Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2015 May 24

Computing desk
< May 23	<< Apr | May | Jun >>	May 25 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 24

Annoying pony videos

[question moved here from the miscellaneous desk]

Lots of annoying pony videos show up on my YouTube recommended videos and it's so embarrassing since i don't even watch that sort of cartoons. Could any one of your kind souls work this out for me...? I don't fancy when I am in the middle of a power point me clicking on YouTube and pony videos popping up. That would be so embarrassing and it would be the worst possible thing for me for social stuff and getting teased.

If this doesn't happen when you are using private browsing mode and aren't logged on to your account but only happens with your normal browser, then it's likely Google has decided these are the sort of thing you want. In that case, if you aren't logged in to an account, clear your cookies. If you are logged in to your account, you'll either have to delete your history, or open and subscribe to enough other stuff that it will start showing different stuff. However this may not work, or won't work long term if the reason this arose in the first place keeps occuring. If it's not an account problem but it is a shared computer, you should create seperate OS or browser profile for youself which only you use. If it it's an account problem, are you sure you are keeping your account secure? Nil Einne (talk) 18:54, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

Thank you! Yes I am keeping my account secure. Why would Google decide that though....? I don't have any younger sisters or brothers to do that so I am stumped. I don't fancy deleting my history because someone might get the wrong idea. I've got different accounts for each family member so no one could have made a mistake. The videos show mostly the Mane 6 with some Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to boot. No fun indeed. I know about that because of pony spamming on forums and stuff. 78.148.88.75 (talk) 19:09, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

If getting caught with ponies would be the worst possible thing for you, giving someone the wrong idea by deleting history should be the relatively safer option.

Remember, Google doesn't just build your demographic profile from YouTube videos you watch, but anything you do on any site it has trackers and widgets and whatnot in. For instance, MLPForums.com launches scripts from googlesyndication.com and ajax.googleapis.com. If that's not the forum you've learned about how friendship is magic at, it probably also applies to the one where you did.

If you Google something like "why is my little pony in my recommended videos?", you're just associating yourself further. But when I Googled it (protected somewhat by NoScript), I found this, which suggests you're not alone. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:08, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

You can check here to find out what Google thinks you like, and tell it to stop guessing, if you'd like. If it doesn't suggest you like ponies, it might just be that the brony community has an effective viral marketing strategy, and you've been touched by it. InedibleHulk (talk) 22:17, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

I have tried using the ad check but it showed nothing. I do not like MLP so I have not gone on any forums nor listened to any of the MLP videos on my recommended videos on YouTube. I had a look at the thread but it was useless due to the fact that it showed no tips to deal with it and the thread was mostly mudslinging at YouTube or calling the OP a brony. So why does it continue to happen. Do you have any more tips. Thank you. 2.98.95.185 (talk) 15:55, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Could someone please response. Also the videos are still there and there seems to be a lot of links to MLP Forums and FiMfiction but I don't know why. Could any of you please help. Thanks! 2.98.95.185 (talk) 21:19, 25 May 2015 (UTC)

Nil Einne, why so afraid? Pony rocks man! Read this article My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom. —SGA314 (talk) 13:55, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

@SGA314: Not sure what you referring to. I personally couldn't give a damn if MLP videos show up in my feed and never suggested I did. However the OP wanted help so I offered it. Nil Einne (talk) 22:05, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

I am not afraid of ponies. Also I really do not like MLP and I have no idea why FiMFiction and MLPForums are on my tabs screen. Also there is some sort of MLP fan game music too. I think it's called MLP:Fighting is Magic or something. And it's mostly Fluttershy and with some Twilight Sparkle as well. I don't listen to such music or such girly western animation. Why does it continue to show. Could you help me please. School is a brutal place and I do not want someone to think that I might even enjoy something so girly. I actually don't like it but I don't want someone to think otherwise. Thanks! 78.148.83.112 (talk) 16:31, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

I am just going to leave this here... --Guy Macon (talk) 18:53, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

Could you please tell me what you are trying to say. I don't get it. Anyway I do not watch such a girly show such as MLP the main concern is the pony videos on MY YouTube. Not only that but I am not a fan. At all. I do know a lot but I assure you I am not a Brony! School can misjudge a lot and thus I don't want the school thinking I like such girly shows. Could you give me any tips please on the videos and why they appear. PS I think all of you are good people who will go to heaven when you die. Thanks! 78.148.83.112 (talk) 19:04, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

Try watching videos that are completely unrelated to Pony. Like watch a Within Temptation music video, or something that is unrelated. Not even in the ball park. Youtube will try to give you videos that you might like, although it has failed miserably.

YouTube just likes to spam pony stuff. I do like reading about fanfiction about MLP but not the show itself. I would NEVER dare watch such girly show's ok! Anyway YouTube just's like that in general. And it's tough to avoid looking at pony stuff in order to annoy the bronies but sadly I do not have a YouTube account so everypony just thinks I like the show. Why must this terrible nonsense continue! Thanks! PS No matter what any pony spamming forums tell you about me being a secret brony it's not true! 78.148.83.112 (talk) 19:29, 26 May 2015 (UTC)

Do bronies really say "everypony"? InedibleHulk (talk) 00:37, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

The videos may hang around for a long time. I still have Youtube insisting that I want to see Peppa Pig for a year now after my granddaughter watched some. Strange but your last line in your last comment makes me think of the line from Garageland (song). CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 02:32, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

There is still a awful lot of MLP:FiM videos on my YouTube. Could you please help..? Also there's links to EqD and FiMFiction along with MLPForums. It's quite annoying since school is quite a judgmental place and I do not want to have to endure teasing sbout MLP:FiM. I really, really do not like ponies! Thank you. 78.148.90.255 (talk) 19:55, 27 May 2015 (UTC)

You could try not watching YouTube at school. Do schoolwork instead. During breaks, eat or chat or tease a dorkier kid about his viewing choices. That sort of thing used to be normal. It can't be that freakish yet.

But if you absolutely must let others look at your computer screen while you watch videos, and really don't want anyone to think you like ponies, just delete your damn history and opt out of being tracked. Humiliation aside, it'll make your browser generally browse faster, freeing up time to watch what you want people to think you like (or to pay attention in class). InedibleHulk (talk) 00:33, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

But I don't use YouTube on school computers I watch it on my laptop. Also it's sorta embarrassing since I've got a tough guy image and I don't fancy hearing mocking comments walking down the school corridors. Also there's much more humiliation for a tough guy like me to be caught watching MLP:FiM than say watching something vaguely girly while MLP:FiM is far, far more girly. Also by the way I once in a while bring my laptop for projects and thankfully never had to use YouTube but for all you know it might be nothing but YouTube and that would ruin my social image. Thank you all kind people. 78.148.90.255 (talk) 21:06, 28 May 2015 (UTC)

PS I am not a fan at all! Just trying to see how awful it is. I am on S4 and moving on to S5. The videos are so addicting yet so awful at the same time! 78.148.90.255 (talk) 21:10, 28 May 2015 (UTC)