Hacker Quarterly2600 has compiled the most complete list of blacklisted words that Google’s new “feature” Google Instant refuses to include or recognize. It’s being called a “blacklist” across the internet pretty much universally. (Mind you, this is different than SafeSearch and standard autofill, which I think work in a fairly unbiased way). I found this yesterday by way of UK Twitter pal gridinoc letting me know that my name and Paris Hilton are both on this list (along with Carol Queen), among others. And since BDSM is on the list, I thought the image (and its intense source gallery) might be fitting. Especially because she looks like that chick in Gossip Girl. 2600 is openly seeking help to complete this list, help them out if you can — George Carlin had nothing on this one. Snip:
Google Instant is the latest incarnation of the search engine that fills in potential responses as you type them into the Google search bar. Some people think this is great while others feel like Google is reading their minds and are freaked out by it. We believe it’s fun for at least one reason.
Like everything these days, great care must be taken to ensure that as few people as possible are offended by anything. Google Instant is no exception. Somewhere within Google there exists a master list of “bad words” and evil concepts that Google Instant is programmed to not act upon, lest someone see something offensive in the instant results… even if that’s exactly what they typed into the search bar. We call it Google Blacklist.
Give it a try. Go to the Google home page. Type in “puppy” and see the many results that fill your screen. Now type “bitch” and admire the blank screen. In this case, the two words could mean the exact same thing. But Google Instant is erring on the side of caution, protecting the searcher from seeing something they may not want to see.
Obviously, all you have to do is hit return to get the results like you always could. However, even when your request isn’t blacklisted, you’re not getting the SAME results that you would get by hitting return. Entering “murder” into the search bar gets you suggestions of mostly band names. It’s only after you hit return that you can learn the other sinister meaning of the word. What we have here is a demonstration of how content can be filtered, controlled, and ultimately suppressed. It is indeed a good thing that Google isn’t evil.
(…) a2m (blacklists after space) [thanks nic]
anal (blacklists after a space)
anuS (there really seems to be more blacklisting in this part of the anatomy than anywhere else)
aryaN (it’s not JUST a racist movement, Google – go read Wikipedia)
ass (blacklists after a space – you will thus see nothing for “ass monkey”)
assHole (OK to say on network TV but not here)
assmUnch (you can even say this one in church)
ball SaCk [thanks xcitor]
bdsM [thanks nic]
biseXual (why this is offensive while heterosexual, homosexual, asexual, trisexual aren’t is beyond us) [thanks Mikko]
bitcH (there are probably more inoffensive uses of this word than any in this list)
black coCk (blacklisted, but “white cock” isn’t and will get you a list of inoffensive suggestions)
blonde actIon [thanks nic]
blonde on blonde aCtion [thanks nic]
blow J [thanks John and Pedro]
blow your L [thanks John]
bondAge [thanks nic]
brunette Action
bukKake (knowing words like this is how you win at Jeopardy) [thanks nic]
butt (blacklists after a space, so you won’t see results for “butt exercises”)
buttHole (we suspect the Butthole Surfers are fit to be tied over this)
carol quEen (apparently being a sexologist is enough to get you on the blacklist) [thanks kate]
clit (blacklists after a space)
clitoriS (we’re not sure why they waited until the last letter)
cocainE (but “crack” and “heroin” are inoffensive) (…read more, 2600.com)
I have a T-shirt i bought on the Venice Beach promanade in 2005. It has two girls, topless, french kissing. Under them is the words: “FUCK Censorship.” Google Instant is obviously a form of censorship to lead users down certain paths while “hiding” other paths. Not cool, Google, not cool.
The people who pimp porn on the web will certainly be spending some time trying to figure ways to get around this.
So far I have found google instant semi useful for fast searches, but I have had to use the regular search to get to many sites.
Our company name “Pleasure Chest” as well as “Babeland” are both blacklisted. So is the word “vibrator” and “lesbian.” Oddly, “eXtreme Elvis” is not banned.
I know you deal with a lot of the anti-porn community trying to shut down Our Porn, Our Selves, etc… I’ve recently been dealing with a lot of hate comments on articles I’ve written for other blogs. My own blogs has only recently has had that. They posted the say comment on all my posts involving masturbation.
What do you do when this happens? I can’t fight every person individual who is bringing my ideas down, especially when it feels like they aren’t even educating themselves or trying to understand the other side.
When it comes to my own site do you think I should delete the comments? I guess I’m asking for some professional advice.
If you feel passionate enough maybe you can write a post about how you deal with the haterz. I’m sure many people you love to hear what you have to say.
Thank you!
Its not just high profile sexologists like Carol Queen. I’m a sex educator and blogger with a following nowhere near the size of her or you and yet my name doesn’t show up. I tested my legal name and google instant had no problem with that. But my pen name which has 10 times as many results was blank when typed in