Amtrak (Allegedly) Hates The Stranger

Comments

Its probably some generic blocking software that covers a wide range of sites. If not, id say that the worst this site has to offer is that some users thumbnail avatars contain nudity and the ads showcasing the online personals often contain photos that are borderline NSFW.

Kinison on February 18, 2011 at 2:46 PM

In that ad for Jenna Haze I can totally see her nips through the lingerie.

You think Amtrak can't see that? Think of the children! NSFT(rains)!

Max Solomon on February 18, 2011 at 2:48 PM

Most hospitals I've been in had The Stranger blocked.

Banna on February 18, 2011 at 2:50 PM

For a month or so, I wasn't able to access Slog or anything at thestranger.com from my work computer. It was pretty clearly not IT that blocked it, though; that would give a very specific message explaining why I couldn't access the site, but Slog just acted like it wasn't there. But yesterday, sometime midday, I was suddenly able to access Slog. That's why I haven't been commenting much these days.

MacCrocodile on February 18, 2011 at 2:50 PM

Hee hee! Two weeks ago ECB reported (thoroughly) on the Stranger's being Amtrak-blocked. Here's the closing:

Amtrak encountered similar problems on its Acela service in the Northeast, where its blacklisting service snagged everything from Facebook to eHarmony to a site called The New Gay—a block that initially prompted charges of discrimination. (Amtrak subsequently unblocked the site).

Stranger editorial director Dan Savage and tech department director Anthony Hecht did not immediately return emails for comment.

http://publicola.com/2011/02/03/amtrak-b…

gloomy gus on February 18, 2011 at 2:53 PM

I teach at a high school, SLOG (and Jezebel and Racialicious) is blocked on their wi-fi.

ScaryMara on February 18, 2011 at 3:03 PM

Questionland was previously blocked by the SonicWALL firewall service, but they re-categorized it as "Reference" after I submitted a request, and now it's no longer blocked.

DowntownTaylor on February 18, 2011 at 3:10 PM

It's not just the Slog -- it's the whole Stranger web site. I noticed this myself about 3 weeks ago on Amtrak. Emailed to complain and was told they were sorry, they were getting numerous reports about a variety of legitimate sites being blocked erroneously, and they were working on the issue. I guess they aren't working on it very quickly.

Meg on February 18, 2011 at 3:10 PM

Its blocked at the youth computers at my work. Luckily, I am not a youth.

Lily Fluffbottom on February 18, 2011 at 3:18 PM

ah ha. blame dan savage!

xina on February 18, 2011 at 3:29 PM

No access problems from the state capitol's wifi network, aside from the personals section being blocked. I can still see the Lustlab ads on the side of the Slog. FML is blocked for some reason, though.

Terry Nguyen on February 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM

@ 5 - Oh snap!

merry on February 18, 2011 at 3:35 PM

Who doesn't hate the Stranger?

michaelp on February 18, 2011 at 3:44 PM

Stranger should consider it a compliment, to be hated and blocked by so many institutions. Christ, give Amtrak a break. They're only just getting wi-fi and it's what, 2011?

procupcake on February 18, 2011 at 4:00 PM

Of course it's not personal, honey! It's a site blocker program that spiders for specific keywords. And a quick look at slog reveals plenty of those words that could be considered on the "nasty list".

Christi S on February 18, 2011 at 4:08 PM

Counting my Dominic-blocking plugin or not?

tunanator on February 18, 2011 at 4:18 PM

OK, I image Googled "sex on amtrak" and the 10 results that returned were A: all totally safe for work, and B: 8 of the 10 had nothing to do with either Amtrak or sex. OK, which one of you out there broke Google?

PaulBarwick on February 18, 2011 at 4:21 PM

Couldn't access from public kiosks in the Hong Kong airport ~8 months ago.

Asparagus! on February 18, 2011 at 4:24 PM

Those "Old-Fashioned Trains" that are not keeping up with Europe were made it Spain.

It's not the train that's "old-fashioned"; It's the tracks.

Catalina Vel-DuRay on February 18, 2011 at 4:45 PM

I could read the Slog during my trips to Saudi Arabia. And let me tell you, those people know how to block the internet up quite nicely.

Womyn2me on February 18, 2011 at 4:48 PM

The good news is, that sitting between performances at Benaroya last night, and being too lazy to get up and walk around, I sat and "Droided" away the fifteen minutes on my new Optimus V from Virgin.

Best Mobile News Web Site...yes, SLOG Mobile.

It fits the screen perfectly. The pictures and video are well placed and right sized. Having a single scrollable column is absolutely the way to go.

Kudos to the SLOG web designers for (I imagine) actually having designed, built and tested something that is appropriate to the device!

Supreme Ruler Of The Universe on February 18, 2011 at 4:56 PM

Haha, it's a bit ironic that I work at a middle school in South Korea where there is some kind of blocking software in use with the network at school and it blocks access to everything on The Stranger website BUT Slog.

Ceaselessbecoming on February 18, 2011 at 5:00 PM

I've had trouble accessing Slog using GoGo on Delta flights. But it's hit or miss.

igub on February 18, 2011 at 7:00 PM

Hey ignorant unpaid intern!

The Amtrak Cascades trainsets are among the most modern in the world. Stop BS-ing readers. Their locomotives may be diesel/electric but they too are up to date. The coaches are technically high-speed.

Wells on February 18, 2011 at 7:38 PM

I access Slog (or at least, was able to last week) at the Amtrak/MBTA station in Providence, RI without any problems, using the Amtrak wireless hub there. Odd that you can't out there in the West.

Cad in Decadent on February 18, 2011 at 8:06 PM

i was blocked from Wikipedia in Shanghai, but it is a bit shocking to see that shit happening here.

blackhook on February 18, 2011 at 8:57 PM

Slog used to be blocked where I work, in local government (outside Washington state). They must have revised the list recently because now I can access Slog but not YouTube.

Prettybetsy on February 18, 2011 at 9:05 PM

Well, as of yesterday, The Stranger was still blocked on the Cascades. As #1 noted, Amtrak probably is using some third-party for site blocking and, like my workplace, they think The Stranger will corrupt us all/get us arrested.

Teslick on February 18, 2011 at 9:09 PM

I rode Amtrak 2 weeks ago (Sea to Port) and the Stranger was blocked "by an automatic filter due to questionable content", but not Seattle Weekly (same sex ads). I emailed Amtrak to complain and within an hour got this reply from the Marketing and Communications Manager at Wash St Dept of Transportation: "Thank you for your e-mail. We are working on the blocked content and expect that it will "snare" certain sites that should not be there. I will pass your list on to our provider so they can remove them from the blocked sites list."

Barak Gaster, MD on February 18, 2011 at 9:43 PM

I work for the city, and can get Stranger/Slog no problem, but they have some wierd things about their blocking software. There's an electric vehicle website that i was trying to visit to view the specs on their charging stations, and it got blocked for "sexual content". Believe me, there's nothing less erotic than electrical specifications,

But I appealed, had to fill out a form explaining what the site really did, and why I needed access, and it was resolved within an hour.

Catalina Vel-DuRay on February 19, 2011 at 7:56 AM

Learn how to use proxy servers, ya muppet.

sonder on February 19, 2011 at 8:37 AM

Slog blocked from direct access from company browser, but the Stranger is not. Can get to Slog from Stranger home page. Go figure.

DaiBando on February 19, 2011 at 10:06 AM

ARGH!

It doesn't fucking "beg the question" -- it RAISES the question, perhaps. To "beg the question" is to assume one's conclusion, for example, saying the Bible must be the word of God, because the Bible says it's the word of God.

It's a really useful phrase that lazy writers are pissing on. Read. Learn. Evolve.

Catherwood on February 20, 2011 at 12:08 AM

From the Amtrak Marketing and Communications Manager:

Thank you for your e-mail. Yes, we have already been contacted about The Stranger and we apologize for the inconvenience. We are working on the blocked content and expect that it will “snare” certain sites that probably are questionable.

We are reviewing all requests to unblock certain sites and will make changes where appropriate to maintain the highest quality of our service.

VelhoSorriso on February 20, 2011 at 7:00 AM

Montreal Trudeau Airport blocks Slog. I must say, I was surprised.

prenks on February 21, 2011 at 2:41 AM

Amtrak (Allegedly) Hates The Stranger

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