MSN Search Blocking Results For XFree86?

Peacefire writes "Thomas Shaddack spotted this on http://www.root.cz/ (in Czech) -- if you go to http://search.msn.com/ and search for 'XFree86', it tells you that you've 'entered a search term that is likely to return adult content', and directs you to the porn search engine NightSurf.com, which lists a bunch of porn sites that ostensibly match the term 'XFree86'. If you search for 'XFree86' on Google, however, it's clear that the top matching terms returned by a normal search, are XFree86 sites, are not a bunch of porn sites. MSN is apparently blocking the specific term 'XFree86' and not just filtering on something stupid like the 'X' or the 'Free', since you can search for 'XFree85' and 'XFree87' with no problem. And search terms like 'Linux', 'AOL' and 'Macintosh' are allowed, so at least MSN hasn't simply blacklisted all competitors' keywords as 'porn', but why would they be blocking 'XFree86'?"

Comments

Re:XFree69

[Anonymous Coward]

No, they probably have a wav file of Nelson from the Simpsons going "Haaa haaaaaaah!"

Everyone in here who has searched for XFree86 on MSN before you heard about this, please raise your hand. Everyone in here who even uses MSN search for all their Free/GNU/Linux/BSD search needs, raise your other hand.

Wait, nobody raised their hand. I'm sure there are millions of Windows users out there who are interested in learning about Open Source and Linux, and they just happened to know what 'XFree86' was, and they searched on MSN. When no results turned up, they said, "bummer, there is no free softwares on teh intar web, back two WindBLOWS for I can't find Lunix on teh intar web."

This doesn't matter. If anything, they're probably just screwing with you guys, and you fell for it.

Your Rights Online?

[jay-be-em]

Does /. have a fucked up perception of the term 'right' or what? How is it any person's right to any specific quality of search results?

Re:Why this probably isn't intentional...

[raju1kabir]

The 86 is probably just seen as garbage, as the "x" and the "free" are ranked highly as likely pornographic search terms in its database.

I realize reading one whole paragraph is an awful lot of work, but you might try reading the article sometimes.

It was clearly stated that the search works fine with 85 and 87, generating no error. Or do you have a theory to explain that away too?

All I can guess is that with your head stuck up your ass, the traditional "69" position takes on more of an "86" configration, so for you that seems dirty.