# Ascertained: Yahoo is guilty of a highly-crafted Liberal bias. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 17, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602 "2004-02-17T04:08:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/21 "2004-02-17T06:04:31Z")
_shakes head sadly and looks at the blood and feathers floating in the water_ -XT ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/22 "2004-02-17T06:15:56Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Quick! Get to the Yahoo Home Page before it changes, the news headline has: > > “Czech town mesmerized by Kerry campaign”! > > I have no idea what the story really is about, but almost anything would be a disappointment. The Czech town where Kerry’s grandfather was born has noticed that they have a connection to the candidate. The mayor said that he would make Kerry an honorable citizen if he wins the election. Oh, and by the way, the town is called “Horni”. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/23 "2004-02-17T10:46:11Z")
If one accepts that the rest of the industrialised democratic world lies to the political left of the US, should one be surprised that an **international** news source reflects this? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/24 "2004-02-17T11:18:38Z")
Nothin’ personal, man, but **milum** and **SnoopyFan** could find liberal bias on the back of a dollar bill. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/25 "2004-02-17T11:52:44Z")
Maybe there is some “headline” bias. That’s so common in every level of media that I just assume the headline was written by an angry editor with an opinion about the issue, but never read the article. I’d say “liberal” but mostly I notice it in the sports section. Yahoo is no exception. There are pitfalls inherent in summarizing within a punchy sentence. OTOH, they mostly rehash news from other sources. It’s a great place to go first and branch out. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/26 "2004-02-17T12:59:23Z")
> [@SnoopyFan](#): > > Hey OP: > > Yahoo slants left? Um … duh! The important thing here is that Yahoo get its slacks tailored appropriately. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/27 "2004-02-17T14:00:02Z")
Well shoot, **Milum** , I can’t stand the suspense any more. Roll out that data. There are actually people who decide what’s important to know _on the basis of Yahoo news rankings?_ ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/28 "2004-02-17T14:11:08Z")
[QUOTE=Milum] I base this opinion upon a private informal study that I made last year which concluded… [QUOTE] Uh-oh! This wouldn’t be like the “private informal studies” **JDT** used to do, would it? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/29 "2004-02-17T14:12:18Z")
There’s no debate unless you cough up the data, **Milum**. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/30 "2004-02-17T15:06:47Z")
> [@](#): > > Yahoo has a sneaky habit of keeping the headlines of events that serve their agenda ( I hate that word “agenda”) on their list longer than the other issues ( I more so hate the word “issues”) to which they disagree. Yeah, I too hate “agenda” so much that I use “agenda” twice in the same sentence. While you’re coughing up the data that brought you to the brilliant, insightful conclusion revealed in your OP, maybe you could have a bit of pity on us and explain what you think Yahoo’s “agenda” is, exactly. Sorry, simply saying “the liberal agenda” doesn’t count. Also, if you wouldn’t mind, how about an example of an issue or two with which Yahoo “disagrees”? ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/31 "2004-02-17T15:17:47Z")
Calling all liberals in this thread — the ‘OP guy’ is pulling your chain, having a bit of fun, - it’s a joke - Gees, talk about knee jerk (sic) – :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/32 "2004-02-17T15:20:48Z")
It’s a joke? Oh, well, ha ha ha ha ha– Oh, wait, this is Great Debates. So, what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/33 "2004-02-17T15:26:05Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > It’s a joke? Oh, well, ha ha ha ha ha– > > Oh, wait, this is Great Debates. So, what the hell? Well than **SanibelMan** - debate away ---- you guys are already falling all over each other over this OP. I’m sure the ha ha ha’s will come plenty. I’m certainly enjoying myself 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ramanujan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/51bf81/32.png) [@Ramanujan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramanujan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/34 "2004-02-17T15:32:05Z")
> [@Milum](#): > > (1) Unlike electronic and print mediums (sic) i’ve never seen someone use (sic) on their own sentence before. ---
**Author:** ![Ramanujan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/51bf81/32.png) [@Ramanujan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramanujan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/35 "2004-02-17T15:33:18Z")
> [@ITR champion](#): > > The mayor said that he would make Kerry an honorable citizen if he wins the election. make kerry an honorable citizen? they couldn’t if they tried! he’s a liberal, you know! ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/36 "2004-02-17T15:37:15Z")
The OP seems to be a blatant troll. One of the reasons there is such a general attitude that the media in the U.S. is biased toward the left is because almost nobody in the U.S. really knows what a truly leftist newspaper (or other news sources) looks like. ---
**Author:** ![Voodoochile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/898d66/32.png) [@Voodoochile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voodoochile)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/37 "2004-02-17T15:39:23Z")
> [@Milum](#): > > Ascertained: Yahoo is guilty of a highly-crafted Liberal bias. > (3) The wording of the Yahoo’s listings belie the substance of their outside news reports. > > In sum; Yahoo is liberally biased. While it is possible, its extremely unlikely. Yahoo get its news from an outside vendor, just like Wired, Lycos, et al. These news feeds come in XML format; the headline, date of post, story attribute, sub headline - all of these things are already ‘broken’ out of the story by the news provider, and all are their own seperate XML element/attributes. ~Including~ categories, such as political stories, most recent headlines, headlines form particular sources, etc etc. All of these categories are determined by the provider. Yahoo is probably taking this XML feed and putting it into a database and then generating their own XML (based on the provider XML) for the front end display. They use whats called a 3 tier system, to carry the weight of their millions of viewers a day. I can gaurentee you that Yahoo is not doing any cherry picking of the news stories above and beyond the categorization already done by the news provider. It would be rather stupid, as thats what they pay a provider for. Its possible that the provider has special categories set up just for Yahoo, but Yahoo doesnt have all that much extra cash laying around to pay for such frivolities, and it wouldnt be cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/38 "2004-02-17T15:41:47Z")
**Dutchboy208** : > [@](#): > > I was getting worried nobody would show up to take the story seriously and Milum’s tenuous grasp of reality might be further weakened by the knowledge that everyone made fun of him and thought he was a doofus. [Moderator Hat ON] Don’t call people “doofus[es]” in GD, dutchboy208. And don’t call people trolls, knorf. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/39 "2004-02-17T16:02:30Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > There’s no debate unless you cough up the data, **Milum**. There’s no debate even IF he “coughs up the data” **Revtim** ---- it’s a “private independent study” for god sake. Look, my ‘babe in the woods liberal friends’ - suppose **Milum** comes back and produces his private data gathered during his private study ----- unless there’s other “study” out there to compare it to, which I doubt, what you going to do? He is free to say or produce anything he wants. Actually this is more of a study of the liberal thought process – :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Joachim\_Pieper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Joachim\_Pieper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joachim_Pieper)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602/40 "2004-02-17T16:16:26Z")
But where is Milum? Does anyone else get the feeling he’s close by, watching? Cheers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ascertained-yahoo-is-guilty-of-a-highly-crafted-liberal-bias/229602.md?page=3)