24 janeiro 2006

Prejudice according to Google

We don't even exist! Or rather, meeeeee!




The Web search engine Google continues to expand its power in cyberspace. Everyday people come up with another quirky way to make use of its almighty algorithms. First came the Googlewhack, where people with way too much time on their hands tried to find two different words that would come up with a single search result. But it didn't stop there.

Now a German blogger has come up with a world map that shows what traits different nationalities are especially known for. It's called "The Prejudice Map," but it seems more like a catalog of stereotypes and clichés to us. But seeing as how such stereotypes can lead to prejudice, we can probably let that slide. How does it work you ask? Well, its creator has simply put the phrase "Germans are known for *" into Google and the the search engine has done the rest. SPIEGEL ONLINE turned that tactic against Google itself and found out that the Web site is known for its relaxed corporate culture, simplicity and frequently changing its ranking methods.

Der Spiegel

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