An odd thing about the number of new cases of coronavirus

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Someone pointed out to me a very strange phenomenon: If you google any three-digit number with the words "new cases" after it, it's amazing how many articles will turn up
to support that number. Try it. Keep changing the three-digit number to any number and there seems to be a story somewhere about it.

I just tried "624 new cases" and found several stories. Then I changed it to "642 new cases" and got more stories. It just seems strange to me. I've tried lots of numbers and
there always seems to be a story with all those numbers somewhere.

It's a new game! COVID number Bingo! Take a 3 digit number, add <new> <cases>, and see how many hits you find on Google!

Surprise you friends! See who can get the highest number? . . . .

 

[WVBaker]

I see Brett is back in form.....

Brett never changes form.

 

[Karen G]

Try changing to this

+624 +new +cases

what you are describing is that most people don’t understand how search engines work, adding plus forces it to find all 3 parameters.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Well, I'm the first to admit I don't understand how search engines work. But when I tried it with the + signs, I was surprised to see that my post above was the fourth article listed!

 

[Cornell]

if you think about it, your edit may make it more political

I tried, I really tried.

 

[Brett]

on this one (unmentioned) forum the "number COVID" conspiracy goes for many pages !

 

[Brett]

Well, I'm the first to admit I don't understand how search engines work. But when I tried it with the + signs, I was surprised to see that my post above was the fourth article listed!

I think you are learning quickly how fast conspiracy theories spread on social media

 

[bnoble]

My ignore list is getting pretty good. I only saw five posts on the first page of this thread. However, the OP wasn't on it. Yet. She is now.

Edited to add: unfortunately, it appears that one cannot ignore a Moderator.

 

[Cornell]

I actually think the ILLUMINATI is behind this.

 

[Cornell]

@Karen G -- You do know that we love you, don't you?

Keep laughing!

 

[DannyTS]

Well, I'm the first to admit I don't understand how search engines work. But when I tried it with the + signs, I was surprised to see that my post above was the fourth article listed!

To see what happens, you should post: "Karen G won the 398 million dollars Powerball"
In a virtual reality, you may actually win the lottery and live happily ever after. In that same world I want a small compensation for that idea.

 

[Luanne]

My ignore list is getting pretty good. I only saw five posts on the first page of this thread. However, the OP wasn't on it. Yet. She is now.

Edited to add: unfortunately, it appears that one cannot ignore a Moderator.

I've found the best way to really ignore those I want to ignore is just not read their posts. Ignore on TUG isn't like Block on Facebook. You can still see that someone you put on your Ignore list has posted. I found that I'd get too curious and want to see what they'd posted. So I've abandoned the Ignore function here. I may read, or not read, but then from there I pretty much ignore what they've said.

 

[bbodb1]

Well, I'm the first to admit I don't understand how search engines work. But when I tried it with the + signs, I was surprised to see that my post above was the fourth article listed!

@Karen G is famous!

Just to put something more a bit useful in print here, every search engine has ways to refine (narrow, tighten) a search. Knowing the defaults of your chosen search engine can be helpful in understanding the results your chosen search engine returns.

Karen, what can also be interesting is to do the same search (same exact text) on different search engines and look at the differences is what is returned..

Alta Vista
Duck Duck Go
Yahoo
Google
Bing
Dogpile

...and those are just a few of the search engines out there. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses...

Okay, back to the frivolity!

 

[bbodb1]

My ignore list is getting pretty good. I only saw five posts on the first page of this thread. However, the OP wasn't on it. Yet. She is now.

Edited to add: unfortunately, it appears that one cannot ignore a Moderator.

And you're bragging about this?

 

[klpca]

I think that all covid related threads have devolved into the "contentious social issues" category and I have no idea why they are allowed at this point. Eventually (or in some cases, quickly) it gets to 30+ pages of arguing with the same cast of characters and is finally shut down by a moderator. I for one, haven't learned anything new from these threads in months and I am purposely spending less time on TUG because of it. Not because it is covid, but because of the bickering. I don't need any more conflict in my life because it is everywhere - social media, the news, and a host of other message boards. It is ugly and I am sad that it has made it's way here.

 

[SmithOp]

Well just from reading this thread my thought waves were picked up by my TV and a facemask commercial came on for Boomer Naturals dot com, how else could it possibly have known?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bbodb1]

But we are having such fun here @klpca - come on in, the water is fine*!

* ..and unlikely to support transmission!

 

[Karen G]

or google "strange phenomenon: If you google any three-digit number with the words "new cases" "
you will be taken to a "deeper" forum ......... for a mathematical explanation !

That was very interesting! Of course, it got into another topic that I don't understand either--mathematical explanations.

And just for the record--I never said this was a conspiracy. I just said I found it interesting. But, now I've learned some other interesting things about search engines.

To see what happens, you should post: "Karen G won the 398 million dollars Powerball"
In a virtual reality, you may actually win the lottery and live happily ever after. In that same world I want a small compensation for that idea.

This one didn't produce any good news. I never found one that said Karen G had won anything.

 

[b2bailey]

Perhaps there could be a Lounge subgroup for 'antagonist ' posters. Seems some are more comfortable with it than others.

 

[bbodb1]

Well just from reading this thread my thought waves were picked up by my TV and a facemask commercial came on for Boomer Naturals dot com, how else could it possibly have known?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bbodb1]

This one didn't produce any good news. I never found one that said Karen G had won anything.

Obviously, you used a defective search engine - try another one! There's plenty of 'em!

 

[dmbrand]

This thread has me laughing. Live long and prosper!

 

[RX8]

let me throw this out there since its going to get moderated, this is how I feel about all these silly bickering covid threads.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

It certainly sounds logical. I have to admit it was a big surprise seeing that the quote was attributed to comedian John Cleese.

 

[dioxide45]

My ignore list is getting pretty good. I only saw five posts on the first page of this thread. However, the OP wasn't on it. Yet. She is now.

Edited to add: unfortunately, it appears that one cannot ignore a Moderator.

Why not just ignore COVID related threads? You can do that now, ignore individual threads. Your current method just has you living in an echo chamber.

 

[klpca]

Why not just ignore COVID related threads. You can do that now, ignore individual threads. Your current method just has you living in an echo chamber.

I only ignore people who inspire me to argue with them. As this is a fools errand every time, it is just better for me if I don't even see their posts.

 

[bbodb1]

I only ignore people who inspire me to argue with them. As this is a fools errand every time, it is just better for me if I don't even see their posts.

So a serious question then - do you ever challenge the beliefs you hold?