Comments on: Using Google to learn what boyfriends and girlfriends want from each other http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 17:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Bahumat http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684288 Bahumat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684288 Huh, here's a fascinating little factoid: Type in "I love" and you'll get results. Type in "I hate" and nothing. Evidently there's some results to be found there that are of concern. Huh, here’s a fascinating little factoid:

Type in “I love” and you’ll get results.
Type in “I hate” and nothing.

Evidently there’s some results to be found there that are of concern.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684297 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684297 How can I get my boyfriend to propose? A: Give him head. How can I get my girlfriend to give me head? A: Propose to her. And on it goes. How can I get my boyfriend to propose?

A: Give him head.

How can I get my girlfriend to give me head?

A: Propose to her.

And on it goes.

]]> By: toxonix http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684302 toxonix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684302 The answer is that women want to control and manipulate men like puppets, and men simply desire sexual favors from attractive women. I was disturbed to see this one: "How can I get my girlfriend pregnant" WTF? The answer is that women want to control and manipulate men like puppets, and men simply desire sexual favors from attractive women.

I was disturbed to see this one:
“How can I get my girlfriend pregnant”
WTF?

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684564 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684564 Doesn't even have to be google programmers. I imagine you could write something that could bump up a desired search. It doesn't even have to be fancy actually. A network of people with some scripts could probably do it. I dunno, it depends on whether google looks at multiple queries from the same place... but that could be overcome easily enough too. Whatever, but I suspect surely some of the searches on google are for lulz. Doesn’t even have to be google programmers. I imagine you could write something that could bump up a desired search. It doesn’t even have to be fancy actually. A network of people with some scripts could probably do it. I dunno, it depends on whether google looks at multiple queries from the same place… but that could be overcome easily enough too. Whatever, but I suspect surely some of the searches on google are for lulz.

]]> By: Rossy http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684565 Rossy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684565 I was just about to say the same thing. Not only just in regards to head-getting, but about any of it. I was just about to say the same thing. Not only just in regards to head-getting, but about any of it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684314 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684314 It's pretty depressing looking at the "how do I get my husband" and "how go I get my wife" queries. It’s pretty depressing looking at the “how do I get my husband” and “how go I get my wife” queries.

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684319 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684319 Well I'd say getting some one pregnant (presumably without their consent) would be up there on the manipulative strategy scale. Well I’d say getting some one pregnant (presumably without their consent) would be up there on the manipulative strategy scale.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684076 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684076 i see safe search was turned on. i see safe search was turned on.

]]> By: Avram / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684332 Avram / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684332 I notice that "trust me" is #4 on both lists. I notice that “trust me” is #4 on both lists.

]]> By: jungletek http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684588 jungletek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684588 I think you're forgetting the fact that google _crawls the web_ to get words in certain groups, so that you can search for those words in certain combinations and get usable and more importantly, *relevant* results. Therefore, typing in questions works because someone, somewhere, at some time, typed a question that was the same or very similar. E.g. a message board or similar. Sure, many times a boolean or other structured search will give you greater controls on returned results... but I think Google has probably realized that having the search engine return relevant results when Joe or Jane Blow enters a natural-language query might be a good idea. I think you’re forgetting the fact that google _crawls the web_ to get words in certain groups, so that you can search for those words in certain combinations and get usable and more importantly, *relevant* results.
Therefore, typing in questions works because someone, somewhere, at some time, typed a question that was the same or very similar. E.g. a message board or similar.
Sure, many times a boolean or other structured search will give you greater controls on returned results… but I think Google has probably realized that having the search engine return relevant results when Joe or Jane Blow enters a natural-language query might be a good idea.

]]> By: nutbastard http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684335 nutbastard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684335 some of these match up, problem and solution, directly across from each other: want him to propose? give 'em head! want head? propose! want him to spend more time with you? sleep with him! want her to sleep with you? spend more time with her! want him to love you again? lose weight! want her to love you again? be more romantic! some of these match up, problem and solution, directly across from each other:

want him to propose? give ‘em head!
want head? propose!

want him to spend more time with you? sleep with him!
want her to sleep with you? spend more time with her!

want him to love you again? lose weight!

want her to love you again? be more romantic!

]]> By: sad dolls http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684085 sad dolls Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684085 Why won't my parakeet eat my diarrhea? Why won’t my parakeet eat my diarrhea?

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684088 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684088 Not that amazing or interesting really, but I do like the "how do I get my (boy/girl)friend to break up with me search. Apparently spinelessness is sex neutral. Not that amazing or interesting really, but I do like the “how do I get my (boy/girl)friend to break up with me search. Apparently spinelessness is sex neutral.

]]> By: mypalmike http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684091 mypalmike Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684091 It's too bad a couple of the lines got cut off. It turns out the second line on the left is "how can i get my boyfriend to spend more tip money from his waitering job on me". It’s too bad a couple of the lines got cut off. It turns out the second line on the left is “how can i get my boyfriend to spend more tip money from his waitering job on me”.

]]> By: dwdyer http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684860 dwdyer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684860 This is a fun timewaster. how many men how many women how can I get my cat to how can I get my dog to how can I enlarge how can I reduce how can I smoke how can I drink how can I eat how do you get how do you lose how do you win how do you eat why do men why do women This is a fun timewaster.

how many men
how many women
how can I get my cat to
how can I get my dog to
how can I enlarge
how can I reduce
how can I smoke
how can I drink
how can I eat
how do you get
how do you lose
how do you win
how do you eat
why do men
why do women

]]> By: Rob Thornton http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684101 Rob Thornton Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684101 Someone on the Predictably Irrational blog pointed out that this search cannot determine whether the searcher is in a same-sex relationship or not.... Someone on the Predictably Irrational blog pointed out that this search cannot determine whether the searcher is in a same-sex relationship or not….

]]> By: MattMcKeon http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684102 MattMcKeon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684102 <a href="http://hint.fm/seer/">Web Seer</a> gives you a nice visualization to do side-by-side comparisons of this type. The authors wrote <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/opinion/22viegas.ready.html">an op-ed about it for the NY Times</a> a few weeks ago. Web Seer gives you a nice visualization to do side-by-side comparisons of this type. The authors wrote an op-ed about it for the NY Times a few weeks ago.

]]> By: MattMcKeon http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684110 MattMcKeon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684110 Oh, and another good one to try out: "is my daughter " vs. "is my son " Oh, and another good one to try out: “is my daughter ” vs. “is my son ”

]]> By: Trent Hawkins http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684112 Trent Hawkins Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684112 It seems like some of the questions on one side answer the corresponding questions on the other. It seems like some of the questions on one side answer the corresponding questions on the other.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684115 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684115 We're assuming an awful lot about how the google search engine works. A friend of mine who worked at google for many years always laughs when he hears people discussing tips and tricks using google's search, because they're way off on their ideas of google rankings and so forth. Of course, he won't reveal his secrets, and only tells me that they're missing lots of important pieces to the puzzle. We’re assuming an awful lot about how the google search engine works. A friend of mine who worked at google for many years always laughs when he hears people discussing tips and tricks using google’s search, because they’re way off on their ideas of google rankings and so forth. Of course, he won’t reveal his secrets, and only tells me that they’re missing lots of important pieces to the puzzle.

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684123 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684123 I highly recommend a "Should Women" vs. "Should Men" comparison. Never have I had greater insight into the pressing issues facing men. I highly recommend a “Should Women” vs. “Should Men” comparison.

Never have I had greater insight into the pressing issues facing men.

]]> By: japroach http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684892 japroach Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684892 Yeah, that's standard fare here on the boing. Their brain must turn off as they scroll down the page. Someone write me an "auto-hide redundant" greasemonkey script and I will reward you graciously. Yeah, that’s standard fare here on the boing. Their brain must turn off as they scroll down the page.

Someone write me an “auto-hide redundant” greasemonkey script and I will reward you graciously.

]]> By: jtegnell http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684383 jtegnell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684383 Seems like quite a few of you aren't bothering to read the previous posts! Seems like quite a few of you aren’t bothering to read the previous posts!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684640 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684640 Interestingly, if you just try "how do I get my ", the top hit that appears to show up is "how do I get my sister to sleep with me" -- which I think raises even more questions than eyebrows. Interestingly, if you just try “how do I get my “, the top hit that appears to show up is “how do I get my sister to sleep with me” — which I think raises even more questions than eyebrows.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684654 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684654 I can't believe no one has dropped http://autocompleteme.com/ yet. The latest 3 winners: <i>My robot is pregnant</i> <i>Onions are my husband</i> <i>Google killed bambi</i> I can’t believe no one has dropped http://autocompleteme.com/ yet. The latest 3 winners:

My robot is pregnant

Onions are my husband

Google killed bambi

]]> By: bbonyx http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684147 bbonyx Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684147 That observation totally made my day. Thank you, sir. That observation totally made my day. Thank you, sir.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684408 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684408 I find it fascinating that so many people apparently type *questions* into google, rather than keywords or phrases that they expect to appear on the kind of page they are looking for. It seems they believe google will understand and then answer the question. Before they typed "How can I get my girlfriend to X", did they type "Good morning google, how are you today? Can you help me with something please?" I find it fascinating that so many people apparently type *questions* into google, rather than keywords or phrases that they expect to appear on the kind of page they are looking for.

It seems they believe google will understand and then answer the question. Before they typed “How can I get my girlfriend to X”, did they type “Good morning google, how are you today? Can you help me with something please?”

]]> By: blueelm http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684413 blueelm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684413 And then people wonder how the same innovations could pop up in so many distant places over time. And then people wonder how the same innovations could pop up in so many distant places over time.

]]> By: agreenster http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684161 agreenster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684161 Here's a fun one: "is Obama" Try it. Here’s a fun one:

“is Obama”

Try it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/11/using-google-to-lear.html#comment-684163 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-684163 It doesn't necessarily show what people care about the most, but what newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. THINK people should care about the most. It doesn’t necessarily show what people care about the most, but what newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. THINK people should care about the most.

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