Google’s Autocomplete service has provided some fun and quirky suggestions since Google fully launched the service back in 2008. For those who don’t know what Google Autocomplete is: when you start typing words into the Google search engine, Google provides a list of possible suggestions to complete your query. I tried a few searches today, using google.co.uk, and here are some screenshots of the funny results…

Today’s health and safety tip…

I’ve been wondering a lot about this lately…

Well, it’s a good question. There’s something else I really need to know…

Whilst I’m on the subject…

I’m desperate for the toilet, but my friend’s flat has triple velvet toilet paper…

I know 3 people called Paul… now, that’s what I call choice!

Hang on, what’s this little round sweet I’ve just found? There’s a note with it…

I really love my cat. But he has a very unusual appearance…

Listen, I’ve got a friend who is vertically challenged. We are planning a late night burglery, so I really want to know…

Enough of this nonsense. It’s time we asked some important questions. As someone who uses Facebook, I feel I must find out…

That seems rather harsh! I’m also a fan of Twitter…

Well, I’m not sure which of those applies to me… ah, yes, all of them.

Let’s finish off with a comparison. I know a lot of American and British people. So, Google…

So, what causes these spurious suggestions to appear when you type a search into Google? Well, it’s all down to their algorithms finding these phrases in pages throughout the Internet. That’s right, somewhere on the Internet the phrase “I want to do a poo at Paul’s” has been mentioned a large number of times.

What I am now wondering is whether a new phrase could be added to Google Autocomplete if it is mentioned enough times. Shall I start a campaign for people to add the phrase “I want to lick Barack Obama’s armpit” into their blogs and web pages?

Article by Alastair Hazell
Chasing a Noodle
www.chasinganoodle.com

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