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Is there anything that Google doesn't know about us? As if who we e-mail, what we watch, and where we'll be wasn't enough, the search giant also knows (or can at least predict) what we want out of our significant other. Dan Ariely, a professor at Duke University, posted the results of his search-engine experiment yesterday on his Web site, Predictably Irrational.Ariely, who studies behavioral economics, wanted to find out what concerns men and women have about one another. So he turned to Google. As you know, a drop-down menu of suggested searches appears when you begin typing words into the search box. These suggestions are based on data collected from what people commonly search on the site. Ariely posed these two half-questions: "how can i get my boyfriend to" and "how can i get my girlfriend to." Then, he let Google do its work.
The resulting suggestions read like they're right out of a cliche-riddled romantic comedy. "How can I get my boyfriend to 'propose'," "'spend more time with me'," and "'love me again'" rounded out the top three. Others included: "how can i get my girlfriend to "sleep with me" and "lose weight."
Although the results mostly reinforce worn-out stereotypes (i.e., men only want sex, women only want love), we have to give Ariely credit for finding a unique way to use Google as a research tool. What else could the search engine tell us about each other? Attempt to find out at your own risk... [From: Predictably Irrational]
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Comments
11
Subscribe to commentsPennyLane4202Jan 12th 2010 6:39AM
Sadly, this reinforces every woman's fears. But we must remember, ladies, that not all men are like this. (we hope) There are a few good ones out there. Let me know if you meet any.
*~Peace~*
oconnellterJan 12th 2010 7:39AM
snoop and you will find... With just a little bit of snooping i found out my boyfreind of one year has a facebook and a myspace ad that looks like a singles advertisement."Looking for a special lady....." With just a little more snooping i found out he is calling a young lady who probably has no idea he has no job and a girlfriend who is supporting him. Ladies beware!
Jenniferh021Jan 12th 2010 8:31AM
For the so called "author" of this pointless article... THIS is not journalism!! This is so sad. We have become a society that craves ridiculous information with pointless ends.
Girlfriends: If you have to GOOGLE "How do I get my boyfriend to marry me?" ...Plan on being single for the rest of your life.
Boyfriends: If you have to GOOGLE "How do I get my girlfriend to have sex with me?"... you have A LOT of work to do on your romantic and communication skills.
For the love of God, SPEAK to one another and DISCUSS these things and you will find yourself without the need to GOOGLE about your private relationships!!!
TylerJan 12th 2010 10:12AM
LOL I completely agree with you, if you have to Google stuff like that then you must be a horny B.F and/or a desperate G.F
SmellyMeliJan 12th 2010 1:58PM
This article is not only pointless, it is also deceitful!... i was curious after reading the article so i went to google and entered the same text. And both the boyfriend and girlfriend searches came up with almost the same results... there were boyfriends who wanted their girlfriends to fall in love with them... and there were also girlfriends who wanted their boyfriends to lose weight. The results don't "reinforce worn-out stereotypes"... this author does!
DeannaJan 12th 2010 10:23AM
beside this just being a stupid article, is just proves how heteronormative these people are.
ViennaJan 12th 2010 11:24AM
That's funny. lol!
By the way, how can I get my boyfriend to lose weight?? I guess if you ask a man, he'd say "sex." lol
papagilsJan 12th 2010 12:07PM
i am 71 years young married to a great wife, my buddy,life partner, friend, a woman. we have a very good looking 5'2" daughter who has a great job with state bennies who has joined these on line dating services looking for love.....the only clowns she has found are sex maniacs....losers....drunks.... girls save your money, love will will come...be hard to get....guys join these services to get laid...a body exchange..like a chamber mixer. been there-done that.
kcktmcJan 12th 2010 1:29PM
Men don't want just sex!!!! Talk about stereotypical nonsense!! Men actually want love as much, or MORE than women do. If anything, women want control and security. If a woman doesn't have that, she will do almost anything to get it. That is HER understanding of being loved. If a man isn't getting sex, he does not 'feel' loved, and he too, will do about anything to get it. It is so easy to pin down a man (or a woman) for adultery when they get caught cheating (i.e. Tiger Woods). But typically that is just the final act of a love lost. Many women have 'cheated' their husbands without ever having sex with someone else. The whole relationship system is messed up because everyone demands.. but few want to GIVE! And fewer are satisfied because of it. If you don't love enough or care to meet your partners needs, you are a pig, no matter your gender. We see today what Google only reports, men looking for sex, and women looking for a sugar daddy. SAD!! Welcome to 2010! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
bgoodehJan 12th 2010 2:15PM
Try this yourself. This "journalist" clearly edited his findings. I've done this myself and find the results for "how do I get my boyfriend" to be slightly more deviant than "how do I get my girlfriend". It appears much like public bathrooms, the women are actually the pigs.
bgoodehJan 12th 2010 2:16PM
Perhaps I left "to" off at the end. Try it both ways. Basically the same results appear for both men and women. However women are trying to find your passwords etc........