Why are Americans so…
August 14, 2012 6:43 PM Subscribe
A map of American state stereotypes, generated by Google autocomplete.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- Brandon Blatcher
Looks like two states had only one result. Missouri: so humid. Arkansas: so poor.
posted by curious nu at 6:47 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by curious nu at 6:47 PM on August 14, 2012
Idaho and Oregon come up under boring? Those are probably two of the best places in the US and possibly the world for doing outdoor activities. I live in Boise and it's really, really fun - I almost can't imagine somewhere where I would be able to have more fun. I mean this seriously and not sarcastically in any way.
It probably helps that it has the exact combination of features that allows me to do all of my hobbies, though.
posted by Mitrovarr at 6:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [5 favorites]
It probably helps that it has the exact combination of features that allows me to do all of my hobbies, though.
posted by Mitrovarr at 6:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [5 favorites]
Hilariously, Hawaii is actually not so much hot as a consistently very pleasant temperature. You mainland U.S. folks had three digits of temperature this summer. We never have more (or, really, less) than two.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:51 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:51 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
How often does google update its autocompletes? I imagine the high number of "so humid" states is because the data was compiled in late summer. I wonder if you did this search once a month, whether it'd come out differently and patterns could be tracked?
posted by Jon_Evil at 6:52 PM on August 14, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Jon_Evil at 6:52 PM on August 14, 2012 [4 favorites]
Coming from the much-maligned South, I was relieved to find North Carolina was only "so important, so bad this year, so cheap."
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by SweetTeaAndABiscuit at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
Blue state, red state, ighar, Munsters, lighting slam!
Sorry Grandpa.
posted by Mblue at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2012
Sorry Grandpa.
posted by Mblue at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2012
Interesting.
That being said, the top four results for simple "Why Is", which, by proxy would suggest the most widespread, vexing questions of humanity at this moment in time are:
Why is the sky blue?
Why is my poop green?
Why is the ocean salty?
Why is Pluto not a planet?
posted by cacofonie at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2012 [10 favorites]
That being said, the top four results for simple "Why Is", which, by proxy would suggest the most widespread, vexing questions of humanity at this moment in time are:
Why is the sky blue?
Why is my poop green?
Why is the ocean salty?
Why is Pluto not a planet?
posted by cacofonie at 6:53 PM on August 14, 2012 [10 favorites]
Well, I was certainly not surprised at Connecticut getting "boring"....
(Although, I'm from northeast CT, which is indeed the most boring and average region of this country -- and I can prove that with two completely separate independent research results.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
(Although, I'm from northeast CT, which is indeed the most boring and average region of this country -- and I can prove that with two completely separate independent research results.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:58 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
I got "Why is Monday a racial slur?"
What the hell.
posted by maryr at 7:00 PM on August 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
What the hell.
posted by maryr at 7:00 PM on August 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
Apparently half of the U.S. is great and the other half is boring. Sounds about right.
posted by briank at 7:01 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by briank at 7:01 PM on August 14, 2012
A lot of humidity inquiries, which surprises me, since I think of humidity as like death or taxes.
posted by OmieWise at 7:02 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by OmieWise at 7:02 PM on August 14, 2012
You can hover over all the states I've lived in in order to figure out why I live where I do now. Neat!
posted by padraigin at 7:03 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by padraigin at 7:03 PM on August 14, 2012
Oh wait, wow, apparently it's a slang that originated in Boston and recently came to light when a local cop accosted one of the Red Sox.
...Did I get that auto-complete based on my location? It also gave me "Why is ted rated R?" and a scene for that movie was filmed down the street from me. So weird.
posted by maryr at 7:04 PM on August 14, 2012
...Did I get that auto-complete based on my location? It also gave me "Why is ted rated R?" and a scene for that movie was filmed down the street from me. So weird.
posted by maryr at 7:04 PM on August 14, 2012
I love data like this.
I really do.
(Monday? A racial slur? How.... curious.)
posted by Mezentian at 7:05 PM on August 14, 2012
I really do.
(Monday? A racial slur? How.... curious.)
posted by Mezentian at 7:05 PM on August 14, 2012
Are people actually asking google "Why is Illinois/Indiana so flat?" and is the answer they're hoping for about Pleistocene glaciers (or are they thinking really big bulldozers?) and do they all have a lot of school geography projects on glaciation's effects on geography and soils?
I dunno, dude, it seems like a weird sort of question.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
I dunno, dude, it seems like a weird sort of question.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Why IS Wisconsin so stupid? It's the eternal question.
posted by COBRA! at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by COBRA! at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2012
GIGO
posted by laconic skeuomorph at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by laconic skeuomorph at 7:09 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Why is Colorado so cold? Mmmm.Emotionally?
Healthy? Like the mental health which gives us mass shootings?
Awesome? Our pot laws,dude?
Skinny? I'm not, so this doesn't count.
posted by Isadorady at 7:11 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Healthy? Like the mental health which gives us mass shootings?
Awesome? Our pot laws,dude?
Skinny? I'm not, so this doesn't count.
posted by Isadorady at 7:11 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
I got "Why is Monday a racial slur?"
What the hell.
I think the response is "because no one likes Mondays."
posted by xmutex at 7:14 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
What the hell.
I think the response is "because no one likes Mondays."
posted by xmutex at 7:14 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Why is Canada so...
expensive
lane
gay
great
awesome
liberal
clean
boring
weird
big
Why? Why?
posted by unSane at 7:15 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
expensive
lane
gay
great
awesome
liberal
clean
boring
weird
big
Why? Why?
posted by unSane at 7:15 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
The Monday thing has been in the news fairly recently.
posted by redsparkler at 7:15 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by redsparkler at 7:15 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Why is North Carolina.....so bad this year?
Ooof, that one. Gah. Well, I have bad news, and worse news.
The bad news is that yeah, we kinda sucked this year.
The worse news is that, well, we kinda sucked forever. At least with regards to things like equal human rights and stuff.
Go Buncombe County! Asheville dissents!
posted by lazaruslong at 7:15 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ooof, that one. Gah. Well, I have bad news, and worse news.
The bad news is that yeah, we kinda sucked this year.
The worse news is that, well, we kinda sucked forever. At least with regards to things like equal human rights and stuff.
Go Buncombe County! Asheville dissents!
posted by lazaruslong at 7:15 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why does...
why does colorado have so many shootings
why does texas want to secede
why does colorado hate texas
why does california have the best weed
posted by Davenhill at 7:20 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
why does colorado have so many shootings
why does texas want to secede
why does colorado hate texas
why does california have the best weed
posted by Davenhill at 7:20 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
In the interests of furthering this important inquiry, I tried "Why are..."
Google tells me that people most want to know:
- Why are flamingos pink?
- Why are manhole covers round?
- Why are barns red?
- Why are people gay?
- Why are grapes bad for dogs?
As for the title question of this post...
- Why are Americans so fat?
- Why are American kids so spoiled?
- Why are Americans so stupid?
- Why are Americans so obese?
- Why are Americans called Yankees?
Same question about Brits...
- Why are British police called bobbies?
- Why are British people so arrogant?
- Why are British actors better?
- Why are Brits so mean?
- Why are British people so hot?
Germans...
- Why are Germans so smart?
- Why are Germans so rude?
- Why are Germans so tall?
- Why are Germans so strong?
- Why are German Shepherds so vocal?
Sounds like Germans have a pretty good image, huh? Right up there with the flamingos.
posted by philipy at 7:23 PM on August 14, 2012
Google tells me that people most want to know:
- Why are flamingos pink?
- Why are manhole covers round?
- Why are barns red?
- Why are people gay?
- Why are grapes bad for dogs?
As for the title question of this post...
- Why are Americans so fat?
- Why are American kids so spoiled?
- Why are Americans so stupid?
- Why are Americans so obese?
- Why are Americans called Yankees?
Same question about Brits...
- Why are British police called bobbies?
- Why are British people so arrogant?
- Why are British actors better?
- Why are Brits so mean?
- Why are British people so hot?
Germans...
- Why are Germans so smart?
- Why are Germans so rude?
- Why are Germans so tall?
- Why are Germans so strong?
- Why are German Shepherds so vocal?
Sounds like Germans have a pretty good image, huh? Right up there with the flamingos.
posted by philipy at 7:23 PM on August 14, 2012
Why Are Americans...?
Warum sind Amerikaner...?
The crowd speaks the truth.
posted by dunkadunc at 7:24 PM on August 14, 2012
Warum sind Amerikaner...?
The crowd speaks the truth.
posted by dunkadunc at 7:24 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Michigan so:
*poor
*warm right now
*windy
*warm
...so my home state's defining characteristics are poverty, and being confused by warmth.
I can't really argue with that
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 7:26 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
*poor
*warm right now
*windy
*warm
...so my home state's defining characteristics are poverty, and being confused by warmth.
I can't really argue with that
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 7:26 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, West Virgina, and South Carolina all got "so racist."
posted by XhaustedProphet at 7:27 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by XhaustedProphet at 7:27 PM on August 14, 2012
New Jersey was spot on, and I'm a mostly lifelong New Jerseyan. Everywhere else I've had experience seemed shallow and facile. Go figure.
posted by mollweide at 7:28 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by mollweide at 7:28 PM on August 14, 2012
So, what I get from this is science loses and cheeseburgers win.
posted by Mojojojo at 7:29 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Mojojojo at 7:29 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why is Maryland so expensive AND so ghetto?
Does that mean Maryland is boughetto?
posted by Cash4Lead at 7:30 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Does that mean Maryland is boughetto?
posted by Cash4Lead at 7:30 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Washington State is Cloudy, Rainy, Important, and Liberal. Well, they got it half right...
posted by Aquaman at 7:36 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by Aquaman at 7:36 PM on August 14, 2012
I suspect this is the main reason Google lumped Oregon under "boring."
posted by darksasami at 7:36 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by darksasami at 7:36 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Actually, the Monday as racial slur occurred at a minor league baseball game in New Hampshire. Despite that, NH is both great and important.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:38 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by ChuraChura at 7:38 PM on August 14, 2012
"Why is Monday a racial slur?"
Why is Garfield so racist?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:38 PM on August 14, 2012 [5 favorites]
Why is Garfield so racist?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:38 PM on August 14, 2012 [5 favorites]
why is upstate new york a good place to live
(Because you think that Westchester and Hudson count as "Upstate" and you haven't gone as far north as Schenectady.)
why is upstate new york capitalized
(Because it's different enough from New York City to warrant giving everyone else fair warning.)
why is upstate new york nice
(Because the only people who can tolerate its bad economy and worse weather are kind, patient souls who are also completely delusional.)
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:40 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
(Because you think that Westchester and Hudson count as "Upstate" and you haven't gone as far north as Schenectady.)
why is upstate new york capitalized
(Because it's different enough from New York City to warrant giving everyone else fair warning.)
why is upstate new york nice
(Because the only people who can tolerate its bad economy and worse weather are kind, patient souls who are also completely delusional.)
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:40 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
518 represent
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:43 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
A lot of humidity inquiries, which surprises me, since I think of humidity as like death or taxes.
We're having a lot of humidity in Southern California right now, which is very unusual, and which is a constant reminder of why I pay a lot to not live in the rest of the US. Humidity sucks.
posted by Huck500 at 7:47 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
We're having a lot of humidity in Southern California right now, which is very unusual, and which is a constant reminder of why I pay a lot to not live in the rest of the US. Humidity sucks.
posted by Huck500 at 7:47 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
I first heard the "monday" slur a few years ago from students at the alternative high school I worked at. I didn't realize it was a national thing, which makes me a little sad.
posted by Isadorady at 7:48 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by Isadorady at 7:48 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Garfield so racist?
Finally, my tattoo of this phrase on my neck finally makes sense.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:49 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Finally, my tattoo of this phrase on my neck finally makes sense.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:49 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
why is upstate new york a good place to live
That was me, I googled that the last time I was in Syracuse.
I'm allowed to say this because I'm from LI.
posted by bleep at 7:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
That was me, I googled that the last time I was in Syracuse.
I'm allowed to say this because I'm from LI.
posted by bleep at 7:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is fun to do with cities as well.
On a related note, does anyone know of an actual legit source to back up the theory that San Francisco became a gay Mecca because servicemen who were discharged for homosexuality during WWII were processed there? ("why San Francisco so gay" made me realise I didn't know either.)
posted by Diablevert at 7:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [5 favorites]
On a related note, does anyone know of an actual legit source to back up the theory that San Francisco became a gay Mecca because servicemen who were discharged for homosexuality during WWII were processed there? ("why San Francisco so gay" made me realise I didn't know either.)
posted by Diablevert at 7:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [5 favorites]
Why ARE there so many songs about rainbows?
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:59 PM on August 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by Curious Artificer at 7:59 PM on August 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
(Because you think that Westchester and Hudson count as "Upstate" and you haven't gone as far north as Schenectady.)
Well, there's "upstate," "New York City" and "Long Island." Gotta pick one.
posted by griphus at 8:01 PM on August 14, 2012
Well, there's "upstate," "New York City" and "Long Island." Gotta pick one.
posted by griphus at 8:01 PM on August 14, 2012
"Utah Salty" is my new hobo name
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:01 PM on August 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:01 PM on August 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
Why is the sky blue?
Why is my poop green?
Why is the ocean salty?
Why is Pluto not a planet?
In Canada, the top four have the same first three, but the fourth is:
Why is moonshine illegal?
I report this not out of pride, but out of scientific inquiry.
In the UK, the sky and ocean questions remain, but the other two are:
Why is the Olympics in French first?
Why is the weather so bad?
In Australia, sky, ocean and Pluto plus:
Why is my internet so slow?
In New Zealand; sky and ocean, the same internet question, along with:
Why is Quinn in a wheelchair? (Apparently, the Kiwis are a little behind on their Glee reruns.)
And in India; sky and ocean ("sea water") as well as:
Why is rupee depreciating?
Why is rupee falling?
Of course, asking the same "why is" in other languages, it's a little humbling:
France:
Pourquoi est-il difficile de se passer des énergies fossiles aujourd'hui? (Why is it difficult to do without fossil fuels today?)
Pourquoi est-in important de connaître son groupe sanguin? (Why is it important to know your blood type?)
Pourquoi est il important de voter? (Why is it important to vote?)
Pourquoi est on chatouilleux? (Why are we ticklish?)
Spain:
Porque es importante leer? (Why is reading important?)
Porque es bueno hacer deporte? (Why is it good to exercise?)
Porque es importante la biodiversidad? (Why is biodiversity important?)
Porque es tan cruel el amor? (Why is love so cruel?)
Every Spanish-speaking country I looked at had questions about the environment, like why will the green economy be low-carbon (Argentina), why we should take care of trees (Mexico), why it is important to recycle (Cuba), why the ozone layer is important (Colombia), why it is important to take care of fresh water (Chile). There were often other similar social questions, like why is it important to donate organs (Argentina) and why is the family so important (Venezuela).
Every hispanophone country also had "Why is love so cruel?". Every. single. one.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:04 PM on August 14, 2012 [39 favorites]
Why is my poop green?
Why is the ocean salty?
Why is Pluto not a planet?
In Canada, the top four have the same first three, but the fourth is:
Why is moonshine illegal?
I report this not out of pride, but out of scientific inquiry.
In the UK, the sky and ocean questions remain, but the other two are:
Why is the Olympics in French first?
Why is the weather so bad?
In Australia, sky, ocean and Pluto plus:
Why is my internet so slow?
In New Zealand; sky and ocean, the same internet question, along with:
Why is Quinn in a wheelchair? (Apparently, the Kiwis are a little behind on their Glee reruns.)
And in India; sky and ocean ("sea water") as well as:
Why is rupee depreciating?
Why is rupee falling?
Of course, asking the same "why is" in other languages, it's a little humbling:
France:
Pourquoi est-il difficile de se passer des énergies fossiles aujourd'hui? (Why is it difficult to do without fossil fuels today?)
Pourquoi est-in important de connaître son groupe sanguin? (Why is it important to know your blood type?)
Pourquoi est il important de voter? (Why is it important to vote?)
Pourquoi est on chatouilleux? (Why are we ticklish?)
Spain:
Porque es importante leer? (Why is reading important?)
Porque es bueno hacer deporte? (Why is it good to exercise?)
Porque es importante la biodiversidad? (Why is biodiversity important?)
Porque es tan cruel el amor? (Why is love so cruel?)
Every Spanish-speaking country I looked at had questions about the environment, like why will the green economy be low-carbon (Argentina), why we should take care of trees (Mexico), why it is important to recycle (Cuba), why the ozone layer is important (Colombia), why it is important to take care of fresh water (Chile). There were often other similar social questions, like why is it important to donate organs (Argentina) and why is the family so important (Venezuela).
Every hispanophone country also had "Why is love so cruel?". Every. single. one.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:04 PM on August 14, 2012 [39 favorites]
Why is Pennsylvania...
so boring/haunted/humid/famous
As a born-and-bred Pennsylvanian I can scientifically state the answer to each of these is Ben Franklin, probably.
posted by ariadne's threadspinner at 8:12 PM on August 14, 2012 [8 favorites]
so boring/haunted/humid/famous
As a born-and-bred Pennsylvanian I can scientifically state the answer to each of these is Ben Franklin, probably.
posted by ariadne's threadspinner at 8:12 PM on August 14, 2012 [8 favorites]
why is british columbia so expensive
why is british columbia so warm
why is british columbia so named
why is british columbia so beautiful
why is alberta so conservative
why is saskatchewan so flat
why is manitoba so cold
why is ontario so humid
why is ontario so hot
why is ontario so populated
why is ontario so cold this summer
why is quebec so corrupt
why is quebec so poor
why is quebec so cold
why is quebec so important
why is new brunswick so *
why is nova scotia so poor
why is nova scotia getting so much rain
why is milk so expensive in nova scotia
why is it raining so much in nova scotia
why is prince edward island's dirt so red
why is newfoundland so foggy
why is newfoundland so obese
why is newfoundland so cold
why is there so much fog in newfoundland
why is nunavut so cold
why is food so expensive in nunavut
why are the northwest territories so *
why is the yukon so cold
*rarely asked about on google?
posted by Sys Rq at 8:16 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
why is british columbia so warm
why is british columbia so named
why is british columbia so beautiful
why is alberta so conservative
why is saskatchewan so flat
why is manitoba so cold
why is ontario so humid
why is ontario so hot
why is ontario so populated
why is ontario so cold this summer
why is quebec so corrupt
why is quebec so poor
why is quebec so cold
why is quebec so important
why is new brunswick so *
why is nova scotia so poor
why is nova scotia getting so much rain
why is milk so expensive in nova scotia
why is it raining so much in nova scotia
why is prince edward island's dirt so red
why is newfoundland so foggy
why is newfoundland so obese
why is newfoundland so cold
why is there so much fog in newfoundland
why is nunavut so cold
why is food so expensive in nunavut
why are the northwest territories so *
why is the yukon so cold
*rarely asked about on google?
posted by Sys Rq at 8:16 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
"Why is Mississipi...
so poor
so racist
so backwards
so conservative"
Ouch. Mississippians, it would appear that the country hates you.
posted by jaduncan at 8:17 PM on August 14, 2012
so poor
so racist
so backwards
so conservative"
Ouch. Mississippians, it would appear that the country hates you.
posted by jaduncan at 8:17 PM on August 14, 2012
MetaFilter:
So cat declawed.
So circumcised.
So Isreal/Palestine.
So LGBT.
So LOL christian.
So LOL conserative.
So hamburger.
So hoppita moppita.
posted by Splunge at 8:19 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
So cat declawed.
So circumcised.
So Isreal/Palestine.
So LGBT.
So LOL christian.
So LOL conserative.
So hamburger.
So hoppita moppita.
posted by Splunge at 8:19 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why is San Francisco so: expensive, cold, cold in the summer, windy, foggy, gay
urdough bread the best, great, hilly, liberal, dirty.
Why is Oakland so: violent, bad, poor, ghetto, dangerous.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:19 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
urdough bread the best, great, hilly, liberal, dirty.
Why is Oakland so: violent, bad, poor, ghetto, dangerous.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:19 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
why is australia so expensive
why is australia so dangerous
why is australia so dry
why is australia so scary
why is australia so hot
posted by lwb at 8:25 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
why is australia so dangerous
why is australia so dry
why is australia so scary
why is australia so hot
posted by lwb at 8:25 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
The 5 W's of the internet.
who is: amon, paul ryan, baby lux, john galt, uncle drew, tobi, gossip girl, kate upton, at the end of the avengers.
where is: chuck norris, the love lyrics, your appendix, my iphone, game of thrones filmed, bora bora, the full house house, the love, Obama today, my mind lyrics
what is: my ip, scientology, yolo, instagram, a gypsy, my ip address, love, gluten, the illuminati, a good credit score
when is: fathers day 2012, mothers day, labor day 2012, thanksgiving 2012, memorial day, the next full moon, labor day, easter 2012, mothers day 2012, memorial day 2012
why is: the sky blue, the ocean salty, my poop green, ted rated r, gluten bad, the ocean blue, prometheus rated r, weed illegal, my internet so slow, pluto not a planet
(You should know that I'm doing this from San Francisco, and also that I went to see a movie earlier today and Googled showtimes.)
posted by madcaptenor at 8:26 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
who is: amon, paul ryan, baby lux, john galt, uncle drew, tobi, gossip girl, kate upton, at the end of the avengers.
where is: chuck norris, the love lyrics, your appendix, my iphone, game of thrones filmed, bora bora, the full house house, the love, Obama today, my mind lyrics
what is: my ip, scientology, yolo, instagram, a gypsy, my ip address, love, gluten, the illuminati, a good credit score
when is: fathers day 2012, mothers day, labor day 2012, thanksgiving 2012, memorial day, the next full moon, labor day, easter 2012, mothers day 2012, memorial day 2012
why is: the sky blue, the ocean salty, my poop green, ted rated r, gluten bad, the ocean blue, prometheus rated r, weed illegal, my internet so slow, pluto not a planet
(You should know that I'm doing this from San Francisco, and also that I went to see a movie earlier today and Googled showtimes.)
posted by madcaptenor at 8:26 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Why is Pennsylvania so haunted?
Because ghost tours provide yet another avenue of employment for the good people of Gettysburg.
posted by sendai sleep master at 8:27 PM on August 14, 2012
Because ghost tours provide yet another avenue of employment for the good people of Gettysburg.
posted by sendai sleep master at 8:27 PM on August 14, 2012
Hawaii is actually not so much hot as a consistently very pleasant temperature. You mainland U.S. folks had three digits of temperature this summer. We never have more (or, really, less) than two.
Time for FUN WEATHER FACTS!
Honolulu and Buffalo are the only major-ish American cities that have never broken 100F.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:29 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Time for FUN WEATHER FACTS!
Honolulu and Buffalo are the only major-ish American cities that have never broken 100F.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:29 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Thanks for sharing! I love links like this.
Now I want to type "why is _" just to see what results I get by doing separate searches for each letter of the alphabet.
posted by livinglearning at 8:40 PM on August 14, 2012
Now I want to type "why is _" just to see what results I get by doing separate searches for each letter of the alphabet.
posted by livinglearning at 8:40 PM on August 14, 2012
Every hispanophone country also had "Why is love so cruel?". Every. single. one.
"Porque es tan cruel el amor" is the title of a (Spanish-language) song by Ricardo Arjona.
posted by asciident at 8:40 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
"Porque es tan cruel el amor" is the title of a (Spanish-language) song by Ricardo Arjona.
posted by asciident at 8:40 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
Montana expensive? Talk about missing the point.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:41 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 8:41 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
People are actually asking google why Rhode Island is so boring? I thought it was obvious. But hey, my family has been there 300+ years... anything will get dull after that amount of time, I guess.
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:45 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:45 PM on August 14, 2012
Westchester is NOT upstate. I'll have you know that the distance from the Five Towns to Times Square is exactly the same as the distance from New Rochelle to Times Square. Exactly the same.
Also, I got, "Why is Brooklyn so popular?"
posted by brina at 8:48 PM on August 14, 2012
Also, I got, "Why is Brooklyn so popular?"
posted by brina at 8:48 PM on August 14, 2012
Time for FUN WEATHER FACTS!
Honolulu and Buffalo are the only major-ish American cities that have never broken 100F.
Is Anchorage major? Because they've never broken ninety.
While I'm on the subject: the all-time minimum temperature for San Francisco and Miami is 27 degrees. (This is probably about the only thing that San Francisco weather and Miami weather have in common.) Is there any major city in the continental US with a higher all-time minimum? (I can't find a list of minima by city but I checked the obvious ones; most major city Wikipedia articles have this information, although you have to look a bit.)
posted by madcaptenor at 8:49 PM on August 14, 2012
Honolulu and Buffalo are the only major-ish American cities that have never broken 100F.
Is Anchorage major? Because they've never broken ninety.
While I'm on the subject: the all-time minimum temperature for San Francisco and Miami is 27 degrees. (This is probably about the only thing that San Francisco weather and Miami weather have in common.) Is there any major city in the continental US with a higher all-time minimum? (I can't find a list of minima by city but I checked the obvious ones; most major city Wikipedia articles have this information, although you have to look a bit.)
posted by madcaptenor at 8:49 PM on August 14, 2012
"Why is Monday a racial slur?"
Here you go.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Here you go.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Translated from google.de:
why is the sky blue?
why is the banana curved?
why is sharp acceleration [when driving] to be avoided?
why is it especially important to brake at the right time when approaching a crosswalk?
Those are...kind of specific.
Most of the US states don't give results. California (Kalifornien) is one exception:
why is California so famous?
why is California so indebted?
why is California so earthquake prone?
why is California so loved?
posted by jedicus at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012
why is the sky blue?
why is the banana curved?
why is sharp acceleration [when driving] to be avoided?
why is it especially important to brake at the right time when approaching a crosswalk?
Those are...kind of specific.
Most of the US states don't give results. California (Kalifornien) is one exception:
why is California so famous?
why is California so indebted?
why is California so earthquake prone?
why is California so loved?
posted by jedicus at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Toronto called the big smoke
Why is Toronto yyz
Why is Toronto so humid
Why is Toronto called Tdot
And I think, had I the ability to use Google as a teen, I would mostly have googled "why is New Hampshire boring?"
posted by SassHat at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Toronto yyz
Why is Toronto so humid
Why is Toronto called Tdot
And I think, had I the ability to use Google as a teen, I would mostly have googled "why is New Hampshire boring?"
posted by SassHat at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012
I think the response is "because no one likes Mondays
Tell me why...
posted by yoink at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Tell me why...
posted by yoink at 8:50 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
A whole calendar of whys:
Why is Monday a racial slur?
Why is Tuesday new release day?
Why is Wednesday spelled Wednesday?
Why is Thursday R?
Why is Friday important in Islam?
Why is Saturday battleship grey?
Why is Sunday school important?
Why is January Jones fat?
Why is February the shortest month?
Why is marching band not a sport?
Why is April the cruelest month?
Why is mayonnaise bad for you?
Why is June the wedding month? (or: "Why is June gay pride month?")
Why is July 4th a gay holiday? (I'm going with "people are still hung over from Pride".)
Why is Augusta the capital of Maine?
Why is September 11 significant?
Why is Oktoberfest in September?
Why is November 18th significant to Disney?
Why is December summer in Australia?
posted by madcaptenor at 8:56 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Why is Monday a racial slur?
Why is Tuesday new release day?
Why is Wednesday spelled Wednesday?
Why is Thursday R?
Why is Friday important in Islam?
Why is Saturday battleship grey?
Why is Sunday school important?
Why is January Jones fat?
Why is February the shortest month?
Why is marching band not a sport?
Why is April the cruelest month?
Why is mayonnaise bad for you?
Why is June the wedding month? (or: "Why is June gay pride month?")
Why is July 4th a gay holiday? (I'm going with "people are still hung over from Pride".)
Why is Augusta the capital of Maine?
Why is September 11 significant?
Why is Oktoberfest in September?
Why is November 18th significant to Disney?
Why is December summer in Australia?
posted by madcaptenor at 8:56 PM on August 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
Is Anchorage major? Because they've never broken ninety.
I shall amend my list accordingly, and search for more, as it appears Seattle joins the club. Poop.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:57 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
I shall amend my list accordingly, and search for more, as it appears Seattle joins the club. Poop.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:57 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not sure where you're getting your data from, but Wikipedia has Seattle reaching 103.
posted by madcaptenor at 8:58 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by madcaptenor at 8:58 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Woohoo! I was looking at weather.com climate pages, which apparently suck.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:05 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:05 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Alaska so big?
Kind of an existential question. It is the size that it is. It's not as if it grew a lot or anything. Or are people looking for information on Seward's folly and Canadian border logistics?
posted by charmcityblues at 9:08 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Kind of an existential question. It is the size that it is. It's not as if it grew a lot or anything. Or are people looking for information on Seward's folly and Canadian border logistics?
posted by charmcityblues at 9:08 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Woohoo! I was looking at weather.com climate pages, which apparently suck.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:05 AM on August 15 [+] [!]
...brain the size of a planet repeatedly folded in on itself on multidimensional planes and you look at weather.com?
posted by jaduncan at 9:10 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:05 AM on August 15 [+] [!]
...brain the size of a planet repeatedly folded in on itself on multidimensional planes and you look at weather.com?
posted by jaduncan at 9:10 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
I thought this would be fun to do for the world. It seems like a lot of people wonder where poverty comes from.
Why is Afghanistan so poor
Why is Africa so poor
Why is Albania so poor
Why is Algeria so so important to France
Why is America so religious
Why is Andorra so small
Why is Angola so expensive
Why is Anguilla so expensive
Why is Antarctica so cold
Why is Antigua so expensive
Why is Argentina so white
Why is Armenia so expensive
Why is Australia so expensive
Why is Bahrain so important to the US
Why is Bangladesh so poor
Why is Barbados so expensive
Why is Belarus so poor
Why is Belgium so boring
Why is Belize so expensive
Why is Bermuda so expensive
Why is Bhutan so happy
Why is Bolivia so poor
Why is Botswana so successful
Why is Brazil so dangerous
Why is Britain so great
Why is Brunei so rich
Why is Bulgaria so poor
Why is Burkina Faso so poor
Why is Burma so poor
Why is Burundi so poor
Why is Cambodia so poor
Why is Cameroon so poor
Why is Canada so awesome
Why is Chad so poor
Why is Chile so long
Why is China so populated
Why is Christmas Island so called
Why is Colombia so hot
Why is Congo so poor
Why is Costa Rica so expensive
Why is Croatia so expensive
Why is Cuba so poor
Why is Cyprus so expensive
Why is Czech Republic so
Why is Denmark so happy
Why is Djibouti so urban
Why is Ecuador so poor
Why is Egypt so hot
Why is El Salvador so dangerous
Why is Equatorial Guinea so rich
Why is Eritrea so poor
Why is Ethiopia so poor
Why is Falkland Islands so important
Why is Fiji so expensive
Why is Finland so good at education
Why is France so popular
Why is French Polynesia so expensive
Why is Gambia so small
Why is Gaza Strip so important
Why is Georgia so hot
Why is Germany so rich
Why is Ghana so poor
Why is Greece so poor
Why is Greenland so big on maps
Why is Guam so hot
Why is Guatemala so poor
Why is Guyana so poor
Why is Haiti so poor
Why is Holy See (Vatican City) so rich
Why is Honduras so dangerous
Why is Hong Kong so expensive
Why is Hungary so poor
Why is Iceland so expensive
Why is India so poor
Why is Indonesia so populated
Why is Iran so stupid
Why is Iraq so dangerous
Why is Ireland so green
Why is Isle of Man so called
Why is Israel so strong
Why is Italy so popular
Why is Jamaica so homophobic
Why is Jordan so gay
Why is Kazakhstan so poor
Why is Kenya so poor
Why is Kuwait so rich
Why is Laos so poor
Why is Latvia so poor
Why is Lebanon so important
Why is Lesotho so poor
Why is Liberia so poor
Why is Libya so hot
Why is Liechtenstein so rich
Why is Lithuania so good at basketball
Why is Luxembourg so rich
Why is Macedonia so important
Why is Madagascar so poor
Why is Malawi so poor
Why is Malaysia so hot
Why is Maldives so expensive
Why is Mali so poor
Why is Malta so densley populated
Why is Mauritania so poor
Why is Mexico so poor
Why is Micronesia so fat
Why is Moldova so poor
Why is Monaco so rich
Why is Mongolia so sparsely populated
Why is Mozambique so poor
Why is Namibia so sparsely populated
Why is Nauru so fat
Why is Nepal so poor
Why is Netherlands so liberal
Why is New Caledonia so expensive
Why is New Zealand so good at rugby
Why is Nicaragua so poor
Why is Niger so poor
Why is Nigeria so poor
Why is North Korea so isolated
Why is Norway so rich
Why is Pakistan so poor
Why is Panama so so important
Why is Papua New Guinea so poor
Why is Paraguay so poor
Why is Peru so poor
Why is Philippines so poor
Why is Poland so racist
Why is Portugal so poor
Why is Puerto Rico so expensive
Why is Qatar so wealthy
Why is Romania so poor
Why is Russia so big
Why is Rwanda so poor
Why is Samoa so fat
Why is San Marino so bad
Why is Saudi Arabia so strict
Why is Senegal so poor
Why is Serbia so good at tennis
Why is Seychelles so expensive
Why is Sierra Leone so poor
Why is Singapore so small
Why is Somalia so poor
Why is South Africa so dangerous
Why is South Korea so successful
Why is Spain so good at football
Why is Sri Lanka so poor
Why is Sudan so poor
Why is Suriname so sparsely populated
Why is Swaziland so poor
Why is Sweden so rich
Why is Switzerland so rich
Why is Syria so important
Why is Taiwan so important
Why is Tajikistan so poor
Why is Tanzania so poor
Why is Thailand so poor
Why is Timor-Leste so poor
Why is Tonga so fat
Why is Trinidad so rich
Why is Tunisia so cheap
Why is Turkey so healthy
Why is Uganda so poor
Why is Ukraine so poor
Why is United Arab Emirates so rich
Why is Uruguay so good at soccer
Why is Venezuela so dangerous
Why is Vietnam so poor
Why is West Bank so important
Why is Yemen so poor
Why is Zambia so poor
Why is Zimbabwe so poor
I've omitted those countries that didn't return a result. Most notably - Austria, Czechoslovakia, Gibraltar and Morocco. I guess people don't have an opinion on these countries.
The result for Turkey may not reflect people's real opinion.
Same goes for Jordan.
posted by unliteral at 9:12 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
Why is Afghanistan so poor
Why is Africa so poor
Why is Albania so poor
Why is Algeria so so important to France
Why is America so religious
Why is Andorra so small
Why is Angola so expensive
Why is Anguilla so expensive
Why is Antarctica so cold
Why is Antigua so expensive
Why is Argentina so white
Why is Armenia so expensive
Why is Australia so expensive
Why is Bahrain so important to the US
Why is Bangladesh so poor
Why is Barbados so expensive
Why is Belarus so poor
Why is Belgium so boring
Why is Belize so expensive
Why is Bermuda so expensive
Why is Bhutan so happy
Why is Bolivia so poor
Why is Botswana so successful
Why is Brazil so dangerous
Why is Britain so great
Why is Brunei so rich
Why is Bulgaria so poor
Why is Burkina Faso so poor
Why is Burma so poor
Why is Burundi so poor
Why is Cambodia so poor
Why is Cameroon so poor
Why is Canada so awesome
Why is Chad so poor
Why is Chile so long
Why is China so populated
Why is Christmas Island so called
Why is Colombia so hot
Why is Congo so poor
Why is Costa Rica so expensive
Why is Croatia so expensive
Why is Cuba so poor
Why is Cyprus so expensive
Why is Czech Republic so
Why is Denmark so happy
Why is Djibouti so urban
Why is Ecuador so poor
Why is Egypt so hot
Why is El Salvador so dangerous
Why is Equatorial Guinea so rich
Why is Eritrea so poor
Why is Ethiopia so poor
Why is Falkland Islands so important
Why is Fiji so expensive
Why is Finland so good at education
Why is France so popular
Why is French Polynesia so expensive
Why is Gambia so small
Why is Gaza Strip so important
Why is Georgia so hot
Why is Germany so rich
Why is Ghana so poor
Why is Greece so poor
Why is Greenland so big on maps
Why is Guam so hot
Why is Guatemala so poor
Why is Guyana so poor
Why is Haiti so poor
Why is Holy See (Vatican City) so rich
Why is Honduras so dangerous
Why is Hong Kong so expensive
Why is Hungary so poor
Why is Iceland so expensive
Why is India so poor
Why is Indonesia so populated
Why is Iran so stupid
Why is Iraq so dangerous
Why is Ireland so green
Why is Isle of Man so called
Why is Israel so strong
Why is Italy so popular
Why is Jamaica so homophobic
Why is Jordan so gay
Why is Kazakhstan so poor
Why is Kenya so poor
Why is Kuwait so rich
Why is Laos so poor
Why is Latvia so poor
Why is Lebanon so important
Why is Lesotho so poor
Why is Liberia so poor
Why is Libya so hot
Why is Liechtenstein so rich
Why is Lithuania so good at basketball
Why is Luxembourg so rich
Why is Macedonia so important
Why is Madagascar so poor
Why is Malawi so poor
Why is Malaysia so hot
Why is Maldives so expensive
Why is Mali so poor
Why is Malta so densley populated
Why is Mauritania so poor
Why is Mexico so poor
Why is Micronesia so fat
Why is Moldova so poor
Why is Monaco so rich
Why is Mongolia so sparsely populated
Why is Mozambique so poor
Why is Namibia so sparsely populated
Why is Nauru so fat
Why is Nepal so poor
Why is Netherlands so liberal
Why is New Caledonia so expensive
Why is New Zealand so good at rugby
Why is Nicaragua so poor
Why is Niger so poor
Why is Nigeria so poor
Why is North Korea so isolated
Why is Norway so rich
Why is Pakistan so poor
Why is Panama so so important
Why is Papua New Guinea so poor
Why is Paraguay so poor
Why is Peru so poor
Why is Philippines so poor
Why is Poland so racist
Why is Portugal so poor
Why is Puerto Rico so expensive
Why is Qatar so wealthy
Why is Romania so poor
Why is Russia so big
Why is Rwanda so poor
Why is Samoa so fat
Why is San Marino so bad
Why is Saudi Arabia so strict
Why is Senegal so poor
Why is Serbia so good at tennis
Why is Seychelles so expensive
Why is Sierra Leone so poor
Why is Singapore so small
Why is Somalia so poor
Why is South Africa so dangerous
Why is South Korea so successful
Why is Spain so good at football
Why is Sri Lanka so poor
Why is Sudan so poor
Why is Suriname so sparsely populated
Why is Swaziland so poor
Why is Sweden so rich
Why is Switzerland so rich
Why is Syria so important
Why is Taiwan so important
Why is Tajikistan so poor
Why is Tanzania so poor
Why is Thailand so poor
Why is Timor-Leste so poor
Why is Tonga so fat
Why is Trinidad so rich
Why is Tunisia so cheap
Why is Turkey so healthy
Why is Uganda so poor
Why is Ukraine so poor
Why is United Arab Emirates so rich
Why is Uruguay so good at soccer
Why is Venezuela so dangerous
Why is Vietnam so poor
Why is West Bank so important
Why is Yemen so poor
Why is Zambia so poor
Why is Zimbabwe so poor
I've omitted those countries that didn't return a result. Most notably - Austria, Czechoslovakia, Gibraltar and Morocco. I guess people don't have an opinion on these countries.
The result for Turkey may not reflect people's real opinion.
Same goes for Jordan.
posted by unliteral at 9:12 PM on August 14, 2012 [6 favorites]
Why is Portland called Rip City
Why is Portland called PDX
Why is Portland PDX
Why is Portland so weird
posted by c'mon sea legs at 9:12 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Portland called PDX
Why is Portland PDX
Why is Portland so weird
posted by c'mon sea legs at 9:12 PM on August 14, 2012
I've omitted those countries that didn't return a result. Most notably - Austria, Czechoslovakia, Gibraltar and Morocco.
Why is Czechoslovakia so...defunct for the last 20 years or so? [not a Google result]
posted by jaduncan at 9:21 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Czechoslovakia so...defunct for the last 20 years or so? [not a Google result]
posted by jaduncan at 9:21 PM on August 14, 2012
Looks like two states had only one result. Missouri: so humid. Arkansas: so poor.
Well, I just tried it and got TWO results:
We are hot AND humid.
posted by flug at 9:24 PM on August 14, 2012 [4 favorites]
Well, I just tried it and got TWO results:
Why is Missouri so humidSee, here in Missouri, we cultivate diversity. We are not just humid, oh no.
AND
Why is Missouri so hot
We are hot AND humid.
posted by flug at 9:24 PM on August 14, 2012 [4 favorites]
Why is metafilter
I like it -- it's kind of... zen.
posted by LordSludge at 9:44 PM on August 14, 2012
I like it -- it's kind of... zen.
posted by LordSludge at 9:44 PM on August 14, 2012
Hm, I expected "passive-aggressive" for Washington. Maybe that's just for Seattle.
posted by dotgirl at 10:04 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by dotgirl at 10:04 PM on August 14, 2012
Forget "why is" lets try "how is" instead. Oh yeah... big surprise that the top results are wondering how babby is formed.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:08 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:08 PM on August 14, 2012
Interesting, although they seem to have not realized or cared that several of these refer to the sports teams of the state universities, not the states themselves.
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:30 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by drjimmy11 at 10:30 PM on August 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Is there any major city in the continental US with a higher all-time minimum?
Key West (not major) has the highest daily average temperature. It's the whole 'being surrounded by warm water and also the most southern point in the US' part.
wiki: 'the coldest temperature ever recorded in Key West was 41 °F (5 °C) on January 12, 1886, and on January 13, 1981.'
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:30 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Key West (not major) has the highest daily average temperature. It's the whole 'being surrounded by warm water and also the most southern point in the US' part.
wiki: 'the coldest temperature ever recorded in Key West was 41 °F (5 °C) on January 12, 1886, and on January 13, 1981.'
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:30 PM on August 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is all so poetic, you guys.
posted by redsparkler at 10:33 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by redsparkler at 10:33 PM on August 14, 2012
I'm just so grateful that tools like Google autocomplete are making it easier than ever for me to remind myself that the same oxygen supply that I use also supports many, many brains to which it could possibly occur to form the sentence "Why is New York so big?"
posted by herbplarfegan at 10:35 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by herbplarfegan at 10:35 PM on August 14, 2012
Shoddy work. Lots of the states say the same things.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:43 PM on August 14, 2012
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:43 PM on August 14, 2012
I'd like to try to seed google with questions to make this far more surreal.
Why is Idaho so relentless?
Why is South Carolina so intent on selling me knives?
Why is Rhode Island so much like my mother?
Why is Oklahoma so going straight to my thighs?
posted by Navelgazer at 11:07 PM on August 14, 2012 [11 favorites]
Why is Idaho so relentless?
Why is South Carolina so intent on selling me knives?
Why is Rhode Island so much like my mother?
Why is Oklahoma so going straight to my thighs?
posted by Navelgazer at 11:07 PM on August 14, 2012 [11 favorites]
Of course, asking the same "why is" in other languages, it's a little humbling:
I suspect this is the case (in Spanish speaking countries at least) because the correlation between having a good education and having access to the internet is much higher.
posted by kiskar at 11:12 PM on August 14, 2012
I suspect this is the case (in Spanish speaking countries at least) because the correlation between having a good education and having access to the internet is much higher.
posted by kiskar at 11:12 PM on August 14, 2012
Why is Vermont so awesome? Try going there. It's freakin' awesome. My objectivity is questionable.
posted by not_on_display at 12:04 AM on August 15, 2012
posted by not_on_display at 12:04 AM on August 15, 2012
Why does the sun go on shining?
Why does the sea rush to shore?
Don't they know it's the end of the world,
'Cause you don't love me any more?
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world.
It ended when I lost your love.
I wake up in the morning and I google,
Just how, how is babby formed?
I can't understand, no, I can't understand,
How so many people can have so little gorm
Why does my heart go on beating?
Why do these eyes of mine cry?
Don't they know it's the end of the world.
It ended when you said goodbye.
-- Mosquito Davis (1962)
posted by Herodios at 4:00 AM on August 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why is Minnesota so awesome?
posted by dinty_moore at 4:30 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 4:30 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Nitpick: surely it would have been better to use "why is new york state so ..." in order to avoid being overwhelmed by queries about NYC.
posted by primer_dimer at 5:15 AM on August 15, 2012
posted by primer_dimer at 5:15 AM on August 15, 2012
A few assorted cities, counties and constituent countries of the UK...
- Why is Essex so famous?
- Why is London so expensive?
- Why is Yorkshire so big?
- Why is Norfolk so susceptible to coastal erosion?
- Why is Edinburgh so windy?
- Why is Scotland so violent?
- Why is Wales so rubbish?
- Why is Birmingham so ugly?
- Why is Manchester so bad for your health?
- Why is Liverpool so bad this season?
- Why is Cardiff so popular?
Why, indeed.
posted by ZsigE at 5:25 AM on August 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
- Why is Essex so famous?
- Why is London so expensive?
- Why is Yorkshire so big?
- Why is Norfolk so susceptible to coastal erosion?
- Why is Edinburgh so windy?
- Why is Scotland so violent?
- Why is Wales so rubbish?
- Why is Birmingham so ugly?
- Why is Manchester so bad for your health?
- Why is Liverpool so bad this season?
- Why is Cardiff so popular?
Why, indeed.
posted by ZsigE at 5:25 AM on August 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Of my hometown:
Why is Grimsby called Grimsby?
Aah, yes. The existential crisis and search for identity. Ever eternal.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:32 AM on August 15, 2012
Why is Grimsby called Grimsby?
Aah, yes. The existential crisis and search for identity. Ever eternal.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:32 AM on August 15, 2012
Why is Delaware even harder to hover over than Rhode Island?
posted by TedW at 7:44 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by TedW at 7:44 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
This might be skewing things a bit for my home state. . .
posted by Danf at 8:14 AM on August 15, 2012
posted by Danf at 8:14 AM on August 15, 2012
The worse news is that, well, we kinda sucked forever.
It could be worse. We could be South Carolina.
posted by Rangeboy at 8:17 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
It could be worse. We could be South Carolina.
posted by Rangeboy at 8:17 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
It could be worse. We could be South Carolina.
Racist, stupid, hot and important. Sounds like most of the girls I knew in high school.
posted by Mrs.Spiffy at 8:23 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Racist, stupid, hot and important. Sounds like most of the girls I knew in high school.
posted by Mrs.Spiffy at 8:23 AM on August 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
This is generating different lists than when I try it on Google, whether I'm logged in or not.
The first result I get for Wisconsin, which as a native makes me kind of sad:
- Why is Wisconsin so divided
posted by mrbula at 8:37 AM on August 15, 2012
The first result I get for Wisconsin, which as a native makes me kind of sad:
- Why is Wisconsin so divided
posted by mrbula at 8:37 AM on August 15, 2012
It could be worse. We could be South Carolina.
The unofficial motto of my home state of Georgia
posted by TedW at 9:27 AM on August 15, 2012
The unofficial motto of my home state of Georgia
posted by TedW at 9:27 AM on August 15, 2012
Sys Rq: Wow, I'm surprised neither BC or Ontario has 'so arrogant' on it, and I'm saying that as an Ontario that loved BC and might be moving there.
That said, I guess no one searches it, as it is kinda obvious (Ontario is the political centre of Canada, so we assume we rule it, and BC is freaking BC. I mean, wouldn't you be arrogant if you had no winter, and the best looking city in North America? Heck, if you guys get decent health care you'd break the awesome scale)
posted by Canageek at 11:49 AM on August 15, 2012
That said, I guess no one searches it, as it is kinda obvious (Ontario is the political centre of Canada, so we assume we rule it, and BC is freaking BC. I mean, wouldn't you be arrogant if you had no winter, and the best looking city in North America? Heck, if you guys get decent health care you'd break the awesome scale)
posted by Canageek at 11:49 AM on August 15, 2012
Wow, I'm surprised neither BC or Ontario has 'so arrogant' on it
Probably because they're not just Vancouver and Toronto.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:11 PM on August 15, 2012
Probably because they're not just Vancouver and Toronto.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:11 PM on August 15, 2012
For the record, Oregon is boring. Stay home. Don't come here.
Okay, you can come here, but you have to stay in Portland.
Be prepared to show your passport if you drive in from Idaho, and you'd better not have an Idahodian driver's license, either. Other rules may apply.
posted by mule98J at 12:11 PM on August 15, 2012
Okay, you can come here, but you have to stay in Portland.
Be prepared to show your passport if you drive in from Idaho, and you'd better not have an Idahodian driver's license, either. Other rules may apply.
posted by mule98J at 12:11 PM on August 15, 2012
Why is Berkeley ranked so high?
Why is Berkeley ranked so low?
I don't even.
posted by Peevish at 12:49 PM on August 15, 2012
Why is Berkeley ranked so low?
I don't even.
posted by Peevish at 12:49 PM on August 15, 2012
There was a talk much talked about recently titled "Bubbles" or some such which claimed different people get different auto-completes. Your search results are customized for what google's programming team has for your predicted a priori intention.
I have never heard of green poop. Is that really a thing or is that a stupid joke?
posted by bukvich at 1:14 PM on August 15, 2012
I have never heard of green poop. Is that really a thing or is that a stupid joke?
posted by bukvich at 1:14 PM on August 15, 2012
I have never heard of green poop. Is that really a thing or is that a stupid joke?
Really a thing.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:06 PM on August 15, 2012
Really a thing.
posted by Sys Rq at 2:06 PM on August 15, 2012
Why is Nevada:
so hot
so dry
so dangerous
so sparsely populated
Ayup. That's about all you need to know.
posted by Vysharra at 2:52 PM on August 15, 2012
so hot
so dry
so dangerous
so sparsely populated
Ayup. That's about all you need to know.
posted by Vysharra at 2:52 PM on August 15, 2012
I just tried the city I live in and there was nothing. Nothing! It all makes sense now.
posted by deborah at 5:36 PM on August 15, 2012
posted by deborah at 5:36 PM on August 15, 2012
The German ones in English:
Why are Americans (Warum sind Amerikaner):
- against healthcare reform (Gegen Gesundheitsreform)
- Circumcised (beschnitten)
- so:
-- prude (pruede)
-- patriotic (patriotisch)
-- fat (fett)
-- dumb (dumm)
-- religious (religioes)
-- proud (stolz)
-- either unpopular or obnoxious (unbeliebt)
-- large (breit--i assume fat)
- in:
-- Germany (Deutschland)
-- Afghanistan (Afghanistan)
Sorry, too lazy for umlauts right now
posted by !Jim at 6:48 PM on August 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Why are Americans (Warum sind Amerikaner):
- against healthcare reform (Gegen Gesundheitsreform)
- Circumcised (beschnitten)
- so:
-- prude (pruede)
-- patriotic (patriotisch)
-- fat (fett)
-- dumb (dumm)
-- religious (religioes)
-- proud (stolz)
-- either unpopular or obnoxious (unbeliebt)
-- large (breit--i assume fat)
- in:
-- Germany (Deutschland)
-- Afghanistan (Afghanistan)
Sorry, too lazy for umlauts right now
posted by !Jim at 6:48 PM on August 15, 2012 [3 favorites]
Mitrovarr, YEAH! Idaho represent.
Sure, it's windy here in Mountain Home. On the other hand, we have no humidity.
But that's OK, the rest of youstay away wouldn't like it here.
posted by BlueHorse at 7:41 PM on August 15, 2012
Sure, it's windy here in Mountain Home. On the other hand, we have no humidity.
But that's OK, the rest of you
posted by BlueHorse at 7:41 PM on August 15, 2012
Why is Minnesota so awesome?
As a native and recently-returned Minnesotan, I am really hoping someone explains this.
posted by stoneandstar at 12:49 AM on August 16, 2012
As a native and recently-returned Minnesotan, I am really hoping someone explains this.
posted by stoneandstar at 12:49 AM on August 16, 2012
I've omitted those countries that didn't return a result. Most notably - Austria, Czechoslovakia, Gibraltar and Morocco.
I think Google's autocomplete might be different for different people (beyond the "stuff you've already searched" entries), like the actual results are. I got these ones:
why is austria so wealthy
why is gibraltar important
why is gibraltar british
why is gibraltar airport dangerous
why is gibraltar famous
why is morocco not in the au
why is morocco a developing country
I thought it was interesting that most of your results were "poor" or "expensive". Nobody ever wonders why a country is so cheap, and "wealthy" doesn't show up that often either.
posted by purplecrackers at 9:29 AM on August 16, 2012
I think Google's autocomplete might be different for different people (beyond the "stuff you've already searched" entries), like the actual results are. I got these ones:
why is austria so wealthy
why is gibraltar important
why is gibraltar british
why is gibraltar airport dangerous
why is gibraltar famous
why is morocco not in the au
why is morocco a developing country
I thought it was interesting that most of your results were "poor" or "expensive". Nobody ever wonders why a country is so cheap, and "wealthy" doesn't show up that often either.
posted by purplecrackers at 9:29 AM on August 16, 2012
I think Google's autocomplete might be different for different people
To a degree, that would be true. I get the same results as you if I don't put the 'so' in the search. Is that what you did too?
One result I liked but it didn't come up as the first result (it was second) was, Why is Madagascar so hard to infect.
posted by unliteral at 4:30 PM on August 16, 2012
To a degree, that would be true. I get the same results as you if I don't put the 'so' in the search. Is that what you did too?
One result I liked but it didn't come up as the first result (it was second) was, Why is Madagascar so hard to infect.
posted by unliteral at 4:30 PM on August 16, 2012
brina: "Also, I got, "Why is Brooklyn so popular?"
Um, I'm right here... I can hear you.
posted by Splunge at 5:54 PM on August 16, 2012
Um, I'm right here... I can hear you.
posted by Splunge at 5:54 PM on August 16, 2012
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posted by Mblue at 6:46 PM on August 14, 2012