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A 2009 holiday Op-Ed


Valentine's Day Op-Ed

 

Type "why" and you get questions about sky, cats, and marriage, along with "why do men cheat" and "why do men have nipples." Google's labor-saving device has opened a window into our collective soul.

Is there a way to visualize people's innermost thoughts? Google Suggest lets you see what others are asking when they search the web. From the existential to the mundane, the questions form a portrait of human curiosity. (Try it live now.)

Take the phrase "why doesn't he..." Even more revealing is the comparison between what he doesn't do, and what she doesn't. (In these diagrams, the arrow thicknesses show the number of web pages for each question.)

 

Exploring the Web Oracle can be quite revealing of our fears, curiosities and prejudices. When it comes to politics, for instance, most of us seem to be confused: