From HuffPo
Thanks to the Twitter account @Amazing_Maps, we now have an idea of how the Internet stereotypes all 50 U.S. states. When a search phrase like “Why is Illinois so…” is typed into Google, the search engine autocompletes the sentence with the word that people most commonly write in the search bar next. In this way, Google autocomplete may reveal the deeply held assumptions the public holds about a state.
Actually, if I’m not mistaken about Google’s algorithm, search results become increasingly tailored to the user over time, so this may say at least as much about the user as it does about the search engine.
For example, I got “Why is Wisconsin so cold” as my #1 result. “Liberal” was second.
Anyway, for the record, since I literally wrote the book on state stereotypes, I can state authoritatively that most of this map’s stereotypes are wrong, and most Google users ask stupid questions.
Only two, ‘Good’ States though. That’s not good.
Why is Washington so…
…screwed up?
…run by unions?
…known as the Soviet State of Washington?
…attached to socialist, female Senators like Murray and Cantwell?
…stupid?
But I don’t use Google. I just ask these questions to myself every day.
@2 Why does Jimmy live in Washington?
@3: Saltwater. I’m addicted to it.
How can Nebraska be boring when Manning keeps giving the shout outs to Omaha?
I live in Wisconsin and tried this out and I got the same results as you did, Harvey.
NC: Cheap. Andy Griffith put out a comedy album in the ’60s (the 1960s if you need Y2K compliant dates). He talked about people in NC being thrifty. He also said to watch out for government liquor, that it’ll kill you; oddly enough I think I heard something about clearer liquor causing less hangovers!
I like this map…it has Alaska depicted correctly. Well almost…not only are we expansive but we are COLD!! Yes COLD!! So keep that in mind all you West coast liberals. No matter if you’re from Seattle or all the way down to San Diego…you don’t want to come here, it’s COLD!! COLD!!
Cold is a good thing.
In North Dakota they sell T shirts that read, “40 degrees below zero keeps the riff-raff out!”
Let’s see the map again in July or early August and see how many say “hot”.
@10 – I made to note to myself for July 1 to do just that.
Alabama is good, but we knew that. 🙂
When you write Alabama, Google thinks you are referring to a football team, not a state.