Google’s “auto complete” recommendations are getting increasingly absurd, even if they do conform perfectly to real people’s searches.
Today, when I wanted to find a good place to sell my 12-channel audio mixer, I started my search with the word “sell” and Google jumped in with a few ideas for what I might need.
Things People Sell Online
Naturally, “sell textbooks online” and “selling on eBay” are popular search choices. “Sell gold” has also gained popularity recently, to the point that airports and train stations in Germany have vending machines selling gold wafers.
“Sell WoW account” is a bit surprising (perhaps World of Warcraft is losing popularity as people can no longer afford the monthly fee), but it’s “selling virginity” that’s most striking.
Some careful, “strictly business” research suggests much of this searching is related to Natalie Dylan (a pseudonym), a Sacramento State graduate student who last year auctioned her virginity, having allegedly gotten bids up to $3.8 million. Fox News is, of course, outraged.
Local CBS affiliate KOVR-TV quoted Dennis Hof, owner of the Bunny Ranch where the auction will be held, as saying:
Natalie is a very smart girl. All she wants to do is get her master’s degree in family and marriage counseling and be a psychologist. She’s selling her virginity to accomplish that.
Adding a punchline at this point would only spoil the pure beauty of that statement.