Google informs us horrible things about each other even when we don't ask it to do so.
Just ask its search bar on its home page.
Google tries to be helpful when people enter things into the search bars, suggesting possible matches before people even finish typing, based on the most common searches. People type in broad questions that are also quite personal and speak to the state of mind at the moment. As a result, those search entries - and how Google tries to predict users will complete those entries - gives us a snapshot of ourselves.
Google will offer some variety from computer to computer but most of the results below are common. Many of the suggestions are sad, some are disturbing.
"Is it normal to want ____" is both.
Five common words or phrases Canadians at Google.ca use to fill in the blank are: to be alone, to be single, sex every day, to kill and to cheat.
Google is also the home for relationship advice, it seems.
For the phrase "my husband won't ____," Google's common answers are: work, won't have sex with me, won't (common phrase for cunnilingus), stop lying to me and get help for depression.
For the phrase "my boyfriend won't _____," Google's most common completions are: won't (common phrase for cunnilingus), followed by kiss me, stand up for me, meet my family and get a job.
For the phrase "my wife won't ____," talk to me, work, get a job, stop spending money and leave me are Google's predicted phrases.
For "my girlfriend won't ____," the top phrase completion suggestions were: talk to me, put out, exercise, open up to me, move in with me.
Some others:
"My boyfriend has ____" a small (common slang word for penis), no friends, herpes, a low sex drive, no time for me.
"My husband has ___" become selfish in bed, BPD (borderline personality disorder), no empathy, ADHD, Aspergers.
"My girlfriend has ___" no sex drive, depression, a girlfriend, a yeast infection.
"My wife has ___" a boyfriend, anxiety, depression, anger issues, gained weight.
"My husband isn't ____" romantic, affectionate anymore, attracted to me anymore, interested in me, attracted to me pregnant.
"My wife isn't ____" attracted to me, interested in me sexually, in love with me anymore, getting pregnant.
"My girlfriend isn't ____" hot, pretty, attractive, sexually attracted to me, affectionate anymore.
"My boyfriend isn't ____" romantic, sexually aggressive, over his ex, giving me attention and my best friend.
Google also tells us what we think of our families, based on the predicted completions for the following phrases:
"Is my mom ___" abusive, toxic, a sociopath, bipolar, jealous of me.
"Is my dad ___" cheating on my mom, depressed, abusive, a sociopath.
"Is my daughter ___" gay, gifted, depressed, a narcissist.
"Is my son ____" gay, autistic, gifted, ADHD, a narcissist.
And in our darkest moments, it appears we even ask Google to be able to see into our souls, based on the following entries and predicted search completion:
"I regret _____" nothing, having children, everything.
"Am I ____" pregnant, depressed, bipolar, gay, pretty.
"I wish I was ___" a little bit taller, never born.
Psychologists, both amateur and professional, have lots to talk about from those Google queries, starting with what people may be thinking or feeling as they enter those kinds of queries into the Google search bar in the first place.
At the very least, this Google data suggests people are both insecure and eager (and probably desperate) to try to fix their personal problems.
Most of all, however, it confirms that many people suffer alone and in silence, but there are many struggling with the same issues.
-- Managing editor Neil Godbout
