Topic: Media
Google "Pulls" Ron Paul Tax Article? Was it a chilling act of de-facto censorship, or just a "computer glitch?" Within two hours of its appearance yesterday, search engine giant Google removed an article about Ron Paul, the IRS, and the Federal Reserve from its database.by creator
(Libertarian)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Call me paranoid, but please don't stop reading just yet; I have seen this kind of thing happen more than once, and whatever the cause, it raises some serious questions.
I published a news article yesterday - Thursday - about a San Diego Meetup event which I attended on Tuesday. The article is "Ron Paul Meetup Enlightens San Diego Tax Lemmings," and the Nolan Chart website database placed this time-stamp on the article:
Last saved: 2008-04-17 13:26:25
As I often do, I polled the Google News search engine to see if the article would appear (they do not always appear.) Sure enough, within a matter of minutes, Google spiders had crawled Nolan Chart, picked up the article, and made it available to anyone searching for "ron paul." Fine and good so far.
I then searched "Sorted by relevance" and was pleased to see my article on the "ron paul" front page, second from the top.
However, I went back about two hours after the article's original posting on Nolan Chart and found that Google had "mysteriously" pulled its reference to the article.
Within that two hour span, the article had been visited by over 200 readers, and favored with ten "Thumbs Up"s - a readership response that is hard to match on those rare occasions when Google does not index an article. However, when an article is not listed by the engine whose very name has become synonymous with "search," unless it is spread virally, readership remains quite low. I did in fact see readership drop dramatically when the listing vanished.
Polling Google occasionally after the disappearance, I saw the article reappear momentarily, only to vanish once more. Perhaps that fleeting view was a copy of the evidently offending entry that had not quite been purged from Google's distributed database farm?
From personal experience, it is evident to me that it is Google that drives the bulk of web traffic to the Nolan Chart site and its articles. This is, in my humble opinion, a two-edged sword. It's great when an article is indexed by Google, and not so hot when it is not.
How could this have happened? Technically, removing a listing cannot quite be called "censorship" because Google is a private corporation and can index material or not as it pleases. But it begs the question: Was this a "computer glitch" or has Google possibly already been co-opted by the Internal Revenue Service and the "powers that be" who wish to maintain the hegemony IRS has over the populace?
Which would be easier: using legislative and judicial powers to restrict free speech, or "working with" the existing commercial information channels to be "selective" about what is disseminated?
You do the math.
In the past, I have seen Google "just not pick up" on some articles. The most recent example of this is "Ron Paul, Friend of April Fools and Taxpayers," an article containing extensive information for readers who want to learn about the Tax Honesty movement. You may want to read and bookmark that one, as Google, for whatever reason, doesn't want to help you with that.
In some cases, my suspicions were allayed when I discovered that there may have been some "automatic/technical" reason for the omission, as explained by Google themselves here. In other cases I have wondered. Yesterday's circumstance however seemed to me at the time to be by far the most blatant evidence to date that "something might be up."
As I am putting the final touches on this article, Google's "technical glitch" has in fact been corrected. Last I looked, it is now possible to find "Ron Paul Meetup Enlightens San Diego Tax Lemmings" in Google's indexed database. It somehow "reappeared" after about a two hour absence yesterday.
Even so, please consider the implications of any one entity having near complete control over your ability to locate information. Also bear in mind that "Ron Paul, Friend of April Fools and Taxpayers" still remains unlisted (at the time of this writing) if you search for "ron paul" and "april fools."
Will Google index this article about its own shortcomings? Will it list it briefly and then "pull it" once a human member of the "thought police" actually perceives what it is about? Just how sophisticated is Google's system and setup for regulating incoming material? Is it pure coincidence that I have seen this kind of problem, most frequently, with articles about the IRS? I welcome comments on the matter, especially from anyone with authentic "inside knowledge" of Google's policies and technology, published or otherwise.
Most "Ron Paul rEVOLutionaries" have (justifiably) come to despise the "Mainstream Media," but we should also be aware of the danger of getting our internet search information from a single source, as I have written about before in Google Meltdown? Where's Ron? and other articles.
Whether this was a "technical glitch" or some darker behind-the-scenes manipulation, in my humble opinion it is PAST TIME for us to develop distributed and uncensored search engines.
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2008 creator, all rights reserved.
Published: Friday, April 18, 2008
Last modified: Friday, April 18, 2008
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As someone who actually read the article in question, most likley Google 'pulled' the article because it was written by a tallentless individual with a flawed character and an obvious distaste for America and its patriots like Ron Paul. Google who 'Ron Paul' search actaully comes up with relevant news most likley saw the piece as a horribly written piece that any 9th grader that has taken a poli-sci class could have muddled together. The piece was just plain stupid. Not news at all. It couldn't even be considered a 'commentary' piece or even an 'opinion' piece because from a journalistic point of view thoes pieces need to have some kind of relevant point, a case, or at least a writer who could carry an opinion no matter how uninformed pathetic or offensive with a writing style exciting and thought proviking to read. Google did the right thing by taking the piece off of its most viewed articles because it is a waste of space along with a waste of time to read. The next time you make an attempt to poke fun, degrade, or offend a group of people with a higher level of critical thinking, decision making, and brain power with the salaries to prove it, make a case. Make a point. Don't just be ignorant and bash on others. It makes you look much less intelligent then you made yourself look already.
As an experienced software engineer (MS + 25 years professional experience) who has spent much of my career working with DBMS and search engine internals, I believe this is unwarranted paranoia. Google runs a highly distributed search engine, and updates are replicated/propagated asynchronously. Given the number of nodes on which a given search topic is indexed is large, the rate of update is high, and (I would guess) searches are prioritized over updates, the probability that a given update has reached a node on which a particular search is executed is less than 100%. In fact, the sooner after a website has been "crawled", the more likely that a new search item does not yet appear.
Each search is also assigned to a set of nodes in a somewhat random manner. Thus, a given search item may seem to appear and disappear from the same query executed repeatedly, with its absence being more common the sooner the search is performed. In addition the ranking of a given item will change over time as well, with the changes generally being more dramatic earlier in its addition than later
This explanation fits the description of the issue without the need for any malicious behavior on the part of Google.
Note: I have no affiliation with Google other than as a satisfied customer.
I must say that "D"s comment is one of the most curious and entertaining that I have received thus far in the course of my brief career as a Nolan Chart Columnist.
No one who has read even a few of my articles, including the article in question, could reasonably describe me as one with "an obvious distaste for America and its patriots like Ron Paul."
And, while I always welcome constructive criticism and would probably readily agree that I've at times written articles that fall short of "a writing style exciting and thought proviking [sic] to read," my article about San Diego on "Tax Day" is self-evidently eye-witness news, and certainly also presents some of my long-considered opinions.
Finally, "D" has left me completely mystified about exactly who he refers to when he speaks of "an attempt to poke fun, degrade, or offend a group of people with a higher level of critical thinking, decision making, and brain power with the salaries to prove it" - Is it the employees of the IRS? The residents of San Diego racing to deposit their tax forms at the Post Office? It certainly couldn't be the Ron Paul Meetup Group, of which I was present as a member that day?
I am bewildered! I would welcome any further clarification from "D," whoever you may be. Are you a member of a group that you think I was "bashing" in this article? If so, which group? Please try to be a little bit clearer so that I may respond appropriately!
I saw the article and really I didn't agree with the premise of the article but I must tell you that I did find it through Google. I found this article the same way. It's probably just technical difficulties.
Regarding the other article, as you know Wesley Snipes was arrested and convicted for willful failure to file tax returns. I am not a tax lawyer, but I haven't filed tax returns from time to time in my life just due to not being good at filling out forms. The IRS and I did an offer in compromise and (knock on wood) I have dropped out of their radar.
Rightly or wrongly he has been convicted by a jury of his peers. Accordingly reliance on these legal arguments is pretty risky business. Until juries refuse to convict the IRS will be a powerful adversary.
Thank you most kindly for your very constructive and enlightening observations. I will certainly contemplate them, and I find your comments very helpful.
Nevertheless, I still think that in a world increasingly characterized by oppressive government control, it would be a good idea to cultivate alternative and independent network and search mechanisms not beholden to a single entity.
I know that some work has already been done on peer network supported search engines, which would IMHO be an ideal way to implement a search mechanism not subject to centralized censorship other than by obvious legal maneuvering.
I have tracked each article I have posted on Nolan Chart. Without exception they have been listed on my Google "Ron Paul" key word homepage. That is, all but one article; [link edited for length] "Ron Paul Needs to Hire Britney Spears!"
I'm not sure of the reasoning. I was disappointed that it didn't appear as I thought the article made sense, even though I was being somewhat facetious.
The ironic thing to me about this article is it made a Britney Spears news website.
FWIW, I did notice your "Jesus, Ron Paul and the IRS" article on my homepage.
Thanks for your comments. You help illustrate the fundamental problem, in that NO American should have to worry if they have "have dropped out of their radar," speaking of the IRS.
As for Mr. Snipes, the average American should recognize and appreciate his leadership and courage with respect to his willingness to "take a hit" on behalf of the rest of us less able to afford it. He very obviously could have continued his life quite comfortably, economically speaking, without running the obvious risk of "taking on" the Matrix.
You also clearly point out that we Americans all need to become that "jury of his peers" who will stand up to the IRS and not allow them to blatantly, unlawfully run rough-shod over even one honest American.
Thanks for your comments and report of your experience.
I think that probably, for the most part, articles may not appear through some combination of reasons including the ones so helpfully pointed out above by James Parker and through intentional Google algorithms designed to "catch" and eliminate things like poetry and other "not news" formats (see the link to "Google themselves" in the middle of my article.)
If nothing else, I hope this article will raise awareness of potential risks of utter reliance on a commercial entity like Google, whether or not there is already any "funny business" going on.
Last summer I googled RON PAUL in the news section of the home page and I got "NO ARTICLE FOUND ON 'RON PAUL'..." I was completely drowned in fear. I searched in the regular web pages and he could not be found there either. If I remember correctly I couldn't get his articles on YAHOO either.
Our Government has become corrupt & too big for it's britches. I think it's militia time.
So that's what's up. I've noticed that several of my articles have bombed, with less than 100 reads. I tried a Google News search for some of those today, and none of them showed up on that engine.
Then I did a second search using 'yahoo search,' but they don't carry any of those articles, either.
Like my newest one, Pure Bunk, on the Jackson County Gop covention. It can't even be found under "Bunk Farrington," though by searching that one can find other articles about the caucus listed.
Thanks for mentioning it; it's something I wouldn't have even been aware of previously. I've been using google since back when they bought Deja News, and didn't realize before how selective their menu of stories was.
To tell you the truth, this is something I think is more appropriate to discuss in the columnists' lounge. Since I haven't been invited into there as yet, though, I'll have to reply here.
However, be careful about "jumping to conclusions" as to why your articles "bombed." Well, yes, if they're not indexed on Google that is certainly a component; but they may not have been indexed for a reason - be sure to read Google's own list of reasons.
As far as the Lounge goes, ALL columnists are invited - but, I'll make it specific since you mentioned it - won't you please consider joining? Please just follow the link from your Author's Control Panel and request the "formal invite" required by Google.
Guess it's time to write another article about the lounge. :)
I suspect the problem has less to do with (if at all) the content of the articles and far more to do with Google's fight with SEO's.
Search Engine Optimizers have recently begun spamming Ron Paul and other related terms into many political blogs , ads for canidates, and advertising for other elements of the media. Such SEO's might take on the near appearance of a Nolan Chart article.
If you are concerned, however, the simplest thing to do is , of course, distribute straight links to Nolan Chart, and digg/del.ic.ious the hell out of the articles you write.
If Google wishes to strip out some articles, after all, it has every right to do so. It's a business and can make choices that they feel give them a better bottom line without consulting you. Might I suggest paid AdWords?
Thanks for your constructive and very informative comments. :) I hadn't considered the SEO situation at all until you brought it up.
As indicated in my article, I certainly agree that Google is well within its rights to do whatever they want. Having said that, it simply reinforces my belief that there is a need for a "distributed search engine" with no particular bias....
I'm going to guess that there isn't fishy business here because Google hasn't pulled this article for several days now and because I believe it makes a geniune effort to use just algorithms for its news.
Edward, That may very well be the case - for now - but I still think we need to "plan ahead" and be prepared for the eventuality of a disruption in the transmittal of news.
If anyone out there has the expertise and skills to develop a non-centralized search engine, please contact me. I may do a follow up article to try and catalyze such a development.
Posted By: John Armstrong
Date: 2008-04-22 20:19:07
Creator,
I've been too busy to write recently, but have some good ideas in store for the summer. Walt told me that stuff like this happens sometimes. Yet the only article that ever appeared and then disappeared was the one called "Ron Paul Freedom Writer responds to U.S. Senator" or something along those lines. It was going nuts with hits and then *poof* it was gone. I don't think you're being paranoid.
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