In my previous article I found that Google search results for prominent skeptics of climate change alarmism included a lot of negative material. Four or five negative items out of ten or twelve on the first page of results were typical. This raises the question of whether Google’s search algorithm is tuned to find and present negative items on skeptics.
Another possibility is that these search results merely reflect the fact that there is a lot of negative material on both sides. The climate change debate is indeed acrimonious and feelings run high.
To test this alternative I did Google searches on a number of prominent alarmists. What I found was that there were very few negative items, in fact in most cases there were none at all. This clearly suggests that Google’s search algorithm likes climate alarmists and dislikes climate skeptics, which has been rumored for some time.
Here are the first page results that I got for Google searches for prominent climate alarmists. A lot of negative material has been written about every one of them.
James Hansen
12 items, zero negative
Michael Mann
10 items, one negative
Ben Santer
10 items, zero negative
Susan Solomon
10 items, zero negative
Gavin Schmidt
10 items, 2 negative
Bill McKibben
12 items, zero negative
Naomi Oreskes
10 items, one negative
In contrast, our search results for skeptics typically contained 4 or 5 negative items on the first page. Thus there is a dramatic difference in how the Google search algorithm treats climate alarmists (positively) versus skeptics of alarmism (negatively).
There are content differences as well. Google search results often include laudatory articles about the leading alarmists, as well as some of their major writings. This almost never happens with the skeptics that we analyzed.
I have myself developed or worked on several search algorithms for the US Energy Department. Tuning an algorithm to target prominent skeptics of alarmism with negative material is not that hard.
For example, for every skeptic we analyzed, the search results include a link to DeSmogBlog. This site’s leading feature is a large database of negative dossiers on prominent skeptics. It would be easy to tell the algorithm to treat everyone listed in the DeSmogBlog database negatively.
Then too, in the natural language processing community there is a lot of research on how to recognize negative content. This is used to analyze everything from message traffic to news items, especially in the intelligence and marketing communities. In the science community there is a whole new field called “altmetrics” that seeks to use things like the volume of tweets and news stories to evaluate the impact of breaking new scientific findings. Here being able to tell the difference between positive and negative items is crucial.
The point is that the technology clearly exists to tune an algorithm into being either positive or negative in compiling and presenting search results. If I can design a search algorithm that negatively targets skeptics of climate change alarmism, then Google can certainly build one. After all, their corporate research and development budget is several billion dollars a year. A good chunk of that probably goes to fine tuning their search algorithm, since it is their claim to fame and fortune.
If Google is in fact using its search algorithm to target skeptics of climate alarmism, by systematically presenting a lot of negative results, then it is time to speak out. This activity may well be illegal, because it is potentially damaging to those being targeted.
The bias is supported by Soros with his charity funded trolls. This technique is the ignorant bully boy approach of my way, or no way. Not something I could ever be proud of.
I emailed Google directly and asked the question as to why their obvious bias?
Surprise. I haven’t yet received a reply.
Double surprise: My account hasn’t yet been suspended…
Noted: nothing beyond your assertion.
“I have myself developed or worked on several search algorithms for the US Energy Department. Tuning an algorithm to target prominent skeptics of alarmism with negative material is not that hard.”
And no specifics. I guess you assume your audience is not sophisticated enough to understand the details.
I actually mention several ways of doing this. Perhaps you did not understand (as usual). Or are you asking for a treatise, like you often do?
Your reply wasn’t about what I asked for. What a surprise.
So, try this:
Support your claim: where, exact quotes is your “several ways of doing this”
“This ” being examples of your search algorithms.
No, “this” refers to how to do what Google is doing, in this case using the DeSmogBlog (DSB) database plus natural language processing that identifies negative content.
Here is a simple model. The Google algorithm already separates people from things, because it produces a bio window for people. It also collects and ranks a bunch of items for them.
So first we have the algorithm check the high ranking items to see if the terms climate change or global warming frequently occur. If yes then check the DSB database of skeptical dossiers. If the person is found there then re-rank the retrieved items to include a lot of negative ones on the first page, including the DSB attack piece. Algorithmically this is trivial to do.
Wow. That’s the leap we’d expect if th writer were being paranoid.
.”If yes then check the DSB database of skeptical dossiers…”
Might , since you don’t actually have access to the algorithm, think about weight given by popularity, noted reputation of the sources, how the data point fits to the rest of the data, ….
Btw, here is what my Google shows for a search on your name:
David Wojick | DeSmogBlog
DeSmogBlog › david-wojick
david wojick from http://www.desmogblog.com
Feb 5, 2018 · David E. Wojick. … He holds a doctorate in epistemology, specializing in the field of Mathematical Logic and Conceptual Analysis. Wojick was a “scientific advisor” for a now-defunct Greening Earth Society, a group created by the Western Fuels Association, a large US coal industry …
Who We Are – David Wojick | Heartland Institute
Heartland Institute › about-us › david-wo…
david wojick from http://www.heartland.org
Contact David Wojick. [email protected]. David Wojick is a former consultant with the Office of Scientific and Technical Information at the U.S. Department of Energy in the area of information and …
David E. Wojick – SourceWatch
SourceWatch › index.php › David_E._…
Jun 26, 2017 · David E. Wojick is a well-known and vocal climate change “skeptic”, with strong links to the coal industry and a now-defunct coal industry front group called the Greening Earth Society. [1] …
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Global warming skeptic: David Wojick – Skeptical Science
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The international climate machine is about to achieve a new degree of alarmist absurdity, basically speeding up as they hit the wall. It is all about the Paris Climate Agreement targets and it is kind of fun to watch.
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The international climate machine is about to achieve a new degree of alarmist absurdity, basically speeding up as they hit the wall. It is all about the Paris …
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Wojick is not a climate scientist. Wojick has been described as a journalist and policy analyst. According to a search of 22,000 academic journals, Wojick has not …
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Perhaps you could quote were you are seeing you being attacked .
That DeSmogBlog’s attack piece shows up on every single skeptic’s search results cannot be a coincidence. I said it was easy and you asked how, which I answered. Now you have gone nuts as usual. But you and Google missed a good article that explains my work:
http://www.stemed.info/engineer_tackles_confusion.html
How about posting your bio? My guess is that you are in sales.
I’m finding it more than a little ironic that in a thread where you are arguing about “attack piece “, you post “My guess is that you are in sales.”
So let’s see your bio. Or are you ashamed of it?
Wow….
Your article is about the search results for you.
How is my bio part of that?
I wouldn’t waste my time on that fool. He’s clueless.
A 1980 article linked to from page found in Google search, so hardly “missed”…
stemed.info/engi…
Maybe the algorithm puts newer stuff first?
The “attack piece” at desmog (https://www.desmogblog.com/david-wojick ) .
Perhaps quote ‘atrack’ and then point to a more favorable reading elsewhere.
Actually, how does Google know a “skeptic” is doing the search?
Google doesn’t, as everyone doing a search gets the same search results. Google just knows that the person searched on is a skeptic, so they include a lot of negative items in the first page of results. Is this too complicated for you?
“…so they include a lot of negative items in the first page of results.”
You are making some huge leap from search results to some unsupported claims abouan algorith.
Lets consider that a basic rubric, taught from 6th grade on might be part of the basis of the algorithm.
C.R.A.A.P. TEST
Currency: the timeliness of the information
When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
Are the links functional?
Relevance: the importance of the information for your needs
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
Authority: the source of the information
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given?
What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given?
What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic?
Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source?
examples: .com (commercial), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S. government),
.org (nonprofit organization), or .net (network)
Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content, and
Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
Purpose: the reason the information exists
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
http://libguides.library.ncat.edu/content_mobile.php?pid=53820&sid=394505#box_394505
“so they include a lot of negative items in the first page of results.”
“…cannot be a coincidence”
Nope. Google tends to bias for reliable information.
Odd you didn’t test -or maybe decided to not show the results – subscription databases like ProQuest, Ebsco, etc. that are available to anyone with a library card.
The last time I was in a library was to see a demo of something new called the world wide web. I went out and bought a PC and a modem.
That says a lot…..
Not a lot good, though.
Btw, those databases run through that WWW thingie…. and were available well before its advent
Keep trolling, Robert. LOL
Fake news sharing in US is a rightwing thing, says study
University of Oxford project finds Trump supporters consume largest volume of ‘junk news’ on Facebook and Twitter
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/06/sharing-fake-news-us-rightwing-study-trump-university-of-oxford
https://2982-presscdn-29-70-pagely.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Stephen-Hawking.gif
https://bookriot.com/2013/12/03/celebrity-read-posters-80s-90s/
And funnily enough, one of the things they likely showed was how easy access was to these databases via your modem…..
Regarding my recent work, Google and Robert both missed my ongoing fundraiser to build a simple website that makes skeptical educational materials readily available:
https://www.gofundme.com/climate-change-debate-education
Donors names are displayed, but anonymous donations can be made here:
http://climatechangedebate.org/
Interesting…
I cite Google, but you claim I missed your site.
And you accuse me of being in sales,
And then go off-topic to self promote .
“anonymous donations can be made here:”
.
W
O
W
“In fact “climate literacy” is code for the false belief that humans are causing dangerous climate change. ”
http://ccdedu.blogspot.com/2017/06/bringing-balance-to-climate-science.html
There is a better explanation than claiming Google is willing to send bad search results which would effect a third of the populace (and the attendees ad revenue) :” For example, for every skeptic we analyzed, the search results include a link to DeSmogBlog. This site’s leading feature is a large database of negative dossiers on prominent skeptics. It would be easy to tell the algorithm to treat everyone listed in the DeSmogBlog database negatively.”
A simple search rubric such as :
C.R.A.A.P. TEST
Currency: the timeliness of the information
When was the information published or posted?
Has the information been revised or updated?
Is the information current or out-of date for your topic?
Are the links functional?
Relevance:
the importance of the information for your needs
Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?
Who is the intended audience?
Is the information at an appropriate level (i.e. not too elementary or advanced for your needs)?
Have you looked at a variety of sources before determining this is one you will use?
Would you be comfortable using this source for a research paper?
Authority: the source of the information
Who is the author/publisher/source/sponsor?
Are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given? What are the author’s credentials or organizational affiliations given?
What are the author’s qualifications to write on the topic?
Is there contact information, such as a publisher or e-mail address?
Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source? examples: .com (commercial), .edu (educational), .gov (U.S. government), .org (nonprofit organization), or .net (network)
Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the content
Where does the information come from?
Is the information supported by evidence?
Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
Does the language or tone seem biased and free of emotion?
Are there spelling, grammar, or other typographical errors?
Purpose: the reason the information exists
What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?
Do the authors/sponsors make their intentions or purpose clear?
Is the information fact? opinion? propaganda?
Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
http://libguides.library.ncat.edu/content_mobile.php?pid=53820&sid=394505#box_394505