Creeped Out

According to Slashdot, Google just released their Zeitgeist..

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist2005.html

Am I the only one creeped out that this kind of thing is published? I know it doesn't show my individual search habits, but something about this really creeps me out.

Not saying its rational. But, I'm not so sure I'll be going to Google first anymore...

MisterDonut wrote:

According to Slashdot, Google just released their Zeitgeist..

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist2005.html

Am I the only one creeped out that this kind of thing is published? I know it doesn't show my individual search habits, but something about this really creeps me out.

Not saying its rational. But, I'm not so sure I'll be going to Google first anymore...

The collection of anonymous statistics on search engines don't creep me out.

The results, though....  [shudder]

Google News - Top Searches 2005

1. Janet Jackson
2. Hurricane Katrina
3. tsunami
4. xbox 360
5. Brad Pitt
6. Michael Jackson
7. American Idol
8. Britney Spears
9. Angelina Jolie
10. Harry Potter

Those are news searches???

A "wardrobe malfunction" topped a natural disaster that caused billions of dollars in damage and displaced entire cities???

The Jackson family has two people on the Top Ten list???

Based on this, it sounds like someone should create a 24-hour cable TV news channel that shows nothing but disaster footage and rumors about pop stars.

This reminds me of a couple of years ago, I used to listen to the BBC World Service on shortwave... thinking that was untainted... and Michael Jackson was all over the U.S. news for some stupid reason.  So I switched off the local news and turned on the shortwave, thinking, "Well, finally some real news."  And the announcer comes on and tells me I'm listening to the BBC World Service.  (pause) "POP STAR MICHAEL JACKSON..."

I think I leapt across the room and switched the radio off.  Nooo, nooo, they've even infected the BBC...

Also I find it strange that "xbox 360" shows up as 4th.  When did Google stop counting "2005" statistics?  My guess is that a few more people will be searching for "xbox 360" as we get closer to Christmas.  Who knows, it might even beat "tsunami." 

Karim wrote:

Based on this, it sounds like someone should create a 24-hour cable TV news channel that shows nothing but disaster footage and rumors about pop stars.

lol their WMD search under World Affairs is amusing, considering lots of people probably hit that term because of the easter egg

Now, Yahoo has put up their own stats.

2005 Top Searches on Yahoo!