Comments on: FOX Blocking

By: Clint Lovell

Clint Lovell — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 19:09:05 +0000

They try and try and try, but the funny thing about freedom, optimism and real free market democracy cannot be censored.

It’s the thought that counts.

Can ya’ dig it?

By: dougpetch.com

dougpetch.com — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 00:30:28 +0000

Oncd Bitten, Twice Shy
Having fallen for the Internet swAOarm surrounding the non-controversy about AOL Instant Messenger’s TOS, I’m staying out of this one, other than to point out…

By: Kustie the Klown

Kustie the Klown — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 22:46:31 +0000

I have found it curious for a long time that the limited cable selection in hotels around the country ALWAYS offers both CNN and CNNHN, and often MSNBC. You hardly ever can get Fox.

And yet Fox nationally wipes the floor in the ratings with these other channels.

These hotels want to provide their guests with the most popular cable news channels, no?

By: Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 19:37:24 +0000

WebSense does make “NoSense,” because as a public educator, there were plenty of sites that did not have illicit content that were blocked because of something in the URL that was tied to a keyword that the local school district objected to. But then there were cases in the same district where some teachers could download porn onto their classroom computers and WebSense didn’t block the site at all.

I find it silly that Fox News is called an advocacy group. It’s no more and advocacy group than the New York Times or the Washington Post or CBS.

By: Tongueboy

Tongueboy — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 19:19:04 +0000

My employer uses WebSense and I regularly visit Fox News. On the other hand, I sometimes can’t access Modern Healthcare Magazine, which is unfortunate as I am in healthcare management. I say “sometimes” because there are many days when I have no problem accessing that site. Sometimes, WebSense makes NoSense.

By: actus

actus — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 19:13:01 +0000

“Yes. They advocate for both sides of the story to be told.”

‘yelled’ would be more accurate than told. Although I think the rest of the media is catching up.

By: Baklava

Baklava — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 17:56:21 +0000

Yes. They advocate for both sides of the story to be told.

We can’t have that..

By: JackLewis.net

JackLewis.net — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 17:11:06 +0000

Censorship or bug?
From PoliTech: Websense is now blocking foxnews.com as an advocacy group. I really don’t have any comment about this, except…

By: RedBeard

RedBeard — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:50:26 +0000

I’m gonna set the filters at my company so they only accept Earl Pitts. All Earl Pitts, all the time. That’s what we need.

By: LawWife

LawWife — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:19:57 +0000

RickinVa – same at my company, also in VA.

By: RickinVa

RickinVa — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:03:39 +0000

We use Websense here at the office and I’m able to get to Fox news…

Fox blockage must be a configurable item…

By: Tanny O'Haley

Tanny O'Haley — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 15:42:19 +0000

Where I work they blocked the Family Research Counsil (http://www.frc.org) as an advocacy group. However they didn’t block GLSN or the ACLU web sites. I thought it was unfair. I knew that I couldn’t ask them to unblock FRC because you are supposed to be using their property for work. I did ask them to block the ACLU and they did.

By: Demond S. Hunter

Demond S. Hunter — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 15:24:00 +0000

I am familiar with websense and its filters and I will stick my neck out and give them the benefit of my doubt. Maybe the term Fox (in refernce to females) is what is causing the filter to kick in and deny access. Or as Scott mention at the top of this thread

“to determine whether blocking Fox News’ site is part of the default configuration; or if it’s a local setting by the employer”

Demond aka “Ole Sarge”

By: ken

ken — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 14:51:44 +0000

If it is necessary for work, the netadmin can allow it through, otherwise it’s otta here!!

Also you can go to the Websense website and ask for a site to be blocked. I believe all it takes is 1 request, and usually the site will be blocked in the next database release.

By: DarkStar

DarkStar — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 14:18:18 +0000

One of the sites that I am at has a plasma television showing the 24 hour news.

CNN is banned from being shown. Only FOX or a financial network can be shown.