Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: Dirty, Thieving Hawks Do It Again
Previous entry: Farewell Scotty
boycott.blogspot.com
by IwoCPO on 08/01/08 at 12:17 PM ET
Comments (21)
Updated below: looks like Google screwed the pooch on this one.
I’ve made no secret about my respect for the guys who run The Pens Blog. I think it’s the most creative, funniest, boldest hockey blog on the Gore. In my opinion, what they’ve done over there has shattered boundaries and made a lot of shrivs sit up and take notice.
Today? Censored.
Obviously, I’m not affiliated with the tools at dumbasses.blogspot.blogger.com. If I was, if I had a blog hosted there, I’d be complaining right now...just on principle.
I guess that would be a hint.
Updated 1406 EST: It would appear The Pens Blog (and I’ll spell it any frigging way I want, thanks) has fallen victim to a new anti-spamming deal Google/Blogger recently instituted.
Here’s a new one for this week that is likely going to have the feathers of many Google Bloggers ruffled… Bloggers essentially have 20 days to save their blogs or else!!
I got a weird email message last night that I first thought was junk, then I realized it was actually legit! Google has some new automated system that is flagging potential spam blogs (whatever that is) and locking out blog owners. Email message from Google follows:
Your blog has been identified as a potential spam blog. To correct this, please request a review by filling out the form at ...
Your blog will be deleted within 20 days if it isn’t reviewed, and you’ll be unable to publish posts during this time. After we receive your request, we’ll review your blog and unlock it within two business days. If this blog doesn’t belong to you, you don’t have to do anything, and any other blogs you may have won’t be affected.
We find spam by using an automated classifier. Automatic spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and occasionally a blog like yours is flagged incorrectly. We sincerely apologize for this error. By using this kind of system, however, we can dedicate more storage, bandwidth, and engineering resources to bloggers like you instead of to spammers. For more information, please see Blogger Help: http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=42577
Thank you for your understanding and for your help with our spam-fighting efforts.
Sincerely,
The Blogger Team
I’m sure plenty of people are “understanding”.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
Whoa, that’s insane. Somebody tell me who to complain to and what about.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 08/01/08 at 11:32 AM ET
Sounds like some Nancy complained, and they issued a pre-emptive lockdown. It happens.
But it doesn’t mean a blog as large and popular as PensBlog has to sit there and take it.
If I were the guys at PensBlog, however, I would pack up the blog - archived posts and all - and move somewhere a bit more welcoming.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 08/01/08 at 11:43 AM ET
I’m not sure that Blogspot is the first place to blame. The censorship flag on that site isn’t initiated by them - there’s a button at the top left side of all Blogspot blogs where readers can flag a page for objectionable content. If Blogspot gets enough flags from readers, it automatically generates a cursory review. If they look and see what appears to be violations of the TOS agreement, they suspend the account temporarily.
But requesting a proper review should get it fixed since I can’t imagine there’s anything the guys at Pens blog are doing wrong.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 08/01/08 at 11:46 AM ET
But requesting a proper review should get it fixed since I can’t imagine there’s anything the guys at Pens blog are doing wrong.
I wonder if, with all the photoshopping they do, someone whose image they used is raising a fuss?
Most of the stuff is too juvenile for my taste, but pretty harmless and even not all that offensive - unless, of course, someone spent a lot of time hitting the “I’m upset by what I am seeing” button, as Alanah speculates.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 08/01/08 at 11:50 AM ET
We should put one of those on C&B;AlanaH. I’ve complained to Paul about your content for months and he doesn’t do squat about it.
I agree that it’s automated and not a decision of google/blogger on a specific level. But it’s ridiculous that someone could pull a Rory Fitzpatrick and click a button enough times to prompt a review and a site shutdown.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 08/01/08 at 11:51 AM ET
Damn, I hope this gets resolved quickly.
Since the start of the Stanley Cup Finals, I’ve been visiting their site. It’s pretty great stuff. The guys who run the site are funny and the commenters over there love their Penguins as much as the 19 here love our Wings; their juvenility is top notch (you know, for Eastern Conference juvenility).
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 08/01/08 at 12:06 PM ET
I blame Gary!!!!
We all know how the league controls EVERY shred of information.
Maybe he got upset with someone calling his daughter
names.
Can’t blame a guy for defending his little girl. Poor Cindy.
Posted by Scott H from Kalamazoo on 08/01/08 at 12:38 PM ET
I’m guessing they’ll get this cleared up pretty quickly, but I can see how they could get repeatedly flagged for objectionable content. I respect their enthusiasm and energy, but I’m not a big fan of the site and removed them from my blogroll months ago.
Posted by The Forechecker from Tennessee on 08/01/08 at 12:40 PM ET
...it’s ridiculous that someone could pull a Rory Fitzpatrick and click a button enough times to prompt a review and a site shutdown.
If blogspot.com is as big as they claim to be, they should have some sort of function that records the IP addresses of the individuals clicking on that link. They should be able to tell if the “complaints” come from one IP address whose owner clicked 200 times or from 200 different IP addresses whose owners each clicked once.
Without a function like that, each blogger that uses their service would be at the mercy of any fanatical individual who’s hell-bent on shutting down their blog.
As for the reason for the censorship, I’d lean toward their image of Larry Bird where he’s labeled as a “homo.” Just a guess.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 08/01/08 at 12:48 PM ET
Yeah even as a Pens fan, i hate the pens blog. Its a ridiculous example of how juvenile the fans in this great city are becoming. But that is insane that they would close the blog. All they do is some dumb photoshopping and some 10 year old jokes about players.
Posted by Kevin on 08/01/08 at 01:13 PM ET
Gary Bettman is somehow to blame. Or maybe Andreas Lilja. Somehow, one or the both of them are behind this.
Posted by TDeters on 08/01/08 at 01:21 PM ET
I’m pretty sure the spam blog thing is just a cover. I went through the Terms of Service and checked some PensBlog posts...I think I found the real reason. I think expressing it in photoshop form is appropriate:
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 08/01/08 at 01:23 PM ET
Hah. I posted a reply to this and got a message saying something like “Akismet thinks your reply may be spam and will be moderated first.”
That’s ironic, right?
Anyways, hopefully it’ll be “moderated” and show up soon.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 08/01/08 at 01:25 PM ET
But Larry Bird is a homo. Didn’t you ever see those shorts he wore?
Posted by PB Charlie from The Internets on 08/01/08 at 01:30 PM ET
I had that happen to me as well several weeks ago! But Blogger fixed that problem rather quickly so I wasn’t too pissed off.
Posted by Zandberg from Smithers on 08/01/08 at 02:07 PM ET
pensblog is funny, but it gets old. you can only do so many “free candy” and “stunned” photoshops
Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 08/01/08 at 04:04 PM ET
They’re unfunny, unintelligent and, frankly, a boring bunch of losers who need to move out of their parents’ basements and get jobs--but last I checked that wasn’t against Blogspot’s TOS.
I mean, it wasn’t like they were making FREE TIBET NOW photoshops or exposing China’s abysmal human rights record or anything.
Posted by The Acid Queen from Raleigh, NC on 08/05/08 at 01:51 PM ET
“As much as I hate the Penguins censoring that site is ridiculous. Another way to prove freedom of speech and free press only goes so far. “
You’re using someone else’s servers, you have to abide by their rules. You want freedom, you can set up your own server and host your own blog.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 08/06/08 at 12:44 AM ET
We all know how the league controls EVERY shred of information.
Yep! Their fight with MSG over the Rangers’ website content is a big example of that.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 08/06/08 at 12:52 AM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Create Your Own Headline For The Wings/Habs Live Blog
Mellow Is The Man Who Hosts About 120 Live Blogs Per Year
“Faux”…Interesting. Do You Use “Faux”?
Detroit Media: Zero Outrage. Fedorov? Plenty
Well Gary? Your League Is A Joke
Gambling In Havana? Hiding In Honduras? Dad? Get Me To A Live Blog…STAT
About Abel to Yzerman
Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome:
A2Y Stuff
-----------------------------
Wanna Feel Smart?
Does confusion make you sad? When you read words like "enigma" and phrases like "Thanks Gary. Ass", do you wonder why mean people speak in languages you don't understand? Fret no longer friend! The A2Y Glossary will bring you great joy and enlightenment.
-----------------------------
How Others View The A2Y 19
"Hell, I guarantee the content co-opters at Abel to Yzerman were about to link this article under the heading “Bitter Blues Fans” again right up until they just read that last half-sentance. Thanks but no thanks, you Kukla hangers-on."
--St. Louis Game Time
"I realize it’s the slow summer season, but can this guy tone down the tough-guy histrionics? His posts are fatiguing on an otherwise excellent site."
--A2Y Fan, Eternal_Fields
"I constantly marvel at how Bill (IwoCPO) and his disciples at Abel To Yzerman can be so pompous and full of themselves throughout every regular season, but come playoff time they collapse into wavering puddles of stress and nervousness as they anxiously await the impending and unavoidable collapse of the Red Wings in the post-season."
--Mile High Hockey
"I hate them because they are better than us. Of all the frigging teams…"
--In The Cheap Seats
"It's just a shame that the most classless, uneducated, lowbrow fanbase in the league gets this sweep. Red Wing fans don't deserve their team."
--Thhom
"I really don’t care what fans or bloggers think."
--Drew Sharp
"Why is it you Detroit fans are still so classless when you have such a classy hockey team, with such a professional GM and gentlemen players? I understand that the author of this blog is a manner-less cad, but the rest of you should be better."
--A2Y Fan, Jeff Beaumont
"Have you ever *read* A2Y? Its the most opinionated, juvenile stuff i've read."
--Paul Nicholson
"I actually like the Detroit team and have a sh&% load of respect for them, but their fans are the biggest douches next to Canadians."
--KStewy, PensBlog Commenter
"Just when it looks like we have bottomed out, the 19 hit a new low."
-A2Y legend, Hockeytown Todd
"And for the record, I don't hate the Red Wings, I hate their fans."
--Douche Bag at Puck Daddy who isn't Wyshynski
"You’re nothing but a douchebag ****, c3po. Go f**k yourself, and learn something about hockey in the process. Nothing ruins my day more than seeing your byline on the kk page."
--Hector, A2Y fan, statesman, Pittsburgh Chapter of Jonas Brothers Fan Club President
"I can just imagine the kindergarten teacher’s reaction when the tyke blurts out 'Mommy says Gary Bettman is a f*cking f*ckface! He wants to give ‘Rosby the bad touch.' ”
--Bella, of the 19
"A2Y is what other blog sites aspire to be when they fail to grow up: intelligent immaturity for the juvenile genius set”
--Captain Dennis Polonich, of the 19
Head to Hockeytown
Blogs the Chief Likes
As much as I hate the Penguins censoring that site is ridiculous. Another way to prove freedom of speech and free press only goes so far.
Posted by b4mv01 on 08/01/08 at 11:30 AM ET