail. You are directed to click on the flower icon in the top right corner of the Google home page then click on Web History. But Web History is not an option.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Deleting Web History

Quote:

Deleting Web History from your Google Account will erase all items from your Web History and stop your Web History from being recorded in the future. Instead, you might want to remove individual items.

You can delete information from Web History using the remove feature, and it will be removed from the service. However, as is common practice in the industry, and as outlined in the Google Privacy Policy, Google maintains a separate logs system for auditing purposes and to help us improve the quality of our services for users.

You can delete Web History from your Google Account at any time. While signed in to your Google Account:

Click the gear icon at the top of the page.
Select Account settings from the drop-down menu.
On your account settings page, click Web History from the list of products.
Click Clear entire web history.

[gnome]

Better than a removal method would be "Never show me this search result again, for any search"

[MNBrant]

I run in anonymous mode. I am pretty sure my virus protection deletes my web history. I understand that there are ways around this. I do notice that sometimes I do not get major stories that I would expect to see on CBS news online too. I wonder if there is some experiment going on.

[shandyjan]

I think you would have to clean up your history yourself as posted by S/Ginger. I use ATF cleaner and have never had this problem...that's why I thought it may be an old link.
Another thing I thought...are people perhaps still reading that link and keeping it active? The story did make the rounds and garner a lot of posts in the blog world, forums and Amazon!

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by shandyjan

I think you would have to clean up your history yourself as posted by S/Ginger. I use ATF cleaner and have never had this problem...that's why I thought it may be an old link.
Another thing I thought...are people perhaps still reading that link and keeping it active? The story did make the rounds and garner a lot of posts in the blog world, forums and Amazon!

Noper I use norton 360 and I always run clean temp files and clear web history. I wonder what that rotten thing I am smelling is? Dare I say gang stalking?

[1337m4n]

Wait why does it say this thread in the 9/11 Conspiracy Theories subforum?

[Justin39640]

Originally Posted by 1337m4n

Wait why does it say this thread in the 9/11 Conspiracy Theories subforum?

ETA: oops (reading comprehension)
Indeed, I assume he meant to put it in the conspiracy section.

[Silly Green Monkey]

He's not far off: this article explains how.

[Pantaz]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

Noper I use norton 360 and I always run clean temp files and clear web history. ...

Google's "web history" is not stored on your computer:

Your Web History is stored on Google servers, so you can view and manage it from any computer by signing into your Google Account. We store information related to the pages you visit, such as the URL, but don't store a snapshot of the page itself in your account.

To access your Web History, visit http://www.google.com/history

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by Pantaz

Google's "web history" is not stored on your computer:

Your Web History is stored on Google servers, so you can view and manage it from any computer by signing into your Google Account. We store information related to the pages you visit, such as the URL, but don't store a snapshot of the page itself in your account.

To access your Web History, visit http://www.google.com/history

You know, I got an email to a reporter at CBS. I could write him and ask if he is still around.

[MNBrant]

You know alot of JREF topics stay up for a suspiciously long time on the main forum. Anybody else notice this or is it just me. For instance winning debates seems to have been up for like 4 days.

[fuelair]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

I noticed this story on the front page of CBS news online for 3 months. I finally read it and posted on it and it immediately disappeared. I am wondering if news is being tailored to individual interests online much like advertising is.

Here's the article and my postings

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...20051960.shtml

by mnbrant June 21, 2011 12:50 AM EDT
Maybe CBS is trying to make some free speech statement. I think the point is that the guy is a pervert but he hasn't molested any kids as far as anybody knows. I kind have to wonder at the publisher who thought that anybody would have a burning desire to find out what pedopiles think. I imagine that if there even drawings of semi-clothed kids in the book he would have gotten more than probabtion.
Reply to this comment .by mnbrant June 21, 2011 12:46 AM EDT
Wow, has this article really been on the front page for 3 months or did it come back? Anybody else notice?


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...#ixzz1PwuvukLK

It really was on the front page of cbs news online on my computer for 3 months. I finally got irritated enough to read it. When I posted, poof. I know they recycle news but this seems deeper than that.

Within the limits of my knowledge AND noting I am not responding to the item or form of it you specifically mention, yes, information targeting is becoming a real thing - though it is in a very primitive state right now (works about as well as Amazon recomendations - about 20% right and the rest "What the hell makes you think I would want this crap???".

Amazon goes on the basis of previous orders BUT has no way to distinguish why you bought the item - so, if I buy and obscure British movie because it was the first film of someone I follow, I'll get 15-20 obscure British movies and/or movies with a similar plot rec'd to me. None of which have any connection to the reason I bought the film I did. Same with books, tools, CDs..........

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by fuelair

Within the limits of my knowledge AND noting I am not responding to the item or form of it you specifically mention, yes, information targeting is becoming a real thing - though it is in a very primitive state right now (works about as well as Amazon recomendations - about 20% right and the rest "What the hell makes you think I would want this crap???".

Amazon goes on the basis of previous orders BUT has no way to distinguish why you bought the item - so, if I buy and obscure British movie because it was the first film of someone I follow, I'll get 15-20 obscure British movies and/or movies with a similar plot rec'd to me. None of which have any connection to the reason I bought the film I did. Same with books, tools, CDs..........

I get alot of drug ads for conditions I do no have. For instance Viagra. Why on earth would I need that?

[Tricky]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

You know alot of JREF topics stay up for a suspiciously long time on the main forum. Anybody else notice this or is it just me. For instance winning debates seems to have been up for like 4 days.

As long as people stay interested, the threads will stay on the front pages. How long they stay depends on how active the subforum is. But they rarely if ever disappear completely. I promise you there is no effort being made to tailor these forums to you.

[MNBrant]

Don't remember the guy who showed up and said please keep these pages up for national security, deny everything or you will be in violation of the patriot act?

[16.5]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

I noticed this story on the front page of CBS news online for 3 months. I finally read it and posted on it and it immediately disappeared. I am wondering if news is being tailored to individual interests online much like advertising is.

Here's the article and my postings

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...20051960.shtml

by mnbrant June 21, 2011 12:50 AM EDT
Maybe CBS is trying to make some free speech statement. I think the point is that the guy is a pervert but he hasn't molested any kids as far as anybody knows. I kind have to wonder at the publisher who thought that anybody would have a burning desire to find out what pedopiles think. I imagine that if there even drawings of semi-clothed kids in the book he would have gotten more than probabtion.
Reply to this comment .by mnbrant June 21, 2011 12:46 AM EDT
Wow, has this article really been on the front page for 3 months or did it come back? Anybody else notice?


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/...#ixzz1PwuvukLK

It really was on the front page of cbs news online on my computer for 3 months. I finally got irritated enough to read it. When I posted, poof. I know they recycle news but this seems deeper than that.

Am I the only one who noticed that he says that his problem with refreshing his cache "seems deeper than that" because of some article on CBS news went "poof" and yet he links directly to the article in his opening post?

Holy crap, they are really trying to bury your thoughts there champ!

lulz

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by 16.5

Am I the only one who noticed that he says that his problem with refreshing his cache "seems deeper than that" because of some article on CBS news went "poof" and yet he links directly to the article in his opening post?

Holy crap, they are really trying to bury your thoughts there champ!

lulz

Well no, I asked if apples where kosher in reference to some apple app and someone complained and it was removed I guess. They also said that I was reported. That one is definitely gone. I then noticed all my posts on cbs disappearing after a few hours. I finally stopped posting there. They made it harder to google posts on cbs too. You have to google cbsnews. I do remember a taking a survey on their site asking me how I would feel if I could no longer go to their site anymore. I think they are going to start sending out disinvites soon.

[fuelair]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

I get alot of drug ads for conditions I do no have. For instance Viagra. Why on earth would I need that?

You are male - or the advertisers assume you are. Ads related to males/sex are not nearly as concerned with other details. You might as well ask why women would get ads for beauty products and breast enhancement.

[fuelair]

I add, however, that with more details on the ads, I could make a pretty decent guess on interests, income level (and given local ads and US(if appropriate) minor language differences) location (general, I am not a specialist in that field, at all).

[Elizabeth I]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

I get alot of drug ads for conditions I do no have. For instance Viagra. Why on earth would I need that?

I get ads for Viagra, and I assure you I have no need at all of it. This is just scatter advertising - throw everything against the wall and see what sticks. The Internet has made it very easy and very cheap to do so.

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth I

I get ads for Viagra, and I assure you I have no need at all of it. This is just scatter advertising - throw everything against the wall and see what sticks. The Internet has made it very easy and very cheap to do so.

Ok that was a cheap joke but I will tell you the one ad I get every time I come to this site. Its called grainger industrial supply and is a very good choice for me since I am probably going to be using them alot in a year or two.

[Ladewig]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

You know, I got an email to a reporter at CBS. I could write him and ask if he is still around.

So you are wondering if CBS is targeting stories to people like you and you thought the most efficient thing to do would be to write to a reporter? It never occurred to you to sign into your computer to look at their site and then go to a public computer or a friend's computer to look at their site?

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by Ladewig

So you are wondering if CBS is targeting stories to people like you and you thought the most efficient thing to do would be to write to a reporter? It never occurred to you to sign into your computer to look at their site and then go to a public computer or a friend's computer to look at their site?

I dont spend alot of my day trying to figure these things out.

I am sure that the govt and private business goes to extra length to protect my information.

[CptColumbo]

On the interwebs it is fairly easy to personalize your news and search results yourself and also for others to do it.

Now if I was watching the nightly news and the anchor suddenly said, "That woman from work that you really want to ask out is actually really into comic books, Mark." and winked. Then I might start getting worried...and a little excited.

[MNBrant]

No I guess it goes beyond the cach. I just typed the link to the site above and my two posts are gone. I only posted because I noticed that it was up for 3 months. I could ask my contact with CBS but I really don't care all that much. They still seem to have about 2000 of my posts on the internet unless they are dead links.

[TS-]

http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser...r_bubbles.html

See also.

[sadhatter]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

Noper I use norton 360 and I always run clean temp files and clear web history. I wonder what that rotten thing I am smelling is? Dare I say gang stalking?

You can say it, but i am gonna laugh.

As a more constructive answer, take it from a computer tech, norton isn't keeping you 100% anon on the net, nor does it protect against 100% of anything. One phrase i always use is " Norton is like a bullet proof vest, it is better to have it than not, but it is not a guarantee of invincibility. " what your seeing as sinister is simply very normal computer functioning.

[sadhatter]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

No I guess it goes beyond the cach. I just typed the link to the site above and my two posts are gone. I only posted because I noticed that it was up for 3 months. I could ask my contact with CBS but I really don't care all that much. They still seem to have about 2000 of my posts on the internet unless they are dead links.

Are your posts similar to what you post here? Because most major sites have a low "dealing with b.s." factor. And this could explain everything.

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by sadhatter

Are your posts similar to what you post here? Because most major sites have a low "dealing with b.s." factor. And this could explain everything.

I don't really know what you mean by bs. I have seen some editing but only one post has so far been deleted here. I think I first posted that I noticed that this link was on top at cbs news for the past 3 months and asked anybody if they noticed that. Then I made a comment about the article saying that I thought that the guy would have gotten more than probation if there was anything remotely obscene in the book and questioned the mind of the publisher who thought there was a market for this. Someone wrote that the FBI was reported. Someone else wrote that there is a fine of 200$ for making a false report to the FBI. Some of my sources might be non traditional but I rarely just make things up. I am able to post there but as soon as my post is found it it removed. Actually I am seeing a bigger BS factor going to CBS since they cleaned up their postings. I see it more as an organ for corporate interests now even though I still pop in there quite alot. I don't mind it but I see it for what it is.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Speaking of tailored web searches and Tricky dispelling the myth that thread topics on the home page were tailored, what's with the "Bookmarks" at the bottom of the page when a thread is opened? My screen shows Digg, del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, Google and Reddit. Those are not my bookmarks and in addition, they aren't even sites I frequent except Google. I was going to ask about it in the management forum but this seems like as good a place as any.

Do you all see the same "bookmarks"? Are these something JREF put on the page? Or are they something Google or the web host caused to be there?

[MNBrant]

I see Jref topics alive for weeks. I attribute this to paid hacks.

[The Charnel Expanse]

[sigh] I WISH this were true, just so I never had to see, hear or read anything about Casey Anthony ever again.

[ufology]

Oh ya sure it is. You can subscribe to a lot of news alerts using specific keywords. It's the wave of the future ... but now.

j.r.

[sadhatter]

Originally Posted by MNBrant

I see Jref topics alive for weeks. I attribute this to paid hacks.

Stuff like this is what i was talking about. Most sites would just mod something like this when they notice. If this is the same caliber of material you used there, makes sense you would get the posts removed. the jref is a little more lenient when it comes to keeping silly posts.

[MNBrant]

Originally Posted by sadhatter

Stuff like this is what i was talking about. Most sites would just mod something like this when they notice. If this is the same caliber of material you used there, makes sense you would get the posts removed. the jref is a little more lenient when it comes to keeping silly posts.

Whats silly about paid hacks writing posts? We are approaching another election season. You think that all of thoses posts will be legitimate? You are either an amazing sceptic, extremely gullible, or a paid hack then.